gralla
The gralla, also known as grall de pastor, xaramita, dulzaina catalana or xirimita, is a traditional Catalan double reed instrument in the shawm family classified in the group 422.112 in the Hornbostel-Sachs system. The gralla comes from the ancient xeremia a medieval instrument largely used until the Baroque. Probably, the name of the instrument comes from its strident sound similar to the sound of a Jackdaw native to Catalonia and northern Spain and also called 'Gralla' in Catalan. • Illustration — The grallers of a castells team (colla castellera) This traditional instrument is used during the construction and dismantling of human towers or castells and other traditional festivities.
gralla
Eric Sala · CC BY 2.5
- Name
- Gralla
- Field
- dulzaina
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Documentary summary
The gralla, also known as grall de pastor, xaramita, dulzaina catalana or xirimita, is a traditional Catalan double reed instrument in the shawm family classified in the group 422.112 in the Hornbostel-Sachs system. The gralla comes from the ancient xeremia a medieval instrument largely used until the Baroque. Probably, the name of the instrument comes from its strident sound similar to the sound of a Jackdaw native to Catalonia and northern Spain and also called 'Gralla' in Catalan. • Illustration — The grallers of a castells team (colla castellera) This traditional instrument is used during the construction and dismantling of human towers or castells and other traditional festivities.
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gnd · 4478376-0 · wikidata · Q15294559
In this article
Overview
Overview
It is usually played with the timbal, a percussion instrument similar to a drum. The traditional gralla melody used in castells, called the toc de castells, serves to advise the castellers within the tower what stage of the construction their colleagues have reached, as they are unable to see this. The gralla regained popularity in the late 1970s. • Illustration — A gralla player or graller.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Gralla • Names — Grall de pastor, xaramita, xirimita • Background — woodwind • Classification — *Wind • Woodwind • Double reed • Hornbostel Sachs — 422.12 • Hornbostel Sachs Desc — Double-reeded aerophone with conical tube. • Related — *Dolçaina • Xeremia
Types
Types
There are two types of gralla, the seca(dry) and the dolça, (sweet). Both can be characterised by their sound: the gralla seca has a harsher or strident sound while the gralla dolça has metal keys that increase its register.
Components
Components
• Illustration — Closeup of the reeds used in gralles • Cap: in the top of the instrument is where the tudell is inserted with the canya. • Tub: the part between the tudell and the canya or inxa. • Tudell: a conic tube made of metal where the canya is inserted. • Canya or inxa: the double reed. • Cos: the central part of the instrument. A conical wood tube with six gaps in the front side and one in the back. • Campana: the final part that act like an amplifier of the sound and has two gaps in the sides. It is usually covered with metal.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 4478376-0, Gralla.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q15294559: gralla
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Institut de Cultura de Barcelona Web (CC-BY-SA via OTRS). Gralla.
- 2.Gran Enciclopèdia de la Música. 84-412-0236-2.
References
Citations
References
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authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 4478376-0, Gralla.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessauthority record
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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