It fits the range of the Border Pipes, bellows - blown bagpipes once used
generally in Northern England and Southern Scotland and now being made and played again by enthusiasts. Their range is, I think:
C D E F# G A B c d - (The C's being natural).
But I don't think it's much of a tune. A lot of tunes played on Border Pipes, and early Northumbrian Pipes (with, at first, one octave in G major), have survived in manuscripts and books, even if they haven't been played continuously, but they're not always very good tunes, though some certainly are.
"Drops Of Brandy" and "Give Us A Drink Of Water", mentioned above, are much better tunes ; the first fits within the pipe scales I've mentioned, the second extends beyond them.
The Scottish border pipes are generally in A and have the same notes as the Highlands (albeit in concert pitch) - G A B C# D E F# G A. Many other notes can be got through half holing and so forth and Gordon Duncan wrote a number of tunes with C naturals. He and others like Ali Hutton and Ross Ainslie (both Gordon's pupils) are really pushing the boundaries of the pipes. Ross wrote a tune called The Dirty Bee with the first part in D and the second in Gm (complete with Bb's).
Looking at your post again though Nicholas those notes would be right for Border or small pipes in D - which are also fairly common - so after a lot of waffle I am back to where you left off!!
Again - this tune above would only fit on the Border Pipes if they were tuned to D - which is less usual. A is much more normal in which case this tune would not fit because the pipes would be unable to get below the G note. Of course it could be transposed up to the key of D - then it would fit fine.
Thanks Alistair, I'm always apprehensive when I've pontificated in case an expert logs on and turns up the heat...anyway, I frequently hear someone here who plays (bellows-blown) Border pipes in D with flat C top and bottom.
Good God - I am no piping expert. I went to "Learn the Irish Pipes in a Day" at Celtic Connections if that counts? - I didn't by the way!!
The session I go to in Carnoustie has a guy playing small pipes in D - all the tunes are transposed though to fit his pipes. I have not heard too many actual Border pipes in D but they are certainly out there. Ali and Ross both play A pipes. So does Fred Morrison and so forth. That is why I said they were more usual. I don't know about the historical situation though.
A Scottish piper Donald Lindsay got a grant to have a set of chromatic small pipes made by Nigel Richards. In the end they were pitched in C although any key would be possible on request. He was explaining to me that they have the same number of holes as normal small pipes but the top hole is a "flea hole" like on Eastern European pipes. This means that whatever note he plas if he lifts that hole it goie up a semitone! They still only have one octave though. Apparently you get a similar affect if you stick one of those little white lollipop sticks in the top hole!!!!!!!!
Back on topic: the tune is called McDonnell's Rant. There's an online transcription here http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/Mc_MEN.htm#McDONNELL'S_(SLIP_JIG). This one has 2nd time endings on both parts which don't appear in your version. Why don't you submit it in the tunes section? It's a nice tune.
Oh dear, unless the teacher or a fellow pupil is a member here then that question is on a par with the (in)famous TV quiz question "What are the contents of a lady's handbag" (the answer, which no-one guessed, was apparently a "rawl plug", of all things).
Do you know this tune?
Do you know this tune?
X: 1
T: Gan Ainm
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
R: slip jig
K: Gmaj
BAG GDG GDG|BAG GDG ABc|BAG GDG GDG|cAF FDF ABc:|
d2d BGG BGG|d2d BGG ABc|d2d BGG BGG|cAF FDF ABc:|
Do you know this tune? I know it from somewhere... some mp3 maybe... I think played on Northumbrian pipes... It's a cool tune, isn't it?
# Posted on September 9th 2006 by Pere
Re: Do you know this tune?
It's sounds a bit like 'Drops of Brandy'.
# Posted on September 9th 2006 by curlew
Re: Do you know this tune?
Or a little similiar to "Give us a Drink of Water"
# Posted on September 9th 2006 by 52Paddy
Re: Do you know this tune?
I've found the file and this is the correct transcription:
X: 1
T: Gan Ainm
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
R: slip jig
K: Gmaj
BAG GAG GDG|BAG GDG ABc|BAG GAG GDG|cAF FAF ABc:|
d2d BGG BGG|d2d BGG ABc|d2d BGG BGG|cAF FDF ABc:|
# Posted on September 9th 2006 by Pere
Re: Do you know this tune?
No not correct... pfff... Last bar-----> |cAF FAF ABc:|
# Posted on September 9th 2006 by Pere
Re: Do you know this tune?
It fits the range of the Border Pipes, bellows - blown bagpipes once used
generally in Northern England and Southern Scotland and now being made and played again by enthusiasts. Their range is, I think:
C D E F# G A B c d - (The C's being natural).
But I don't think it's much of a tune. A lot of tunes played on Border Pipes, and early Northumbrian Pipes (with, at first, one octave in G major), have survived in manuscripts and books, even if they haven't been played continuously, but they're not always very good tunes, though some certainly are.
"Drops Of Brandy" and "Give Us A Drink Of Water", mentioned above, are much better tunes ; the first fits within the pipe scales I've mentioned, the second extends beyond them.
# Posted on September 9th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Do you know this tune?
The Scottish border pipes are generally in A and have the same notes as the Highlands (albeit in concert pitch) - G A B C# D E F# G A. Many other notes can be got through half holing and so forth and Gordon Duncan wrote a number of tunes with C naturals. He and others like Ali Hutton and Ross Ainslie (both Gordon's pupils) are really pushing the boundaries of the pipes. Ross wrote a tune called The Dirty Bee with the first part in D and the second in Gm (complete with Bb's).
Looking at your post again though Nicholas those notes would be right for Border or small pipes in D - which are also fairly common - so after a lot of waffle I am back to where you left off!!
# Posted on September 9th 2006 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Do you know this tune?
Again - this tune above would only fit on the Border Pipes if they were tuned to D - which is less usual. A is much more normal in which case this tune would not fit because the pipes would be unable to get below the G note. Of course it could be transposed up to the key of D - then it would fit fine.
# Posted on September 10th 2006 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Do you know this tune?
Thanks Alistair, I'm always apprehensive when I've pontificated in case an expert logs on and turns up the heat...anyway, I frequently hear someone here who plays (bellows-blown) Border pipes in D with flat C top and bottom.
# Posted on September 10th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Do you know this tune?
Good God - I am no piping expert. I went to "Learn the Irish Pipes in a Day" at Celtic Connections if that counts? - I didn't by the way!!
The session I go to in Carnoustie has a guy playing small pipes in D - all the tunes are transposed though to fit his pipes. I have not heard too many actual Border pipes in D but they are certainly out there. Ali and Ross both play A pipes. So does Fred Morrison and so forth. That is why I said they were more usual. I don't know about the historical situation though.
A Scottish piper Donald Lindsay got a grant to have a set of chromatic small pipes made by Nigel Richards. In the end they were pitched in C although any key would be possible on request. He was explaining to me that they have the same number of holes as normal small pipes but the top hole is a "flea hole" like on Eastern European pipes. This means that whatever note he plas if he lifts that hole it goie up a semitone! They still only have one octave though. Apparently you get a similar affect if you stick one of those little white lollipop sticks in the top hole!!!!!!!!
# Posted on September 10th 2006 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Do you know this tune?
Back on topic: the tune is called McDonnell's Rant. There's an online transcription here http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/Mc_MEN.htm#McDONNELL'S_(SLIP_JIG). This one has 2nd time endings on both parts which don't appear in your version. Why don't you submit it in the tunes section? It's a nice tune.
# Posted on September 10th 2006 by Dr. Dow
Re: Do you know this tune?
try that link again http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/Mc_MEN.htm#McDONNELL'S_(SLIP_JIG)
# Posted on September 10th 2006 by Dr. Dow
Re: Do you know this tune?
grrr stupid computer I hate you
# Posted on September 10th 2006 by Dr. Dow
Re: Do you know this tune?
Thanks!
# Posted on September 10th 2006 by Pere
Re: Do you know this tune?
Ok it's here:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6180
# Posted on September 10th 2006 by Pere
Re: Do you know this tune?
does any one have the music my teacher played 3 tunes that a was meant to record but it didnt work and I know the dirty bee is one of them
# Posted on March 13th 2007 by pony girl
Re: Do you know this tune?
Oh dear, unless the teacher or a fellow pupil is a member here then that question is on a par with the (in)famous TV quiz question "What are the contents of a lady's handbag" (the answer, which no-one guessed, was apparently a "rawl plug", of all things).
# Posted on March 13th 2007 by Trevor Jennings