Instruments

BAGPIPING (HIGHLAND)

The Great Highland Bagpipe is the most famous of all bagpipes. Its unmistakable design, with three drones, was developed in Scotland around 200 years ago. Sometimes called 'War pipes', they were used in countless battles in days of yore, to stir the warriors into battle as well as being a signaling instrument atop Castle battlements. With their rousing effect on the oppressed Scottish people, the Bagpipes were banned at this time by the English. The penalties for breaking this law were severe, and many a Piper was publicly executed by hanging, both in Scotland and Ireland.

It is due partly to the rich and often brutal history attached to this instrument that it remains so popular to this day. Its use in funerals, weddings, army ceremonies and even mad parties has stayed with us throughout the ages, and indeed the whole Pipe-Band scene has a huge following.

I am a member of St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band, Dublin, but also perform solo at a variety of suitable occasions. My involvement with the group "Lua" gives me the opportunity to combine bagpipes with a host of other instruments, including keyboards, trumpet, guitar, and percussion, and I have also performed with Silver Bands at Newry and Warrenpoint Town Halls.

UILLEANN PIPING

The Uilleann pipes take their name from the Gaelic word for 'elbow', the player using both arms to supply air to the instrument. They were invented in Ireland around the 18th century, for indoor use, and remain the world's most complex bagpipe.

The air being supplied by a bellows, the instrument features a chanter capable of a chromatic scale ranging two full octaves, three drones, and three 'regulators'- keyed chanters used to provide harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment to the melody.

Not only are they evidently a very demanding instrument to play, but also the piper is in control of an instrument of enormous musical scope and subtlety, furthermore a serious piper also needs to be skilled in reed-making in order to maintain this often temperamental piece of equipment.

While Uilleann Pipes were sometimes deployed in the same ways as their cousin, the Highland Pipes, they were used mainly for entertainment at the houses of the rich and noble, and so we are left with an image of pipers who travelled around the country playing for a living.

This bagpipe not only stands out as a solo instrument, it also combines very well with most other instruments, from traditional to classical, and they have featured in a number of high profile groups in recent years.

Treagh, Inniskeen, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland
T: 00353 (0)42 9377575
M: 00353 (0) 877761585
E: info@groundbassmusic.co.uk

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