Bladder fiddle: England musical instrument

The bladder fiddle is a folk musical instrument that is used throughout Europe. The musical instrument was a simple large monochord produced with a long stick, a thick gut string and a bladder that is made from the pig. The musical instrument is bowed either with a notched stich or a bow from the horsehair. The bladder fiddle is known with so many names; it is called bumbass in Germany, basse de Flandre in France and in England, it is known as drone. Sometimes in Germany, a bell or cymbal was attached to the top of the instrument for decoration and additional sound. In England the instrument was used by travelling musicians.

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The drum made of and inflated animal bladder or taut animal hide is guided to the center of a long stick. A thick string is then affixed to each extreme of the stick, guiding the bladder. The musical instrument is often performed standing upright by drawing the bow over the string of the musical instrument.

An analogous musical instrument was preserved amongst the Pennsylvania Dutch and is called a boom-ba.