Tibia (reedpipe)

In ancient Rome, the tibia (from Latin 'pipe'; plural tibiae) was a musical instrument equivalent to the ancient Greek aulos (αὐλός). The word tibia is similar to the English word pipes (in the instrument sense), in that — while it describes instruments that are blown through at the musician's mouth and have fingerholes to choose notes — the word lumps together different instruments which today would be put into different classes, such as reedpipes or duct flutes. Single-reed clarinets, double-reed shawms, and lip-sounded trumpets are all possibly described by the word tibia.

Construction

Tibia were constructed of materials which were naturally hollow tubes or could be hollowed out, including "reed, cane, box-wood, horn, metal, and the tibia or shin-bone of some birds and animals."

The name is related to the word for bones of birds and animals, and possibly came from use of these in musical instruments. This practice is still in used in the Middle East and Central Asia in the Ghoshmeh.

Tibiae and aulos were played with double reeds, kept in a separate box.

Tibia curva, reedpipe

Tibia pares, double reedpipe

Tibia impares, double reedpipe

Tibia obliqua, tibia vasca, reedpipe

Monaulos

Other tibia

Classes of tibia-playing musicians

References

Yates, M.A., F.R.S., James (1875). "TI′BIA (αὐλός)". In William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D. (ed.). A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities.