Has anyone played one of Brian’s chanters with the pillar-mounted keyword (similar to orchestral instruments)? What did they think of it? Awkward, interesting, amusing?
(I’m not thinking of switching to a Howard chanter, but I’m curious to know what people think of his system of keys)
Dionys
Dionys,
I’ve only seen the pictures on his website.
http://www.howardmusic.co.uk/
The concept of pin mounted keys on a broomstick chanter isn’t new (see Rogge’s website regulator pictures) but he’s got three keys stacked over each other.
http://www.howardmusic.co.uk/keywork3.gif
I think it would be a problem hitting the Cnat key without touching the others.
They do look a little too close in that picture. I know Lark in the morning sells his sticks, but that hardly comes as a good reccomendation. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone mention that they have one of his chanters. Anyone?
Dionys
I don’t know how his keywork is, quality-wise, but the concept is definitely useful for someone looking to utilize the pipes outside of an Irish Trad context…the traditional keywork on Irish chanters is pretty clumsy if you’re trying to get those accidentals spot on in fast passages…obviously not a problem in Irish Trad, since they are rarely used.
I’m told Emer Mayock
http://www.worldmusicportal.com/Artists/European/Irish%20Artists/emer_mayock.htm
plays a Howard chanter in the key of ‘E’ for the group Afro Celt Sound System
http://www.afrocelts.com/
I wonder it it’s fully keyed?
An interesting note… I e-mailed Emer (who replied within minutes) says she doesn’t play a Howard chanter. She did say she would pass my e-mail address to anyone she comes across who does play a Howard chanter.
[ This Message was edited by: Tony on 2002-08-12 09:05 ]
Pillar or Blocks is purely a question of aesthetics.I play Andreas Rogge sets mine are block mounted except for a C# chanter which has C nat block agus Fnat pillar( a later addition) they work fine.The advantage to pillar is metal to metal so no shrinkage or warping(especially with boxwood) to worry about.Other than that,I don’t hear clarinet players complaining!!
Tommy Keane has a Howard set, doesn’t use the chanter anymore, Heather Clarke had one but does she still play at all, one often wonders.
I was talking to Brian a while back, he showed me his new chanter and wanted my opinion. You could drive a lorry through the finger holes and that is what I said so he took it back before I tried it [no point getting my opinion on that style of chanter anyway]. Heard him play it though the next day. What can you say, other than tell yo uto make sure you play one before you buy one [as with any chanter].
He also showed me his newly designed high D whistle.
Oh.. I don’t plan to buy one. I’m happy with the ones I play. I was just curious to know what people thought of the keywork.
Regarding them being the same as block work, this isn’t really true. Ultimately it could be true depending upon the placement of the pillars, but his keywork system is set up in a completely different fingering system from typical ‘block’ systems. Personally I prefer the block system, though I could see where the pillar setup he uses would be good for quick pieces using those notes often. Not that this occurs often in traditional music.
Dionys