Mentioned in Cornish documentary sources from ca. 1150 to 1830; Iconographic sources (15th and 16th century church bench end carvings) encountered in Altarnun (Cornish: Alternonn), Davidstow (Lanndhewi), St Austell (S. Austel) and Braddock (Brodhek) [the bagpipe with single chanter, depicted on the east wall of St Mary Magdalene church in Launceston (Lannstevan), is of a common mediaeval type (ca. 1520-1540), and probably not typical Cornish]; Common in the 19th century; A modest revival started in the late 20th century; According to McCandless "a vague term".

One chanter plays the upper half of the octave, the other the lower half; Both chanters can play the tonic note and thus, using covered fingering, one can create a constant drone whilst playing the melody.

Gwenloitheg, Pib sagh kernewek, Pwyannwn