I have a chanter with 8 finger holes and a keyed hole, near the top of the chanter, above all the finger holes. The key is missing, however, there is a small dovetailed cutout for the key pivot. What is the purpose of that key? I have searched the web for hours and have not found a chanter with this keyed hole. I am using an oboe reed to play it. With all holes, including the keyed hole, covered it plays G. With the keyed hole uncovered it plays G an octave higher. Is it an octave key? Why have I not found any chanters like this one?
Thanks for the replies. I am a flute player and plan to use this chanter with the oboe reed on my next gig. I play jazz and blues and like the chanter sound for some of Coltrane’s and Charles Lloyd’s songs and other’s as well. My question was to find out what type of chanter it is, because after searching the web for hours, I have not found a chanter with, right or wrong, what I call an octave key.
Thanks,
Henry Rancourt
If this is an uilleann pipe chanter at all, it would be a very rare coincidence indeed if it produced a useful scale with an oboe reed. Please correct me if I’m wrong but from your posting I guess you have only the chanter, no chanter top, bag and bellows? In this case, DO NOT play the chanter directly or you will ruin it sooner or later - UP chanters are not designed to be mouth-blown.
A photograph would be very helpful. If the hole is in line with the other front holes it is probably a key for 3rd octave E (which is found very rarely). If it is at a 90° angle from the other holes it is for 3rd octave D (which is also not found too often), in this case there should be another key block further down the chanter as this key is quite long, being operated by the bottom hand.
However, if this is the only key on this chanter (well, if it were there…) I have the suspicion that your instrument might not be an uilleann pipe chanter at all but something different. If you post a pic, someone will definitely be able to give you more information.
Tried an old oboe reed in my up chanter and it played between e and eb as the bell note so it is probably not an UP chanter
A quick, literally one minute search of the web found what it probably is and a photograph will confirm. You can host a photo on a site like photobucket and then link it to here
i have some vague memory of a pipemaker named Arie deKyser (sp?) who made a type of Belgian pipe with a two octave chanter, top 8ve reached by means of an octave key…G is a common key for continental pipes.
but really without a picture its like the tale of the ‘blind men & the elephant’. no telling what you have until there s some visual
btw, 'trane’s old house is just a bus ride away, for me.
Oh please don’t mouth blow this thing until you/we know what it is! What if it is the “Strad” of uilleann chanters and you ruin it? And for a gig? Yipes.
The oboe reed is meant to be mouth blown so not ruining the reed.
All my flutes are uncoated wood so no real danger there.
Still would be great to identify the chanter for you.
Email me a picture and I,ll host it for you.
I suppose the wood could swell if it’s an antique and crack at a ferrule. Or the wind cap.
Still you should be able to tell t least what type of chanter it is by looking at how flared it is.
Does it look more like a border pipe or highland chanter (or French / continental ) wide flare or relatively narrow flare uilleann flare, or is a musette or taragoto or bombarde type thing.
Do we know how old it is?
All mouth-blown woodwind instruments need to be be oiled from time to time, the wetter they are blown, the more often.
Many uilleann pipes are made from ebony which, as opposed to african blackwood, most certainly will crack when getting wet and dry again frequently. Many other timbers are prone to cracking, too, if not treated right.
Boxwood instruments will warp to a much greater extent when mouth blown.
Anyhow, I wouldn’t do a gig with an instrument of which I don’t even know what it is, I’d be too scared there might be someone who can play it right…
If this chanter is an uilleann pipe chanter, then this key sounds like the high e key. This could possibly indicate that the instrument is quite old and/or valuable, as the high e key has been a rarity for over a hundred years. I would repeat the advice to NOT MOUTH BLOW this instrument, just in case it is actually an old uilleann pipe chanter.
If you send a photo, publicly or privately (PM me), it may be possible to identify the chanter by sight alone. Also, please measure the length of the wooden section of the instrument to the nearest millimeter and report that - it will help establish the intended pitch.
Hi all and thanks for all the replies.I have yet to take photos. However here is more info.
The total length is 14 3/8". The top most section that the reed goes into is 15/16" long and 5/8" outer diameter. The smallest outer diameter at the top where the keyed hole is is 9/16" and the bell flare diameter is 1 7/8". The keyed hole has a brass tube lining and the diameter of the hole in the brass liner is 3/32". It is all wood except for the brass hole liner. It has a gentle taper and smooth flare. There are no metal or ivory rings around the flare.
Is still do not understand why mouth blowing is bad. I have a Rigoutat oboe made in 1952 that still plays great. About once a year I very lightly apply bore oil inside and out and have done the same with the chanter.
I made a brass key pivot, that fits in the dovetail perfectly, and a brass key with a cork pad for covering the hole. I have not finished the finger touch because I would like to duplicate it’s original position. Can anyone steer me to a picture of a similar chanter?
