Baroque Bagpipes; Musette de cour

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hi Folks,

I recently attending one of the first Canadian concerts by Duo Macke-Bornauw with Birgit Bornauw and Benjamin Macke. Wonderful players with an interesting repertoire. Well received here in an historic church setting on the Bras d’Or Lakes of Cape Breton.

Brigit played the Flemish bagpipes and also the baroque bagpipe, apparently popular in the 16 and 1700s, particularly favoured during the reign of Louis XV. Lovely sound with 7 double reeds, two chanters, with various keys. Speaking with Brigit after the concert she made the claim (bold?) that it was probably a progenitor of the oboe and other bagpipes including the Irish/Uilleann variant. Curious thought and I wonder what people who know a LOT more than I do about such things think of this notion. And if anybody has ever played the baroque bagpipe?

Mike

2

The baroque musette is quite a complex instrument. It combines now largely unfamiliar elements of Renaissance wind instruments with significant innovations. It is fair to say that it incorporates details that can be traced forward to the Irish bagpipes.The notion that it similarly inspired the oboe can be easily be demolished. There’s a useful introduction to it here:

https://youtu.be/2OVYA-DJ_og

3

From Hotteterre to the union pipes

4

Great article by Ken MacLeod. Thanks for the links.
Lovely instrument. Almost on par with the UPs :slight_smile:

5

I’d love to get my hands on one, seems almost impossible.


Just need to look in the right places I guess

6

The Musette society

Paul Beekhuizen, maker

7

Just saw this, many thanks