Pastoral Pipes

Just wanted to post this interesting talk about Pastoral Pipes. I've been working on offering pastoral pipes for some time. Unfortunately I've had very little direct contact with any sets. If anyone has a set they'd like me to reed for them for free I'd much appreciate the chance to spend time with one.

chalumeaux

The idea of regulators for smallpipes came up again on Bobdunsire.com. The idea has spent a lot of time in my mind over the years. But I've long been against the idea of simply using uilleann style regulators, but with smallpipe bores, with a set of smallpipes. It would mean changing too much of the fundamental essence of smallpipes for it to work (for me). But this time when the idea came up, I thought about the Musette De Cour and it's "petite chalumeau". The Musette De Cour is a baroque (I think?) bagpipe of the french court. Basically a smallpipe for playing classical music with. And the petite chalumeau is kind of like a little northumbrian chanter, in that the pipe is stopped, which sits next to the chanter, and is activated by the free right thumb, and left pinkie. It usually plays about six notes, but apparently they are all very high pitched notes, most of them going above the range of the chanter.

With this sort of set-up in mind, it would be fairly simple to make a stopped second smallpipe chanter, the same length as the first (or not, it could be a D with an A or vice versa), that sat next to the first, that could play two or three notes activated by the thumb, and two or three activated by the pinkie. It would allow a smallpipe player to add simple regulator-like harmony to his or her playing. I think it would work very nicely. Imagine playing Hector the Hero, with baritone drone a-blazing, and throwing in seconds, all by yourself.

Unfortunately, this is one of those thoughts I have that makes me wish I had a rich patron that encouraged me to pursue this wild ideas. For now, I'll file this away for things to do when I retire. ;)

The Set That Got Away

I've posted four new pictures of a set of border pipes to the Old Pipes Gallery. Paul Roberts sent them along. They were a set of pipes being offered for sale some years ago, possibly in Australia. Apparently Paul just missed purchasing them, and never saw them in person. They appear to be 18th century. If anyone has any information about these pipes. Pipe up.

Bagpipediscs.com

The great Ian Lawther of Bagpipediscs.com asked if I was interested in putting up a banner ad on his website. And all I needed to do was put a link on my website. So check out my new Banner Ad on Bagpipediscs.com.

It's on the first page. Just hit refresh until it appears.

Old Pipes

Over the past week I've exchanged a few emails with Jeff Cullen from the West coast. Jeff sent me some great photos of two vintage sets of Border pipes.

The first is "late 1700’s, but the chanter (with horn sole) is probably late 1800’s or later." The huge chalice tops are a lot of fun. I hope someday to get a chance to measure this set.

The second set is a 1830’s Perth MacDougall Border Pipe. I'm particularly pleased with these pictures. I've been looking for a set of MacDougalls for a while. I had heard the MacDougall firm made a nice set of border pipes, and my Grandmother is a MacDougall. I love the style of these drones. I'm strongly tempted to make a set of border pipes in this style. If anyone is interested in a set like these, let me know. I'll be making a gallery page on my website of historic instruments soon. I'll leep you posted.

Redesigned Website

Almost forgot. My website redesign is basically done. Please take a look: www.elbowmusic.com

Upcoming Events

I plan to attend the Smallpipes and Border Pipes Workshop being held by the Vermont Institute of Celtic Arts March 14th and 15th: http://www.vtcelticarts.org/ Should be fun. Iain MacHarg, of Prydein, and Dan Houghton of Cantrip will be instructing.

Welcome to my Blog

I've been meaning to have a place on my website to share the lastest news about products and to talk about events I attend and other bellows piping fun. Now I have one.