A well-done reedpipe is a precious clarinet-instrument. It was very common in the areas of current Finland and Karelia in the Middle-Ages. It’s possible that it has been used already in the late Iron-Age. It was known by many names (soropipe, rytipipe, Eastern pipe, kaza), which referred the sound, material and use of the instrument.
The second popular material for this pipe was rye straw. It has been said that men built clarinets for kids in August when reaping the rye to get them enjoy working with rakes. After reaching the end of each patch, the sickles and scythes were sharpened and the pipes were carved for the kids. In fact cutting a reed is an excellent way to test the sharpness of the tools.
I just updated for You the english intructions on building a reedpipe, after creating them for 12 years ago. Find a local material and learn the skill. If you can’t get reed or straw, you can also make this kind of pipe of wild Angelica in September.
Reedpipe can last for decades if it’s stored in a decent way and nobody sits nor steps on it. Enjoy being creative and making music using self-built, natural instrument. The tuning doesn’t definitely always need to be diatonic, it can be what ever it intuitively becomes. You can learn to tune your reedpipes in medieval scales. Improvizing and composing music for them refreshes ears and brain. Playing in nature, for yourself, is enchanting and liberating. That’s how and why the shepherds got empowered, I guess.
Sharing the skill of building and playing musical instruments is fashinating. You’ll never know what it may lead to. Life is a great adventure for people who use the universal language of Music. Welcome, join!