The history of the musette in the 17th and 18th centuries

We found in Europe, in the 17th and 18th centuries, different types of bagpipes with cylindrical bore and soft sound. The baroque musette is the main one among them. Developed in France, it is a unique instrument of its kind, and its abundant repertoire uniquely combines the drone and the tonality. At the same time, in the British Isles and the Low Countries, small bagpipes, both very similar and simpler in construction than the French musette, were used to play dance tunes and songs, always for the relaxation of good society. François Lazarevitch traces the evolution of this multifaceted instrument and its different repertoires, from Michael Praetorius to Nicolas Chédeville, via Ireland, Scotland, Northumberland, the Netherlands…

Soloist
François Lazarevitch : 17th century musette, 18th century musettes, Humelchen, small-pipes, transverse flute, tin whistle.

Production
Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien with the support of Radio France.