I have been playing my concert pitch pipes in sessions a fair bit lately, great fun but I really prefer playing my pipes pitched in B, they are just nicer to play and sound nicer to me. I have sat in on a few sessions (pipecentric of course) that are in B and it has been great. I am wondering if there is anyone in the NY area who would be interested in playing regularly in B. In my travells I have seen a couple of concertinas in B and a melodion and one or two flutes and of course some fiddlers have been known to tune down.
I feel a little silly asking this now as I am traveling and won't be back in NY until the end of August except for a couple of weeks in July. No harm in getting in early though I suppose.
I would like to know people's thoughts about playing in flat pitch and hear about past experiences.
Out of curiosity, when you say it's a B pipe, what does it mean? If you finger this B note in a "concert pitch" set of pipes, do you get a D? or is it a C? (So, is it one semitone lower or 3 semitones lower than concert pitch?)
I think he probably referring to a B-flat set, which would be 4 semi-tones lower than a D (or concert pitch) set. I haven't heard of a pipe set in B (natural), just in D, C, and Bb. But don't know much about the pipes, at all.
Let me clarify, after speaking to pipers: I was referring to Uillean, or Irish, pipes. On the Scottish Great Highland Pipes, you are traditionally in Bb, although it is more something between Bb and Bnat. The reason is that your trying to get the chanter in tune with the overtones of the drones, which leaves with Just rather than Equal temprament. So, maybe he meant B-nat rather than B-flat.
I know that there are Bb-flutes, a Eb whistle (pretty standard issue) would work, well, and I know that some accordions/concertinas play comfortably in Eb/Bb.
The uilleann pipes I have are pitched in B natural (uilleann pipes do come in Bflat, C, C#, D or concert pitch and Eflat). The tuning is harmonic or just tuning. The pitch can change a little with changes in temperature and/or humidity. The flat pitch pipes have a lovely tone to them.
tunes in flat pitch
tunes in flat pitch
I have been playing my concert pitch pipes in sessions a fair bit lately, great fun but I really prefer playing my pipes pitched in B, they are just nicer to play and sound nicer to me. I have sat in on a few sessions (pipecentric of course) that are in B and it has been great. I am wondering if there is anyone in the NY area who would be interested in playing regularly in B. In my travells I have seen a couple of concertinas in B and a melodion and one or two flutes and of course some fiddlers have been known to tune down.
I feel a little silly asking this now as I am traveling and won't be back in NY until the end of August except for a couple of weeks in July. No harm in getting in early though I suppose.
I would like to know people's thoughts about playing in flat pitch and hear about past experiences.
All the best,
Giles
# Posted on May 21st 2002 by geb
Re: tunes in flat pitch
Out of curiosity, when you say it's a B pipe, what does it mean? If you finger this B note in a "concert pitch" set of pipes, do you get a D? or is it a C? (So, is it one semitone lower or 3 semitones lower than concert pitch?)
# Posted on May 21st 2002 by glauber
Re: tunes in flat pitch
I think he probably referring to a B-flat set, which would be 4 semi-tones lower than a D (or concert pitch) set. I haven't heard of a pipe set in B (natural), just in D, C, and Bb. But don't know much about the pipes, at all.
# Posted on May 21st 2002 by Bloomfield
Re: tunes in flat pitch
Let me clarify, after speaking to pipers: I was referring to Uillean, or Irish, pipes. On the Scottish Great Highland Pipes, you are traditionally in Bb, although it is more something between Bb and Bnat. The reason is that your trying to get the chanter in tune with the overtones of the drones, which leaves with Just rather than Equal temprament. So, maybe he meant B-nat rather than B-flat.
I know that there are Bb-flutes, a Eb whistle (pretty standard issue) would work, well, and I know that some accordions/concertinas play comfortably in Eb/Bb.
# Posted on May 22nd 2002 by Bloomfield
Re: tunes in flat pitch
The uilleann pipes I have are pitched in B natural (uilleann pipes do come in Bflat, C, C#, D or concert pitch and Eflat). The tuning is harmonic or just tuning. The pitch can change a little with changes in temperature and/or humidity. The flat pitch pipes have a lovely tone to them.
# Posted on May 22nd 2002 by geb