Double Chanter??

Uilleann Pipes
1

I was reading in the liner notes of The Drones and Chanters Vol 1 CD that Leo Rowesome plays a double chanter (I think thats what it was called).
Can anyone explain what this is (I assume its two chanters??), and does anyone have any pictures of a double chanter set up?
I am guessing these are fairly rare?

Thanks
Teflon

2

Follow this thread:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=17737&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=double&start=0&sid=0a4fce46cba711d95d172c72f7b98e31

3

Thanks Tony! Very interesting

4

I played a double chanter in C this summer, quite a remarkable thing indeed!

5

A play a double chanter sometimes. Trick seems to be to have each bore set up ever so slightly different so that it sounds like two separate chanters being played together as opposed to one loud one.

Maker of this particular chanter is unknown. It is in the Taylor style and contemporary with them but not by them and has a different key arrangement. The top two keys (E & F) are missing but blocks are in place to hold the plates which in turn hold these keys.

Does anyone on the forum have some good close up photos of these on an original Taylor chanter ?

Will probably be taking it along to the Dry Dock Tional.

6

Chris,
Good to hear from you. I’ve never met you but I love your work!!!
The double chanter that Leo Rowsome played on that record was a Taylor chanter. It did belong to Pat Ward. I believe Pat Ward bought it from Billy Taylor when he lived in America in the 1870’s (ish) Jim McGuire may have more info on when Ward was in the states.
I’ve seen a double chanter that Dave Hegarty made too, lovely job!

Tommy.

7

Thanks Tom

Quite like the sound of the double chanter and have made a few including a double concert D chanter and also a double highland chanter. This latter is based on one by Higgins circa 1834. I hope to start measuring a full set in the RCM in London in the near future which also features a double chanter.

I am making one at the moment for one of the members of the forum and no doubt he will post about it.

The initial boring is easy enough but supporting it for the step drilling/reaming process requires a more creative approach as it is wildly off centre. Slow speed (essential anyway), fixed steady and a suitable support to hold the work off centre but the bore on centre.

The Taylors, O’Mealy, Reid, MacGregor, Kenna etc made double chanters as well as other multibored items and probably used a similar setup.

Reid (1830’s) made a few rather curious doubles including one where one bore is the chanter and the other a drone - if any members are in the Morpeth area - arrange a visit to see the drawers with the chanters in them that are normally hidden from public view and don’t forget to take a camera.