Priit Moppel is an Estonian parmupill maker and traditional musician from Tartu. He became fascinated by the jaw harp at the age of fifteen or sixteen after finding a handmade instrument while travelling through Estonia. Moppel tried playing it, copied its drawing and made his first parmupill after returning home.

As a musician, Moppel plays the parmupill, Estonian bagpipe, tin whistle, guitar and bodhrán, and also sings. He performed with Oort, a group that combined old Estonian songs and traditional instruments with contemporary arrangements, and continues to perform Celtic folk music with Paddy’s.

His long experience as a player directly informs his instrument making. When introducing beginners to the parmupill, Moppel starts by explaining its construction and the role of the player’s resonating cavities. He has gradually refined his designs and developed standard, bass and ultrabass versions.

Moppel’s parmupills represented in the catalogue cover a broad range of registers. They are characterised by neat, precise construction, a clean sound, a broad spectrum and good control. The lower instruments have softer reeds, greater sensitivity and longer sustain.

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