Airfix, the world famous manufacturer of self-assembly plastic scale models has kindly agreed to collaborate in the production of a 1:1 scale Uilleann chanter kit. These kits (as those already familiar with Airfix will know) consist of highly detailed - pre formed injection moulded parts, glue for assembly and a selection of paints for final decoration. Final testing is currently underway and the results are looking and sounding promising. See photographs for pre-production prototype.
Just a bit of April 1st humour… Airfix model kits where everywhere when I was growing up in the early 80’s. Perhaps they where more well known in the UK than elsewhere.
If you’ve not heard of them they looked like this:
Ok, this isn’t a plastic airplane kit but the construction method is analogous:- slabs of material glued together and aligned with pegs/screws (also similar to the “squinter chanter” build method). I doubt if this particular design could be realised any other way except, perhaps, by “one-piece” injection moulding/casting or by 3D printing.
Yes, this is an uilleann chanter, based on a Kenna in C. The detailed carving on this prototype is a bit crude, and the final sanding and polishing remains to be done. Two separate experiments are going on here. I can explain more if anyone is interested.
Err…maybe. Do the red letters mean you are some kind of big deal around here?
Actually, one of the attributes of my design is that I can be playing away and then, at the first sign of trouble (e.g. Peelers approaching) I can “leg-it” multo rapido. (Exit stage left, pursued by a bear)
Not as concerns this particular conversation. And your question reinforces the idea that I am more a marked man than a big deal. But it would be much better to stick to the main topic; I still want to know about Kenna’s whittled designer chanters. What with that and the nipply-looking toneholes and the sculpturally integrated popping valve, it’s a revelation.
Ok, here’s my mission statement. I like bagpipes. I play the Uilleanns and have dabbled with the Northumbrians. Much as I have enjoyed these experiences, after some years I concluded that the pipes I really wanted to play didn’t exist. So as I was, at the very least, over half way through my allotted time I realised that I had better hurry-up and invent them.
So the concept is this:- a light, portable, set of pipes with an uilleann type chanter (preferably flat) that you can play standing up as well as sitting down (or whilst walking, dancing or even running away). Therefore I have to ditch the regs. and the standard mainstock in favour of something like you see on smallpipes or border pipes. Also I think it is preferable to bend the end of the chanter so that it can be stopped more easily somewhere on the belly rather than on the knee. A popping valve seemed to be a good idea.
The nipple-shaped holes are a consequence of experiment no.2 which is all about reducing finger stretch. They help the fingers find their rightful place on a fairly wide flat surface. The wide flat shape results from the fact that the bore winds about rather a lot.
Terrible!!
Sorry Tou, I couldn’t resist that. Hope you get my western sense of humour!
Seriously, It plays in tune from D to high b. So, far high c# is missing. To my ears there aren’t quite enough high harmonics in the sound and, as we know, “if it ain’t got that zing it ain’t worth a thing”.
I need some sound files and also need to listen to someone else playing it to confirm impressions - will have to arrange all this. I could go on about possible causes but I gotta go (and try some more of that new bottle of malt).
