Volinka or Russian bagpipe

Bagpipe with chanter and bass drone and with bag of undressed goatskin which was seen by the antiquarian, Matthew Guthrie, among Finns living in Russia in the late 18th century.

In terms of bagpiping, this is the traditional bagpipe of Estonia rather than Russia and was described as being played by Finns living around St. Petersburg. Guthrie's account suggests that Scotland received its bagpipes from the Baltic region, brought by visiting invaders:

"Volynka is the name given by the Russians to the Bagpipe, who use it in some provinces, but it seems much more the appropriate instrument of the Finns ... who have no other, where it is called Pilai ... with only two pipes independent of the inflating tube just as first imported into the Scotch Isles from the shores of the Baltic by the northern rovers, who often visited them. ... The Finnish bagpipe is still made now as then of undressed Goat Skin with the hair on it as is presented in our Plate, and of course cannot scent very sweet, nor can we take it upon us to say that the music of this Motehr Bagpipe is much sweeter than the smell".

Record details

To search on related items, click any linked text below.