Definición
Roncón reed
También conocido como: pita del roncón · drone reed · single reed
Single reed that sounds the Asturian gaita's roncón. A single blade vibrates and produces the continuous low drone, unlike the punteru's double reed.
The roncón reed is the reed that sets the Asturian gaita’s drone in vibration. Unlike the punteru’s reed, which is double, this one is a single reed: one blade of cane that beats against an opening and releases a low, fixed, continuous note.
It usually sits in the lower body of the roncón, inside the bag. Its size and how it’s scraped fix the drone’s note and how much air it consumes; if it loses response, the roncón “chokes” or goes silent.
In Asturian it’s also called pita. Together with the punteru’s reed, these two reeds give the instrument its voice, each with its own mechanics.