Bock (bagpipe)

Variants of the bock, a type of bagpipe, were played in Central Europe in what are the modern states of Austria, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. The tradition of playing the instrument endured into the 20th century, primarily in the Blata, Chodsko, and Egerland regions of Bohemia, and among the Sorbs of Saxony. The name "Bock" (German for buck, i.e. male goat) refers to the use of goatskins in constructing the bag, similar to the common use of other goat-terms for bagpipes in other nations, such as the French cabrette.

The earliest description of the mouth-blown Bock is illustrated on plate XI and described by Michael Praetorius in his treatise, Syntagma Musicum 2, De Organographia (Wolfenbüttel, 1619), plates issued separately as Theatrum Instrumentorum (1620).

The drone of the Bock is usually pitched two octaves below the tonic of the chanter. The single drone and single chanter have cylindrical bores and employ single reeds. The current variant of the Bock is generally bellows-blown, which has the advantage of allowing the piper to sing along with their playing. These bellows-blown bagpipes are believed to have made their way into southern and western Bohemia in the first half of the 19th century.

The chanter and drone terminate in amplifying bells of horn or brass, angled upwards. The top end of the chanter is often shaped in the form of a goat-head. In Egerland-style instruments, the drone hangs downward from the bag, whereas in the Bohemian variant, the drone extends backwards over the player's shoulder.

The instrument is now mainly played in the Czech Republic, particularly South Bohemia in Strakonice and in Western Bohemia around the town of Domažlice in the region known as Chodsko. As the instrument's revival continues, it is also gaining ground in Austria and Bavaria.

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