| Diplica | |
| Image Capt: | Diplica |
| Background: | woodwind |
| Classification: | single-reed aerophone |
| Hornbostel Sachs: | 422.211.2 |
| Hornbostel Sachs Desc: | single reed instrument with cylindrical bore and fingerholes |
| Related: | arghul, bülban, clarinet, dili tuiduk, dozaleh, cifte, launeddas, mijwiz, pilili, sipsi, zammara, zummara |
Diplica or diplice is a single-reed instrument from the Balkans, which has been playing in different forms through many parts of Croatia, but now survives mainly in the Baranya region.
Diplicas are double-clarinets. The widespread practice of playing wind instruments in pairs led to the development of the double, or even triple or quadruple, clarinets.[1] Most were double clarinets, with two tubes of reed firmly tied or glued together in a parallel position where one of the tubes functions as a drone. Instruments of this kind can be traced back to approximately 2700 BCE in Egypt, where they were originally called ‘memet’.[2] During the Old Kingdom in Egypt (2778-2723 BCE), memets were depicted on the reliefs of seven tombs at Saqqarra, six tombs at Giza, and the pyramids of Queen Khentkaus.[3] Double-clarinets are particularly important in Arab countries, but have spread throughout the Mediterranean region, India, Sardinia, and South America.
The diplica has a traditional mouth horn that holds an idioglot reed and two pipes carved from one piece of wood. The pipe has a few (usually five) finger holes drilled into it. It is usually in the key of E, although it can be made in C, D, or F.