I have a friend who is a very good piper, but never brings his pipes to sessions. He says that the repetiore & settings are different & he likes to keep the two things separate. He also worries that something may happen to his pipes at a session.
I've thought that the drones & good regulator work kind of makes any other backup obselete. There are exceptions, but I still think one backer at a time is best.
So all you pipers, do you folks ever stay home for these reasons. Or are there just fewer of you than there are flutes fiddles guitars etc.
there's alot fewer of us. On the uilleann mailing list recently we tried to figure our how many pipers there were in the world. By all estimates (and they were pretty good) we finally came up with only about 3000 or so worldwide.
Ive got friends who play pipes and they are always at the pub playing tunes, ive never heard anything so stupid - staying at home cause he is scared his pipes will get wrecked in a session. I bet Seamus Ennis and Willie Clancy never said anything like that.
Worrying about them getting damaged at a session is going a bit far unless your session is at a particularly rowdy pub where they throw chairs etc or if you know that you get really tanked at the session and fall over.
The other reasons are fair enough. I have been to loads of fiddle and box dominated sessions where most of what is played is great for those instruments but hopeless to try playing on pipes, fun on whistles tho.
I have neglected going to sessions this year, my pipes generally dont work well here in NY over the winter and its a pain getting them going, even in the house. Once spring got here I have only been playing my flat set which is fantastic to play, and haven't tuned up the concert pitch set. That and work and family commitments have kept me away from the sessions around here recently )=
We're moving back to Adelaide in about 6 months and I want to get a little kitchen session going regularly there with some old friends.
Yeah, pretty paranoid. I play my full set at pub sessions 1 - 2 times a week and theres never any probs. you'll find most musos will keep their eyes on peoples instruments.
Get your friend to pull out the stock and just bring the basic set to 'ease' him into it. (then he has to worry about the drones and regs left unattended at home ).
so whats this uilleann mailing list?? details anyone?
Andrew
We had a highland smallpiper appeared at out sesh and he said he wouldn't come again as no-one played his repertoire (scottish). Actually, her was sat in the wrong corner of the room and the people who did know his stuff were in the opposite corner.
I encouraged him to continue coming and by the fourth time, people seem to be playing along with him and even some of the learners are playing along in A.
I sit in with an uillean piper occasionally, I stick to the quietest stop with no bass and accordion and pipes work very well (in the wright hands!!).
When you ask around, it is amazing how many closet pipers there are who posess a set but don't play them in public. (A good idea said the cynic).
A good uillean piper is always, always more than appreciated at a session. They possess the most lovliest sound that's to be found at a session (flutes also). I play bodhrán meself and find it a treat to have a good set of pipes involved.
I personally know 5 pipers in the New England area and they all play in sessions when they can. Touchy, tell your friend to get the heck out the house and start going to sessions!
Dammit, the world needs more pipers! You mean to say they're all sitting playing secretly at home? Let's get out in the streets with our flaming torches, and drag them down to the sessions...
Brad! it's you!! hahahahaha............One of the pipers I mentioned above is Benedict, the great pipe maker of Vermont. He's going to be leading a session next Tuesday at White River Jct, Vermont. I guarantee there will be at least five pipers showing up to this one. If you like pipes like I do, it will be fun....
I'm not sure if there is a link to the UP mailing list here but check out the link here to uillean pipes obsession page, from there there are links to David Day's UP mailing list
All you pipers that have flat sets - why don't you initiate the occasional Bb/B/C sessions, instead of just playing them at home, which is plain mean...
I never hear of such a thing happening in London. But Bb flutes seem to be all the rage, so you wouldn't be on your own. Go on...
The fear of getting his pipes broken/stolen is very small, but I think it's the straw that breaks the camels back. He did have someone steal his fiddle & a toolbox on a trip here then he had to drive an hour home in a icestorm w/o a windsheild. That would be enough for me.
Michael McGoldrick plays his pipes at sessions here in sunny Manchester, but they’re not as common as I'd like.
Bb's a great Idea I could play my big pipes and have people join in.
I play regularly with a Northumberland Piper and he has a really lovely set in F#. When playing the guitar with him I just tune down a semitone and it works fine. I also made a C# whistle to play his tunes.
I play my big pipes sparingly (one or two short sets) at sessions, and the rest of the time I play my Deger electronic Pipes.
Those electronic chanters, are they for bagpipes only? Is this a hilariously naive question - can you get electronic uillean pipe chanters? (I'm struggling to imagine how that would work, though...)
I've just been doing some research... apparently, Manfred Deger doesn't make electronic uillean pipe chanters at the moment, only bagpipe chanters. Otherwise, I'd kind of be intrigued enough to think about it... I've always sworn I'd never attempt the pipes, much as I adore them - but it might be interesting to have a go on the ersatz electronic kind! Also there is an A whistle with uillean pipes fingering... for learning purposes... you can see all this stuff at: http:www.songsea.com
Oh well, I should probly make a bit more progress on the plain ordinary whistle first!
Ooh, Ow - I visited the http://web.qx.net/clark/ site - apart from a near-miss migraine, thanks to the screaming graphics, I found that their electronic UP are back in development after a lull. But they didn't really explain the idea - is this a chanter with authentic UP fingering, or is it a midi-gizmo that aims to sound like the real thing, with some other form of input?
Confused of East London.
Our local small pipes player has an electronic chanter that emulates highland and small pipes. The "holes" are actually just electric contacts and his fingers complete the circuit when he places them on the contacts. He plays through a small amp. The sound is remarkably close to real pipes, nice and reedy and crisp. When he plays at our session, most of the punters are sure there's a full set of pipes in the room. And he recently got an electronic uillean chanter, which works on the same principle. I'm eager to hear that.
These e-chanters are ideal for practicing--you can play them right into a set of headphones and play right next to a sleeping baby. Sean says the cuts and crans feel the same. Not saying they'll ever replace the voice of air through chanter, but it's amazingly close.
There used to be a piper at the session I used to go to who had one of those e-chanters on his uilleann. His had a button you could hold down that would cut or tap notes depending on how the internal computer predicted the pattern of the melody contour, and another button for easy-to-execute rolls. I thought that was cheating...
I think the problem is that to make a really useful practice electronic Uillean Pipe you'd need it to have a bag type bit to facilitate popping and I think (considering the size of the market) It would be to expensive to make commercially.
The Deger costs £300 ish and there are probably at least 10 GHP players to every Uillean Piper.
I am presently a low whistle player - i read this discussion with interest. Make me a low Bb i'll be at the Bb session! My real questions are - I have a burning desire to become the 3001st piper!! How can I go about starting this quest? I need ideas of a rough cost and which pipes to start with and where can I get them from etc.etc. please send any info you can my way. Also where abouts is the Michael McGoldrick sess in Manchester and what day?
Will - where did your sessionmate get his electronic UP chanter? Please report back on it when you see and hear it, with full technical details please!
PP - what does GHP stand for? *Something* Highland Pipes?
Great stuff, thanks Will. I'll be very interested to hear about it. I'm sure I would be wiser to fight this urge, but... I can at least find out about the electronic practice sets, can't I? No harm in that, surely? (whistling innocently).
go to the Chiff and fipple UP forum - ask this question there (or read the old discussions) this comes up a lot, and there is lots of good info to be had from the forum members.
well as i piper myself i suffer from the same syndrome!u imagine goin to a session and seein every1relaxing and not having to work to hard at playin a tune while u urself come out at the other end of a session feelin like uv run a country mile!its that wer al to lazy!!!!
Pipers
Pipers
I have a friend who is a very good piper, but never brings his pipes to sessions. He says that the repetiore & settings are different & he likes to keep the two things separate. He also worries that something may happen to his pipes at a session.
I've thought that the drones & good regulator work kind of makes any other backup obselete. There are exceptions, but I still think one backer at a time is best.
So all you pipers, do you folks ever stay home for these reasons. Or are there just fewer of you than there are flutes fiddles guitars etc.
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Brad Maloney
Re: Pipers
there's alot fewer of us. On the uilleann mailing list recently we tried to figure our how many pipers there were in the world. By all estimates (and they were pretty good) we finally came up with only about 3000 or so worldwide.
we're a rare breed.
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by anima
Re: Pipers
I guess that's that, If I wasn't busy enough with the fiddle & had the money I'd gladly make that number 3001. But I don't think that'll happen.
Back to the point, do you ever stay at home for those reasons I spoke about? Or are you out at every session you can manage to get to?
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Brad Maloney
Re: Pipers
Ive got friends who play pipes and they are always at the pub playing tunes, ive never heard anything so stupid - staying at home cause he is scared his pipes will get wrecked in a session. I bet Seamus Ennis and Willie Clancy never said anything like that.
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by shoddy fiddle player
Re: Pipers
I also think it's rather silly.
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Dow
Re: Pipers
Worrying about them getting damaged at a session is going a bit far unless your session is at a particularly rowdy pub where they throw chairs etc or if you know that you get really tanked at the session and fall over.
The other reasons are fair enough. I have been to loads of fiddle and box dominated sessions where most of what is played is great for those instruments but hopeless to try playing on pipes, fun on whistles tho.
I have neglected going to sessions this year, my pipes generally dont work well here in NY over the winter and its a pain getting them going, even in the house. Once spring got here I have only been playing my flat set which is fantastic to play, and haven't tuned up the concert pitch set. That and work and family commitments have kept me away from the sessions around here recently )=
We're moving back to Adelaide in about 6 months and I want to get a little kitchen session going regularly there with some old friends.
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by geb
Re: Pipers
Yeah, pretty paranoid. I play my full set at pub sessions 1 - 2 times a week and theres never any probs. you'll find most musos will keep their eyes on peoples instruments.
).
Get your friend to pull out the stock and just bring the basic set to 'ease' him into it. (then he has to worry about the drones and regs left unattended at home
so whats this uilleann mailing list?? details anyone?
Andrew
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Amckay
Re: Encourage Pipers!!
We had a highland smallpiper appeared at out sesh and he said he wouldn't come again as no-one played his repertoire (scottish). Actually, her was sat in the wrong corner of the room and the people who did know his stuff were in the opposite corner.
I encouraged him to continue coming and by the fourth time, people seem to be playing along with him and even some of the learners are playing along in A.
I sit in with an uillean piper occasionally, I stick to the quietest stop with no bass and accordion and pipes work very well (in the wright hands!!).
When you ask around, it is amazing how many closet pipers there are who posess a set but don't play them in public. (A good idea said the cynic).
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by geoffwright
Re: Pipers
A good uillean piper is always, always more than appreciated at a session. They possess the most lovliest sound that's to be found at a session (flutes also). I play bodhrán meself and find it a treat to have a good set of pipes involved.
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by jdcorcra
Re: Pipers
I personally know 5 pipers in the New England area and they all play in sessions when they can. Touchy, tell your friend to get the heck out the house and start going to sessions!
Joyce
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by JMH
Re: Pipers
Dammit, the world needs more pipers! You mean to say they're all sitting playing secretly at home? Let's get out in the streets with our flaming torches, and drag them down to the sessions...
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by Nell
Re: Pipers
Brad! it's you!! hahahahaha............One of the pipers I mentioned above is Benedict, the great pipe maker of Vermont. He's going to be leading a session next Tuesday at White River Jct, Vermont. I guarantee there will be at least five pipers showing up to this one. If you like pipes like I do, it will be fun....
Joyce
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by JMH
Re: Pipers
i play pipes too and was wondering if you coudl fill us in on the mailing list details,
Thanks
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by mackers
Re: Pipers
I'm not sure if there is a link to the UP mailing list here but check out the link here to uillean pipes obsession page, from there there are links to David Day's UP mailing list
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by geb
Re: Pipers - flat sessions
All you pipers that have flat sets - why don't you initiate the occasional Bb/B/C sessions, instead of just playing them at home, which is plain mean...
I never hear of such a thing happening in London. But Bb flutes seem to be all the rage, so you wouldn't be on your own. Go on...
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by Nell
Re: Pipers
I suppose that means I have to start making B-flat mandolins.
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by OrganicPeatCreature
Re: Pipers
The fear of getting his pipes broken/stolen is very small, but I think it's the straw that breaks the camels back. He did have someone steal his fiddle & a toolbox on a trip here then he had to drive an hour home in a icestorm w/o a windsheild. That would be enough for me.
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by Brad Maloney
Re: Pipers
Hi David, you're back! Go on then, Bb mandolins! Bb everything! I'm all in favour...
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by Nell
Re: Pipers
there seem to be two major online discussions for the UP, one is Dave Daye's Uilleann email list
http://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=uilleann&A=1
the other (and busier) is the Chiff and fipple UP forum
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewforum.php?forum=6&210
I like the chiff forum the best and use it as my homepage.
Jeff
Kansas City
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by anima
Re: Pipers
Michael McGoldrick plays his pipes at sessions here in sunny Manchester, but they’re not as common as I'd like.
Bb's a great Idea I could play my big pipes and have people join in.
I play regularly with a Northumberland Piper and he has a really lovely set in F#. When playing the guitar with him I just tune down a semitone and it works fine. I also made a C# whistle to play his tunes.
I play my big pipes sparingly (one or two short sets) at sessions, and the rest of the time I play my Deger electronic Pipes.
PP
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by Pied Piper
Re: Pipers
Those electronic chanters, are they for bagpipes only? Is this a hilariously naive question - can you get electronic uillean pipe chanters? (I'm struggling to imagine how that would work, though...)
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by Nell
Re: Pipers
Electronic uilleann pipes? That sounds like an oxymoron. I'm curious but not sure if I really want to know : )
# Posted on September 5th 2003 by JMH
Re: Pipers
I've just been doing some research... apparently, Manfred Deger doesn't make electronic uillean pipe chanters at the moment, only bagpipe chanters. Otherwise, I'd kind of be intrigued enough to think about it... I've always sworn I'd never attempt the pipes, much as I adore them - but it might be interesting to have a go on the ersatz electronic kind! Also there is an A whistle with uillean pipes fingering... for learning purposes... you can see all this stuff at: http:www.songsea.com
Oh well, I should probly make a bit more progress on the plain ordinary whistle first!
# Posted on September 5th 2003 by Nell
Re: Pipers
These folks have been promising an electronic UP for a while now.
http://web.qx.net/clark/
Also Jose Angel Hevia plays an electronic midi Gaita (Spanish bagpipe) that can also emulate the UP
http://www.hevia.es/
# Posted on September 5th 2003 by anima
Re: Pipers
Ooh, Ow - I visited the http://web.qx.net/clark/ site - apart from a near-miss migraine, thanks to the screaming graphics, I found that their electronic UP are back in development after a lull. But they didn't really explain the idea - is this a chanter with authentic UP fingering, or is it a midi-gizmo that aims to sound like the real thing, with some other form of input?
Confused of East London.
# Posted on September 5th 2003 by Nell
Re: Pipers
Our local small pipes player has an electronic chanter that emulates highland and small pipes. The "holes" are actually just electric contacts and his fingers complete the circuit when he places them on the contacts. He plays through a small amp. The sound is remarkably close to real pipes, nice and reedy and crisp. When he plays at our session, most of the punters are sure there's a full set of pipes in the room. And he recently got an electronic uillean chanter, which works on the same principle. I'm eager to hear that.
These e-chanters are ideal for practicing--you can play them right into a set of headphones and play right next to a sleeping baby. Sean says the cuts and crans feel the same. Not saying they'll ever replace the voice of air through chanter, but it's amazingly close.
# Posted on September 5th 2003 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: Pipers
There used to be a piper at the session I used to go to who had one of those e-chanters on his uilleann. His had a button you could hold down that would cut or tap notes depending on how the internal computer predicted the pattern of the melody contour, and another button for easy-to-execute rolls. I thought that was cheating...
# Posted on September 5th 2003 by Dow
Re: Pipers
I think the problem is that to make a really useful practice electronic Uillean Pipe you'd need it to have a bag type bit to facilitate popping and I think (considering the size of the market) It would be to expensive to make commercially.
The Deger costs £300 ish and there are probably at least 10 GHP players to every Uillean Piper.
PP
# Posted on September 5th 2003 by Pied Piper
Re: Pipers
I am presently a low whistle player - i read this discussion with interest. Make me a low Bb i'll be at the Bb session! My real questions are - I have a burning desire to become the 3001st piper!! How can I go about starting this quest? I need ideas of a rough cost and which pipes to start with and where can I get them from etc.etc. please send any info you can my way. Also where abouts is the Michael McGoldrick sess in Manchester and what day?
Thanks all, look forward to hearing from you.
# Posted on September 7th 2003 by jkneale
Re: Pipers
Will - where did your sessionmate get his electronic UP chanter? Please report back on it when you see and hear it, with full technical details please!
PP - what does GHP stand for? *Something* Highland Pipes?
# Posted on September 8th 2003 by Nell
Re: Pipers
Helen, it might be a week or two, but when I next see him, I'll get all the details for you.
# Posted on September 8th 2003 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: Pipers
Great stuff, thanks Will. I'll be very interested to hear about it. I'm sure I would be wiser to fight this urge, but... I can at least find out about the electronic practice sets, can't I? No harm in that, surely? (whistling innocently).
# Posted on September 8th 2003 by Nell
Re: Pipers
Great Highland Bagpipe.
A bit pompous, but the abbreviation is used on quite a few other sites I've visited.
PP
# Posted on September 8th 2003 by Pied Piper
Re: Pipers
jkneale,
go to the Chiff and fipple UP forum - ask this question there (or read the old discussions) this comes up a lot, and there is lots of good info to be had from the forum members.
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewforum.php?forum=6&210
Jeff
# Posted on September 8th 2003 by anima
Re: Pipers
Oops that would be GHB.
PP
# Posted on September 8th 2003 by Pied Piper
Re: Pipers
Coincidentally similar to GBH?
# Posted on September 8th 2003 by Nell
Re: Pipers
well as i piper myself i suffer from the same syndrome!u imagine goin to a session and seein every1relaxing and not having to work to hard at playin a tune while u urself come out at the other end of a session feelin like uv run a country mile!its that wer al to lazy!!!!
# Posted on September 13th 2003 by needaliver