How to make a Saxon reed pipe

The reconstruction cameo for this programme was based on Saxon musical instruments. Experimental archaeologist and ancient music expert Graeme Lawson has been making replicas of ancient instruments for years and here at Nassington he made a reed pipe. You can try to make one yourself by following Graeme's step-by-step plan.

1. First of all you need a straight length of elder wood about 2cm in diameter and 30cm long to be the shaft of the pipe. Elder grows with nodes along its length (like bamboo) so make sure you cut your piece between nodes so that it is as straight as possible.
2. Elder grows with wood on the outside, enclosing a spongy pith centre. You need to carefully remove the pith with a metal rod or drill and then clean out the hollow shaft.
3. Remove the bark and clean the shaft by gently scraping with a pocket knife. You then need to whittle a flat surface on the shaft to accommodate the note holes.
4. Carefully bore out the note holes with the tip of a knife, taking care not to split the wood.
5. Cut a shallow rebate around one end to accommodate the trumpet end. This is intended to amplify the sound. You can use alternatives such as a cut-off plastic bottle for this part if you don't have the traditional cow horn to hand.
6. Cut a long reed from last year's growth and from this cut a section about 10cm long. Using a thin knife cut across the reed about 1cm down from a node and about 1mm deep. Then carefully turn the knife and cut along the reed for about 3cm. You may need to cut a few before you get one that makes a sound.
7. Put the parts together and play.

Back to Nassington

Text only