Titti (bagpipe) explained

The titti (Telugu: '''titti''',^[1] masaka titti, or tutti) is a type of bagpipe played in Andhra Pradesh, India, made from an entire goat-skin.^[2] The instrument is described as a goatskin with a double-reed inserted into one leg, and a bamboo blowpipe into the other.^[3] The term tittii is used in Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.^[4]

History

Several paintings possibly depicting bagpipes are shown in Kerala, from the early eighteenth century.^[5]

Colonel James Tod (1782–1835 CE) notes that the Yanadis, a forest tribe in Madras, also play the bagpipes,^{[6] [7]}

Usage

The instrument is often used to provide solely a constant drone. References note the instrument being used as a drone accompaniment by storytellers and singers,^{[8] [9]} as well as for village dance-dramas.^[10]

See also

• Mashak, a Northern Indian bagpipe
• Sruti upanga, a bagpipe of Tamil Nadu.

Notes and References

1. http://www.india9.com/i9show/Mashak-54018.htm Mashak
2. Subhash Kak (Louisiana State University). The Indian Epic Song Tradition. Presented at The 7th International Conference and Festival of Asian Music, Busan, Korea, Sept 26-Sept 30, 2002.
3. Book: Gene Henry Roghair. The epic of Palnāḍu: a study and translation of Palnāṭi Vīrula Katha, a Telugu oral tradition from Andhra Pradesh, India. 24 April 2011. 1982. Clarendon Press. 978-0-19-815456-3.
4. Book: Sangeet Natak Akademi. Sangeet natak. 24 April 2011. 1969. 669.
5. Book: Committee on Research in Dance. Dance research monograph. 24 April 2011. 1973. CORD.. 20.
6. Book: James Tod. Annals and antiquities of Rajasthan: or The central and western Rajput states of India. 23 April 2011. 1920. H. Milford, Oxford University Press. 755–.
7. as do later sources in 1900 describing the Yanadi.Book: Government Museum (Madras. India). Bulletin. 24 April 2011. 1900. Printed by the Superintendent, Govt. Press. 1–.
8. Book: Sangeet Natak Akademi. Sangeet natak. 24 April 2011. 1969.
9. Book: Alison Arnold. South Asia: the Indian subcontinent. 24 April 2011. 2000. Taylor & Francis. 978-0-8240-4946-1. 901–.
10. Book: Light Isaac. Theory of Indian music. 25 December 2012. 1967. Printed at Shyam Printers. 148–156.