Launeddas

{{Short description|Sardinian woodwind instrument made of three pipes}}

{{Infobox instrument

| name = Launeddas

| names =

| image = Launeddas.jpg

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| background = woodwind

| classification = Single-reed aerophone

| hornbostel_sachs = 422.211.2

| hornbostel_sachs_desc = single reed instrument with cylindrical bore and fingerholes

| inventors =

| developed =

| range =

| related = Arghul, bülban, clarinet, diplica, dili tuiduk, dozaleh, cifte, mijwiz, pilili, sipsi, triple pipes, zammara, zummara

| musicians =

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| articles =

}}

The launeddas (also called Sardinian triple clarinet) are a traditional Sardinian woodwind instrument made of three pipes, each of which has an idioglot single reed. They are a polyphonic instrument, with one of the pipes functioning as a drone and the other two playing the melody in thirds and sixths.{{cite book|last=Kroll|first=O.|title=The Clarinet|year=1968|publisher=Taplinger Publishing Company|location=New York, NY}}

Predecessors of the launeddas are found throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East. In 2700 BCE, the Egyptian reed pipes were originally called "memet"; during the Old Kingdom of Egypt (2778–2723 BCE), memets were depicted on the reliefs of seven tombs at Saqqara, six tombs at Giza, and the pyramids of Queen Khentkaus.{{cite book|last=Rice|first=A.R.|title=The Baroque Clarinet|year=1992|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York, NY}}

The Sardinian launeddas themselves are an ancient instrument, being traced back to at least the eighth century BCE,Surian, Alesso. "Tenores and Tarantellas". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pg. 189–201. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. {{ISBN|1-85828-636-0}}. Surian calls the launeddas very ancient, appearing on votive statues from the 8th century BC. as is testified during the Nuragic civilization by an ithyphallic bronze statuette found in Ittiri. The launeddas are still played today during religious ceremonies and dances (su ballu in Sardinian language).Surian, pg. 190 Distinctively, they are played using extensive variations on a few melodic phrases, and a single piece can last over an hour, producing some of the "most elemental and resonant (sounds) in European music".

File:Launeddas llengüeta.JPG|Closeup of the reeds of the launeddas

File:Launeddas.JPG|Laundedas separated for the left and right hands

File:Launeddas3.jpg|A variety of launeddas

File:Launeddas Player.jpg|A Sardinian man in traditional clothing playing the launeddas

File:Civilt%C3%A0_nuragica,_prima_et%C3%A0_del_ferro,_suonatore_di_launeddas_itifallico,_da_ittiri.jpg|Ancient launeddas player from Ittiri