The Tahora Diaries - Bullroarer Workshop

Helen Capes plays Northumbrian Pipes and Bullroarers - not sure what the connection is.

For the uninitiated [according to Wikipedia] Bullroarers have been used by a number of indigenous cultures in Australia, Africa, the British Isles, North America, New Zealand and other parts of Polynesia. The New Zealand Maori called them purerehua.



The bullroarer was made of a thin, flat piece of wood, shaped in elliptical form with pointed ends.
A cord about a metre or so in length was attached to one end and the other end was attached to a handle - although this didn't appear to be necessary for the success of the ones made in the workshop.



The operator whirled the instrument with increasing velocity until it emitted a whirring sound [ and made sure they got out of its way!!]

A simple but very effective instrument and thanks to Helen for bringing all the bits necessary to make one.