In what way is your craft linked to the region you live in?
The gaita is the musical symbol of Galicia. Therefore, to make a bagpipe is to make a piece of Galicia, and to export a bagpipe is to export a piece of Galicia around the world. We work for music and for our country, Galicia.
What is involved in making bagpipes?
You go through different stages and you need to master several craft techniques: not only woodworking but also metalworking, corking and sewing. In the past they were made with goatskin, so the craftsman had to know everything related to working with this leather.
© GSUS FDEZ
Are you inspired by the traditions of the instrument?
We want to update the contemporary bagpipe but we always pay homage to the past. We want to recreate bagpipes that are no longer made, and we do this by referring to old photos or illustrations.
Can bagpipe making be innovative?
We always want to improve the instrument, a process that involves continuous communication between piper and craftsman. For example, one part of a bagpipe is usually made of cane, but it suffers in the humidity, so we patented a synthetic material that produces the same sound but is more reliable.