I’ve noticed that a few pipemakers are offering “budget” or “Student” chanters. It seems that the main difference (other than the price) between such a chanter and a standard chanter is the absence of key blocks. However, in most other respects, the budget or student chanter resembles a standard chanter - wide bore concert D. No one seems to offer “narrow bore” student or budget chanters.
I frequently hear newbies complaining that their chanters are too loud. Obviously, they’re trying to learn on wide bore concert chanters. When I began piping, I was very conscious of the volume of my pipes - not to mention how very, very badly I was playing.
A narrow bore student chanter would help beginners because they would be less afraid to play it.
So why doesn’t anyone offer narrow bore student chanters?
My nearest pipemaker has given up on offering “beginner” chanters altogether. He says there’s no market for them, that everyone wants at least one or two keys.
That’s why I went for a narrow bore D. I had a wide bore chanter on loan for some time and it was so loud that practising became torture, not only because of my lousy playing but also because of splitting eardrums and tinnitus. Now I have my Rogge narrow bore D chanter, it plays at a moderate volume (just like any other narrow bore chanter) and I don’t think I’ll even buy a wide bore chanter in future as I’m pretty content.
And a piper from germany recently showed me his narrow bore D by Rogge with a reed he made that wasn’t much quieter than a wide bore concert D chanter. But it sounded nicer (at least to my ears).
Also our great California pipemaker, Michael Hubbert, uses a somewhat narrower bore on his chanters (after a Crowley original I believe). These have a lovely tone, a darker and more complex tone than a Rowsome copy might have.
I just received a “no frills” B chanter from Joe Kennedy. “No frills” means no key blocks or keys, standard metal top, plain metal bottom mount. All at an extremely reasonable price. I’ll have to check my e-mails, but I believe I waited approximately one or two months from order to delivery. It is a gorgeous piece of workmanship and the sound is stunning. Joe included a tuner device on the bottom.
The fact that a chanter doesn’t have fancy mounts is pretty immaterial when you stop and remind yourself that (for the purposes of making music) a chanter is a stick with holes and a reed stuck on top. Joe’s stick is still visually beautiful, but plain.
Personally, I’ve never understood the fixation on keys. Isn’t there enough music to play without keys? (That should spark a raging debate). Let the games begin.
The ONLY person I have ever seen use all 5 keys on my chanter was Kevin Rowsome. I asked if he knew any tunes and he was able to use all of them (don’t ask me what he played, I can’t remember). I recall being reasonably stunned when he did so as I’d never heard so many chromatic notes in a tune before (and since!)
I’d likely get a chanter without keys. Especially a concert pitched chanter - it’s not oftern that I’d use a third octave D. Down at the northeast tionol my chanter was croaking so a laid it down and grabbed the C chanter. It was obviously a different key than the rest of the class so Benedict handed me his Rowsome chanter. (!!!yikes!!!) No keys. Cool chanter. Say no more.
“Also our great California pipemaker, Michael Hubbert, uses a somewhat narrower bore on his chanters (after a Crowley original I believe). These have a lovely tone, a darker and more complex tone than a Rowsome copy might have.”
Yes, Michael does great work. I have just placed an order with Michael for a ¾ set. I like the half set that I have, but you always want something better.
This is probably a bit presumptuous, and maybe just cause I miss posting…
but my initial thought when reading some of the post was that general concern for being heard seems out of place in the realm of bagpipes…
that’s just from the hip, so no offense, or forwardness implied whatsoever..
Really mean it in a sort of funny way..
I’m a relative newbie…despite having owned my Childress set since 2001
Well, many GHB pipers start out on practice chanters. Why not let a newbie uilleann piper cut his/her teeth on a chanter without the entire neighbourhood hearing them?
One pipemaker who gets criticism for the look of his pipes in Neil O’Grady. However, having played four of his chanters (reeded by him), I understand why some pipers are drawn to his chanters. Whilst not being narrow bore, they’re quieter than full-blooded wide bore concert chanters. Also, NOG seems to prefer a lighter reed, so they’re easier to play.
About using the keys (perhaps a bit off topic), at one point or another I’ve had to use every key on my five-key chanter in various studio gigs. (F, G#, Bb, high C, high D)
