|
When my ancestors in seventeenth century France gathered with their friends to celebrate a special occasion, everyone danced to the music of a most unusual duet of primitive instruments. The loudest and most articulate was the "Bombarde", a free-reed predecessor to the oboe, which shouted out musical phrases above the din of the crowd. Shouting back at the Bombarde was a softer, less piercing instrument, a medium-size bagpipe known as a Veuze, or Veze Poitou. |