the Pipe and Tabor compendium

the Pipe and Tabor compendium

essays on the three-hole pipe
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The Pipe and Tabor Compendium


visit this site to hear how the pipe and tabor sounds

project manager: frances


This site is currently being developed: thank you for your patience.

1828 part of the description of the pipe and tabor:
"...They are both used at the same time, the Pipe by the left hand, the Tabor by the right;
and the combined effect is calculated to excite hilarity, and delight the common ear."

‘A musical manual, or, Technical directory : containing full and perspicuous explanations of all the terms, ancient and modern,
used in the harmonic art : descriptions of the various voices and instruments, their powers and characters : with incidental remarks
on the principal excellences of vocal and instrumental composition and performance’ by Busby, Thomas

The pipe and tabor is a musical instrument that may date back as far as Roman
times in the UK, but certainly from the 12th/13th century. It has been in and out
of fashion from that time to the present-day throughout Europe and many European
colonies: sometimes highly fashionable in aristocratic circles and at others solely
a rustic / folk or working class activity. Pipe and tabor players (or whatever else
they have been named at the time), have been prosecuted just for playing on
a Sunday in England, whereas in countries such as Spain it was, and still is,
used as an element of religious symbolism and celebration. Indeed many clergy,
now and in the past, actually play the pipe and tabor.

In other countries and at other times it was considered to be purely secular,
used for dancing and entertainment indoors and out.

During the late 20th century onward revivals in early music, historic and morris
dance ensured that the pipe and tabor continued to be seen in the concert hall,
at heritage events, historic re-enactments and outside in parades and around
public houses. These days both men and women play the instrument, though
in the past this was not the case in most countries.

diary

19.07 research and upload

18.07 research

17.07 research

16.07 research and upload

15.07 research and upload

14.07 research and upload

13.07 research and upload

11.07 medieval England upload

10.07 unsuccesful research

9.07 research and upload

8.07 research and upload

7.07 research and upload

6.07 research and upload

5.07 research and upload

4.07 Portugal research

30.06 upload medieval France

29.06 research

28 .06 research

27.06 research Navarre, Spain article

25.06 lots of research

22.06 research and upload medieval France

lots of research

19.06 research and upload Belgium

continued medieval France

13.06 research and upload medieval France

12.06 research and upload medieval France

11.06 research and upload medieval France

10.06 research and upload medieval France

9.06 research and upload medieval France

8.06 research and upload medieval France

7.06 working on 'unknown'

2.06 upload medieval France

31.05 unsuccessful research

30.05 upload medieval France

29.05 upload medieval France

28.05 upload medieval France

27.05 upload medieval France

26.05 research and upload

24.05 research and upload

23.05 updated Scotland

22.05 research and upload

21.05 research and upload

20.05 research and upload

19.05 tidy computer list

18.05 tidy computer list

17.05 14th century England

16.05 15th/16th centuries England

15.05 research and upload

14.05 research and upload

13.05 research and upload

12.05 research and upload

11.05 research and upload

10.05 research and upload

9.05 research and upload

8.05 research and upload

7.05 research and upload

6.05 research and upload

5.05 research and upload English literature

4.05 added to Andalusia, Spain

3.05 research and upload

2.05 research and upload

1.05 research and upload

30.04 research and upload English literature

29.04 research and upload

28.04 research and upload

27.04 research and upload

25.04 research and upload

24.04 research and upload

23.04research and upload Catalonia, Spain

22.04 research and upload Catalonia, Spain

21.04 research and upload

20.04 16th and 17th century France uploads done

19.04 research

18.04 upload 16th century France

17.04 research

16.04 research

15.04 research

14.04 one-handed pipe

13.04 upload 16th century France

12.04 finished uploading 15th century France. started 16th century France

27.03 research and upload

25.03 upload 15th century France

22.03 upload 15th century France

15.03 upload 15th century France

13.03 upload 15th century France

08.03 upload 15th century France

17.02 upload 15th century France

13.02 research and upload 16th century England

6.02 France string drum

5.02 France Basque posters

4.02 France 18th century

3.02 computer stuff

1.02 France 18th century

28.01 France 18th century

27.01 France 18th century

25.01 France 18th century

22.01 France 18th century

19.01 France dance

18.01 France dance

14.01 France 17th century

12.01 17th century France

09 01 computer stuff

05.01 research and upload

04.01 France upload

02.01 computer stuff

2026

27.12 research

26.12 research

21.12 research

9.12 computer tidy

8.12 France 19th century

7.12 France 19th century

4.12 France 19th century nativity

1.12 upload France 20th century

28.11 France19th/20th century

27.11 computer tidy

26.11 upload France Napoleonic

25.11 computer tidy

24.11 upload France, Provence

21.11 computer tidy

20.11 upload

18.11 computer tidy

17.11 research and upload

16.11 16th century England

15.11 upload more 16th century England

14.11 upload more 16th century England

10.11 research and upload

09.11 research and upload

07.11 upload

06.11 upload

05.11 research and upload

04.11 research and upload

02.11 upload

30.10 research and upload

29.10 research and upload

28.10 computer stuff

27.10 Holland/Netherlands done

26.10 added to modified images

24 10 upload Holland/Netherlands

23.10 upload Holland/Netherlands

22.10 upload Holland/Netherlands

21.10 tidied Belgium

20.10 upload Holland/Netherlands

19.10 new gallery started - Holland/Netherlands

18.10 Belgium

17.10 Belgium

16.10 Belgium 17th century

15.10 Belgium 17th century

14.10 Belgium

12.10 Belgium

10.10 Belgium

09.10 Belgium

08.10 upload Belgium/Flemish

07.10 started new gallery Belgium/Flemish

06.10 research and upload

05.10 research and upload

04.10 research and upload

03.10 tided England ' terminology'

02.10 research and upload

01.10 research and upload

29.09 research and upload

28.09 research and upload

27.09 Regency newspaper research concluded

19.09 UK newspaper research

16.09 more research and upload

13.09 still working on newspaper
and other research

1.09 research and upload

31.08 research and upload

30.08 newspaper research England Regency

29.08 newspaper research England Regency

27.08 newspaper research England
18th century

26.08 newspaper research England
18th century

24.08 research and upload England

23.08 research and upload England

17.08 tidied part of 'terminology'

15.08 tidied Regency folders

14.08 England 17th century literature

13.08 research and upload

12.08 England 17th century literature

11.08 England 17th century literature

10.08 England 17th century literature

9.08 England 17th century literature

8.08 updated England 'fidler'

7.08 research and upload England, literature

6.08 research emblem books

4.08 updated Mexico

3.08 updating Peru

2.08 Sivli, Italy, upload

1.08 upload previous research

30.07 unsuccesful research

28.07 Italy buttafuoco

26.07 more string drum

25.07 revised string drum

24.07 revised moresca

23.07 research and upload

22.07 still working on Provence

21.07 France Provence

20.07 France Provence

19.07 France Provence

18.07 research and upload

17.07 France 18th century dance

16.07 research and upload

15.07 still working on Spain

10.07 research and upload

09.07 research and upload

08.07 still working on Spain
Every region seems to have a pipe and tabor tradition

26.06 still working on Spain

12.06 sorted Mexico

10.06 sorted Basque country

08.06 still working on Spain

05.06 still working on Spain

02.06 sorting Spain files

01.06 more Spain

30.05 research and upload Balaeric Islands

29.05 research and upload Balaeric Islands

28.05 research

27.05 research and upload Minorca

26.05 research and upload France 15th century

25.05 research

23.05 research and start 15th century France

16.05 started medieval France

15.05 research

14.05 research. upload to Italy

10.05 research
checking and uploading Italy
is taking a long time and continues

07.05 checking and uploading Italy
is taking a long time and continues

29.04 tidied Regency dancing, Italy

27.04 Italy

26.04 Italy

25.04 research and upload; add to Italy

24.04 research and upload; add to Italy

23.04 research and upload

20.04 research and upload; add to Italy

19.04 research and upload

18.04 research and upload

17.04 add to Italy

16.04 publicise 'image modified'

12.04 research

11.04 research and upload

10.04 research and upload

09.04 new gallery started: 'image modified'

08.04 new page 'Europe Italy' started

07.04 research and upload

06.04 research and upload every day since 26.03

26.03 research and upload
to Europe ceramic figures

25.03 publicise
world - index of themes
world - index by country
Europe - index by country

22.03 research and upload

21.03 research and upload

20.03 unsuccessful research

19.03 uploaded to Europe: the rest

18.03 research and upload

16.03 unsuccessful research

14.03 uploaded to Europe: the rest

13.03 research and upload

08.03 research and upload

07.03 research and upload

05.03 added to string drum and Spain

04.03 added to cure for pain and illness

03.03 research and upload

02.03 research and upload

01.03 tidied worldwide double pipes

27.01 'world: the rest'

26.02 add to 'world: the rest'

25.02 research and upload

24.02 new gallery 'world: the rest'

21.02 new gallery Europe: the rest

20.02 tidied up morris dance

19.02 publicised Germany

18.02 new gallery Germany

17.02 research and upload

16.02 research and upload

15.02 research and upload

14.02 trying out new gallery layout

13.02 tidy up pages

12.02 research and upload

11.02 research and upload

10.02 research and upload

07.02 England 16th century

06.02 central America gold

05.02 research and upload

04.02 research and upload

03.02 Victorian newspapers 1852

02.02 Victorian newspapers 1851

01.02 Victorian newspapers 1849 done

31.01 research and upload
2 new sections in pre-Columbian Peru - rattles and tabor-type drums

30.01 research and upload

29.01 unsuccessful research

27.01 tidying Regency etc

26.01 tidied up Victorian England

24.01 research and upload early England

23.01 Central America gold

22.01 upload more Spain

21.01 added to Earliest Extant Instruments

19.01 1848 newspapers done

18.01 research and upload

17.01 Mexico; 1848 newspapers updated 'Worldwide traditions - index by country'

16.01 Victorian 1847 newspapers

14.01 Medieval research

14.01 bugfix diary

13.01 Victorian 1846 newspapers

12.01 unsuccessful research

11.01 Mexico; 1845 newspapers

10.01 1844 newspapers

09.01 1843 newspapers

03.01 Victorian literature

02.01 medieval research

01.01 added to musical grills

2025

31.12 Peru archaeology

30.12 researched art gallery

28.12 England Victorian

27.12 England Victorian

24.12 medieval

23.12 research and upload South America

20.12 updated on ships and at war

19.12 added 'Toledo Spain'.research

18.12 research and upload

16.12 researched 'tabour' early books

15.12 Victorian newspaper research

14.12 Regency research and upload

13.12 medieval and 17th century research and upload

12.12 medieval research and upload

10.12 ditto & research and upload

09.12 ditto

08.12 Regency newspaper research

07.12 medieval research

06.12 ditto

05.12 ditto

04.12 newspaper research 18th century

03.12 Spain research and upload

29.11 unsuccessful medieval research

28.11 medieval Andalusia manuscript research and upload

27.11 research and upload

25.11 continuing research, uploading (mainly prehistory) and tidying-up pages

20.11 research and upload

19.11 research and upload; unknown images uploaded to web

18.11 research

17.11 medieval research and upload

16.11 working on 'unknown images' successful medieval research

15.11 unsuccessful research

14.11 medieval manuscripts research, more unknown images; tidied Europe double pipes

13.11 working on 'unknown images'

12.11 started Madrid, Spain started 'unknown images', asking for readers help

12.11 research and upload

11.11 research and tidy up gallery

10.11 research and upload; update England famous people

09.11 tided up USA and Canada. Added Imogen Holst to 'England famous people'

08.11 feedback to Brit Mus, research and upload tidied 20th century morris

07.11 research and upload

06.11 16th century Italy research. Added to Spain

05.11 tidied woman taborers

04.11 finished that research on web. Research into more women taborers

03.11 research and upload

02.11 research northern longsword

01.11 research and upload Spain

31.10 research uploaded to England morris dance

30.10 research added; uploaded Spain

29.10 research, Spain

27.10 research, Spain

26.10 research, Spain

25.10 tidied-up morris dance 4

24.10 researched and added to Peru

23.10 tided pages

22.10 added and uploaded more Spain

21.10 added more images to Spain. Heard back from Australian Morris Ring

20.10 contacted morris dancers re. taborers; added more south American gold figures

19.10 research. Uploaded more to Austria. Found another Spain website and added photos

18.10 found historical Castille, Spain, thesis. Started to upload 'Europe: Austria'

17.10 research. Found new country: Romania

16.10 research

15.10 uploaded details to '18th century France' Lots more to do. 'Peru' now has its own page.

14.10 finished searching through 1212 illuminated pages in a Bible - lots of instruments but no P&T

13.10 revised England, Regency instruments

12.10 set up this diary

11.10 heard back from an art gallery in USA identifying an Italian 14th century image

10.10 found a source about Spanish past players (in Spanish)

2024

??.?? started this project

2009

"The flutes-with-drums of the world, perhaps with the very complex exception
of the Basque txistu, are currently neither fashionable where they have become "traditional heritage" nor are they held in high regard where, simply, they form part of widespread and current practices of the working classes or minority ethnic groups."

'A COLLECTION OF FLUTE-AND-DRUMS RECORDINGS' Iris Gayete Acero and Teresa Soler Llobet

The pipe and tabor is found on almost every continent. Sometimes this is a continuing tradition, in other places it is a colonial import from Europe; occasionally the player
just likes the sound and has adapted their style and music to suit. In some areas
the pipe and tabor is traditionally played with another instrument, such as the bagpipe.

"One of the common characteristics of all the pipes and drums used in this
combination is that, originally, they are very artisanal instruments, easy
and cheap to build, since they adapt to the materials and possibilities of each
area. The fact that anyone could build their own instrument implies that the sound characteristics are different for each one."

An example of a modern band playing transitional instruments from Morocco.
Alberto Jambrina Leal  has a good collection of Spanish images here.

Three-hole pipes from around the world here

This website is a project in its infancy. Much of the history of the pipe and tabor has
yet to be re-discovered and made available to students of history, music, dance and
the fine arts. The pictures and history gathered together on these pages for the first
time encompass well-known facts and completely original research. It is contributed
to by players, researchers, photographers and individuals, museums and other
organisations such as those involved in early music, architecture, ceramics and fine
art. Research continues.

Click here for Danse de Cleves
So if you know of something that is not yet on this site please contact Frances,
the project manager, who would love to add your knowledge to this pool.
pipe and tabor

Check this site's FAQ for further information about the pipe and tabor today.

From the project manager: copyright. I have tried to locate copyright holders
and gain appropriate permissions. However if you feel I have infringed your
copyright in any way please contact me.

Many different people and organisations have given me permission to use their images
and /or link to their websites. I have tried to acknowledge everyone's contribution
to this project and welcome offers to link and /or add information to this unique and
valuable store of knowledge about a largely unrecognised traditional instrument.

Questions can be put to members of The Taborers Society, a UK organisation
with international contacts, on their discussion site.

If there are any aspects of this Compendium that are not working please let me know
so that I can correct them.
Thank you. +++

for a detailed discussion on the history of the pipe and tabor see
Perkins, Mark, 'The Lyrical Pipe and Tabor' ( 2025).
https://ssrn.com/abstract=5091783  or  http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5091783

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©an on-going project with lots more to add Last modified 28 April, 2026