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| Other names | Taragot, Töröksíp |
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| Written Range: B♭3 to C6 (scientific pitch notation) | |
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Thetárogató (töröksíp,Turkish pipe; pluraltárogatók or, anglicized,tárogatós; ortorogoata) is awoodwind instrument commonly used inHungarian folk music. The modern tárogató was intended to be a recreation of the original tárogató, but the two instruments are thought to have little in common.[1]
Mention of the tárogató in Hungarian writings dates back at least as long ago as the 15th century. It is not clear whether it was first brought into Europe by the Hungarians when they first emigrated from the east in the 9th century. It is certain, however, that instruments of this type, descended from the Middle Easternzurna, were introduced into Eastern Europe by the Turks in the Middle Ages, as evidenced by the term töröksip—"Turkish pipe"—which was used as a synonym for tárogató.[1] It is possible that instruments from both traditions were combined into one entity. The tárogató has a Turkish origin, and it appeared in Hungary during theTurkish wars.[2] Up to about the 18th century, the tárogató was a type ofshawm, with adouble reed,conical bore, and no keys.
Being a very loud and raucous instrument, the tárogató was used as a signaling instrument in battle (like thebugle or thebagpipe). However, depending on the type of reed used, it can also give off a very subtle, and yet, deep, mellow sound when played at a relaxed, steady pace.[1] Because the tárogató was representative of theRákóczi's War for Independence (1703–1711), its use was suppressed in the 18th century by theHabsburg monarchy.[1][2] The instrument was eventually abandoned, being considered too overpowering for a concert hall.[2]
In the 1890s, a modern version was invented byVencel József Schunda, aBudapest instrument maker.[2] It uses a singlereed, like aclarinet orsaxophone, and has a conicalbore, similar to the saxophone. The instrument is made of wood, usually blackgrenadilla wood like a clarinet or oboe. The most common size, the soprano tárogató in B♭, is about 29 inches (74 cm) in length and has a mournful sound similar to a cross between anEnglish horn and a soprano saxophone. Other sizes exist: one maker, János Stowasser, advertised a family of seven sizes of which the largest was a contrabass tárogató in E♭.[1] The new tárogató bears very little resemblance with the historical tárogató and the two instruments should not be confused.[1][3] It has been suggested that the nameschundaphone would have been more accurate, but tárogató was used because of the nationalistic image that the original instrument had.[4]
This instrument was a symbol of Hungarian aristocracy, and the favorite woodwind instrument of GovernorMiklós Horthy.[4] Manufacturing in Hungary ceased afterWorld War II, though tárogatós continued to be made in Romania and other countries. In the 1990s several Hungarian makers started producing the instrument again.
A modern tárogató may occasionally be heard in Act 3 ofTristan und Isolde byRichard Wagner where it has become traditional in some opera houses (e.g. the Royal Opera House, London) to use it instead of the off-stagecor anglais for the last passage (bars 999-1149) of the Shepherd's air, but Wagner did not specify this, merely suggesting in the score "a specially built simple natural instrument".
In the 1920s, Luță Ioviță, who played the instrument in the army duringWorld War I, brought it toBanat (Romania), where it became very popular under the nametaragot.[5] In 1928, the British music journalMelody Maker reported that the Oxford-based clarinettist Frank Dyer was using "a taragossa, a novelty Hungarian instrument which is a cross between a saxophone and a Cor Anglais" with his Symphonic Dance Orchestra. No such instrument as a "taragossa" exists: the rest of the journal's description fits that of the tárogató.[6]
Dumitru Fărcaș, who was born inMaramureș, made the instrument known all over the world and was considered to be the most famous tárogató player.[2][5] German saxophonistPeter Brötzmann has used the tárogató infree jazz andfree improvisation. American reed playersCharles Lloyd,Scott Robinson & Michael Marcus have occasionally used the tárogató.Joe Lovano has also displayed interest in the instrument featuring it extensively in his episode ofSOLOS: The Jazz Sessions, onSteve Kuhn'sMostly Coltrane, and on his own albumsTrio Tapestry andRoma (withEnrico Rava) (bothECM Records). In 2015, Irina Ross, a Romanian singer, released her single "Taragot" which features the instrument in a dance-pop song.[7]
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