Albania
Folk Instrument

Bamboo, leather, cow horn
ca. Mid-20th century
Length: 17.25 in
Wind Instruments – Woodwind Instruments – Single Reed

The ‘zumare’ is a double pipe aerophone (sometimes referred to as double clarinet), with five holes in each pipe and a cow horn bell.  It is found in northwest Albania and of Albanians in the region of Malësi in Montenegro, where it serves as a pastoral instrument.

The mouthpiece consists of two idioglot single cane reeds each inserted into the two slightly larger bamboo canes and bound together with leather strips.  The pipes are played in unison but are just slightly off pitch from each other.  The holes are tuned to an Albanian mode with a ‘D’ tonal center.  When played the finger and knuckle cover the holes across both tubes in order to close them simultaneously. The ‘zumare’ is blown using circular breathing.

The music of Albania has a long tradition and is known for its regional diversity.  It is also an integral part of the national identity, strongly influenced by the country’s long and turbulent history which forced Albanians to protect their culture from their overlords by living in rural and remote mountains.

Resource: ‘Zumare,’ Ardian Ahmedaja, “The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments,” 2^nd ed., Laurence Libin, Editor-in-Chief, Oxford University Press, 2014, Vol. 5, pg. 393.