Construction of the bagpipes of Żywiec

This procedure for making the bagpipes of Żywiec [dudy żywieckie] was produced by Łukasz Cul, as a result of his participation in the 2nd Master School of Folk Instruments Makers, a programme of the Institute of Music and Dance in Warsaw.

Łukasz Cul studied instrument making with Edward Byrtek, as part of a one-on-one course conducted by the master between 1 June and 30 October 2013 at the master’s workshop in the village of Pewel Wielka, near Jeleśnia.

Edward Byrtek is the most prominent bagpiper of the region of Żywiec. Together with his two brothers, Władysław and Józef, both fiddlers, he forms The Byrtek Brothers Band (Kapela Braci Byrtków), but he also performs solo on frequent occasions. He is a recognised instrument maker, specialising in the bagpipes of the Żywiec region, and makes good use of the knowledge and workshop handed down to him by Władysław Pluta. Folk music runs deep in his family, a tradition that starting with his father, the legendary, self-taught fiddler Karol Byrtek (1907–1989). The Byrtek Family Band (Kapela Rodziny Byrtków) succeeded to win a range of most prestigious awards thanks to their authenticity and genuine performing style in the 1960s and 70s. The band performed across Poland and toured internationally together with leading folk bands of the Żywiec region of the time, including Beskidy, Jodły
and Gronie. In appreciation for their merit, Karol Byrtek’s band was handed the Oskar Kolberg Award in 1984.

Edward Byrtek has won a number of prizes at the Festival of Folk Bands and Singers in  Kazimier nad Wisłą (including the Baszta prize for the best band in 2008), along with other awards received individually or with his band (e.g. at the Festival of Polish Highland Folklore in Żywiec).

Łukasz Cul was born on 23 September 1996 in Żywiec and currently attends the school of mechanical and electrical engineering in his hometown. In 2005 he became a dancer and musician with the regional Hajduki vocal and dance band of Pewel Ślemieńska. In 2011 he started learning to play the bagpipes of Żywiec under Przemysław Fick. In 2012 he took part in the 13th international bagpipers’ competition “Gajdovačka” in Oravská Polhora (Slovakia) and the 23rd Unique Folk Instruments Competition in Brzuśnik, where his bagpipe performance won the 2nd prize in the youth category. Together with Przemysław Flick, Cul won the 1st prize in the Master and Student category at the 2013 Festival of Polish Highland Folklore and the 1st prize in the adult instrumentalists category at the 24th Unique Folk Instruments Competition in Milówka.

The biographical notes have been developed based on workshop documentation. They have been edited and translated by the Institute of Music and Dance in Warsaw.

Photo by Piotr Baczewski – workshops on the construction of the basy of Radom held as part of the 1st Master School of Folk Instruments Makers in Kuźnica with the participation of Piotr Sikora and Michał Maziarz.