The diple
Zelovo, Sinj, the first half of the 20th century
wood (maple)
cutting, drilling, carving
decoration: low relief, engraving, hatching

 

length =20,7 cm
lenght of stock = 7 cm
diameter of stock =5,2 cm
lenght of chanter = 13,7 cm

 

Et 9931
The Collection of Musical Instruments

Description

The diple consist of a chanter onto which an annular part and a stock are attached. The stock is of conical shape and there are two single clarinet-type mouthpieces within it. The chanter was carved and turned. Two cylindrical pipes are bored through it. They contain different numbers of holes. The upper section has six holes on it and the finger-holes are arranged 6:2.

Note

The ornament on the front side of the chanter is usually called the “head” or “apparition”. Kuhač ties this to Slavic mythology and he writes: “It is worth mentioning that the diple players often say they play to honour a god. No diple player wanted to tell me this god’s name, considering they only invoke him in a great emergency or at the beginning of important ceremonies.” (Kuhač based on Širola, 1937: 24). On the other hand, Ludvik Kuba, wrote that the carved head is a “weird head with eyes made of porcelain” (Kuba, based on Širola, 1937: 24).