Image: Macukali, CC BY-SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Tulum
tulum
| Category | Wind |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Turkey (Black Sea, Pontic Greek and Laz) |
| Classification | musical instrument |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q2305258 |
Overview
The tulum is the bagpipe of the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, particularly associated with the Pontic Greek, Laz, and Hemshin peoples of the mountains of Trabzon, Rize, and Artvin provinces. Built around an inflated goatskin bag and a distinctive double chanter that allows the player to produce melodies and parallel harmonies at the same time, it is the central instrument of the energetic dance music — horon — of the region.
Origin & History
Bagpipes have a long history across the Mediterranean, Anatolia, and the Balkans, and the tulum belongs to this wide family. Its precise lineage is difficult to trace, but the instrument is documented in eastern Black Sea musical life over many centuries and has remained continuously in use as the principal dance-music instrument of the region’s mountain communities.
The tulum is shared across the Pontic Greek (Romaioi), Laz, Hemshin, and Turkish communities of the eastern Black Sea coast, with each community contributing its own repertoire and stylistic preferences. Following twentieth-century population exchanges and migrations, the tulum is also played by Pontic Greek communities in Greece and elsewhere in the diaspora.
How It’s Played
The tulum consists of an inflated goatskin bag (the tulum itself, “bag” in Turkish) sewn closed at the limbs except for three openings: a blowpipe at the neck through which the player inflates the bag, and two openings into which the chanter assembly fits. Unlike most other bagpipes, the tulum has no separate drone pipe — both melodic functions are carried out by the double chanter.
The double chanter consists of two parallel reed pipes joined side by side in a single wooden carrier. Each pipe carries five finger holes and is fitted with a single beating reed at the top, hidden inside the bag. Both pipes are usually fingered together, with the player’s fingers covering corresponding holes on both pipes simultaneously. Because the two pipes are tuned to slightly different pitches and overlapping scales, the result is a continuous parallel-interval texture (often a parallel fourth or other interval) that gives the tulum its characteristic harmonic richness.
The player tucks the inflated bag under one arm, supports the chanter with both hands, and squeezes the bag with the elbow to maintain a continuous airstream while breathing freely. The constant air pressure produces an unbroken sound — an essential feature for the fast, driving horon dance music the instrument supports.
Cultural Significance
The tulum is at the heart of the dance and festive culture of the eastern Black Sea region. The horon dances of Trabzon, Rize, and Artvin are typically led by one or two tulums, with dancers forming tight circles or lines that move in fast, energetic patterns coordinated with the rhythm of the music.
For Pontic Greek, Laz, Hemshin, and Turkish communities of the region the tulum is a strong symbol of regional identity. In recent decades a renewed interest in regional traditions has supported local tulum players, recordings, and festivals, and the instrument has become familiar to wider Turkish and international audiences through recordings and concerts.
Related Instruments
- – the bagpipes of Bulgaria and Macedonia
- Zampogna – the Italian bagpipes
- Northumbrian Smallpipes – the small bellows-blown bagpipes of northeast England
- Gaita – the bagpipes of Galicia and Asturias in northern Spain
- – the loud Turkish double-reed shawm
Where to Hear It
Recordings by leading tulum players including the late Hasan Sözeri, Ayhan Vasıf, Süleyman Şenel’s field collections, and contemporary musicians such as the Trabzon-based Karadeniz ensembles offer a thorough introduction to the tulum and to the dance music of the eastern Black Sea. Pontic Greek diaspora recordings, particularly those from the Greek pontic music scene of Athens and Thessaloniki, document the related tradition outside Turkey.
Learning Resources
The tulum is most often learned through community apprenticeship in the eastern Black Sea region. Conservatories and music schools in Trabzon, Rize, and Istanbul increasingly include the instrument in their traditional-music programs, and a number of contemporary players offer workshops and online lessons. International instruction is rare; most learners abroad rely on visiting Black Sea teachers, video lessons, and direct contact with diaspora communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the tulum have drones?
No. Unlike most bagpipes, the tulum has no separate drone pipe. Its double chanter — two parallel pipes played together — produces both melody and harmonic accompaniment.
What is the bag made of?
Traditionally goatskin, sewn closed at the limbs except for the openings for the blowpipe and the chanter. Modern players sometimes use synthetic alternatives, but goatskin remains standard.
What music is the tulum used for?
Above all the horon dance music of the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, played by Pontic Greek, Laz, Hemshin, and Turkish communities.
Is the tulum still played today?
Yes. After a period of decline in the mid-twentieth century, the tulum has seen a strong revival since the 1990s and is now actively played in its home region and in diaspora communities.
