Draft FAQ...for your review

Uilleann Pipes
1

Below is my first cut at the frequently asked questions (FAQ) first three questions. The original post regarding this topic is here..

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=13961

Please review and comment. I’ll next be working on the “where do I find a list of makers”…

Regards,
Gary

1) What are Uilleann Pipes (UP)?

In simplest terms, they are Irish bagpipes. A full set consists of a bellows, a bag, a chanter, three drones and three regulators.
A practice (or starter) set has a bag, bellows and chanter.
A half set is a bag, bellows and chanter with three drones.
A three quarter set is a bag, bellows and chanter with three drones and one regulator.

If you want to know more about the origins of UPs check out these links…
http://www.pipers.ie/en/history.html

2) How are UPs different from Great Highland pipes?

Uilleann Pipes (UPs) are bellows blown where as the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes (GHBs) are mouth blown.
UPs also play two full octaves. The GHBs only play a single octave.
GHBs were meant to be played outside with drums while wearing a kilt. UPs were meant to be played inside, preferably in a pub. :wink:

http://www.daye1.com/scot2irish.html

Most people don’t know that there are many types of bagpipes from all over the world. Checkout this link…
(I cant find the link to the website which has all of the different bagpipes from around the world…can someone point me to it? Thanks, Gary)

3) How do I get started?

The first step is to find another piper near you and talk to them. See if you can make arrangements to hear their pipes. Also, try to attend a Tionol or piper gathering and listen to as many different pipes as you can. Decide what you like/don’t like.

The conventional wisdom is to start with a practice or starter set (bag, bellows, and chanter). Then add drones when you are comfortable with the chanter. Once you are comfortable with chanter and drones, then add the regulators. This allows you to grow your set as your skills increase, and also to spread the cost over a number of years. By only investing in a starter set at the beginning, you also limit the expense if you find this instrument is not for you. Do not buy one of the practice chanters that are mouth blown, and see the section below on finding a maker for other things to avoid.

Modification to the conventional wisdom would be to start with a half set. After getting proficient on a starter set, it can feel like you are starting all over again when you add drones and regulators. Also, when you add the other bits to your set, you will have to send it back to the maker and be without your set for a period of time.

How you get started is a decision you need to make based on your situation, financial as well as learning style and dedication.

http://www.daye1.com/can_I_learn.html

2

Awesome job…

Change the description of the three-quarter set to have 2 regulators.

The link to see all the other kinds of bagpipes:
http://www.hotpipes.com/main.html

3

explain maybe drones but certainly regulators

4

Well done.
This forum ought to have help for beginners as one of its main functions, and this should help a lot.

B

5

Small spelling item - Tionól (pronounced chunnole). This is a great start. Keep at it!

djm

6

here is the link you are looking for

http://www.hotpipes.com/main.html

Jeff

7

As a non-player, it was very helpful to me, but as Peter says, explain just a bit of the terms. To a non-player, the very term “regulator” sounds like a washing machine part and is kinda scary. To the curious, it begs definition.
Something like, “the chanter plays the melody, the drones provide single pitch accompaniment and the regulators - - -” (thereby proving I am not sure what the heck they do either except make cool sounds)…

8

It’s looking great though I must suggest a change for the difference between GHB and UP.

The GHBs weren’t played with drums until the Victorian era so it’s not really how they were meant to be played. And wearing a kilt is a more of a performance requirement i.e. ceremonies, competitions, and recitals. Playing outdoors is usually just done at Highland games or other outdoor events.

Try something like GHBs are often played outdoors with drums in pipe bands at Highland games or played alone for solo competitions and recitals. Performances often require Highland dress when playing the GHB. UPs are well suited for playing with other melody instruments but due to the GHB’s volume, other instruments require amplification.

Cheers,
Aaron

9

The real differentiating factor here between Highland and Uilleann bagpipes, the statement that everyone could understand instantly, is that the Highland pipes are played standing up, and the Uilleann (usually) sitting down!
I know it seems to be stating the obvious, but that is what FAQs are for.

10

Sorry, can’t resist: UPs can be played standing up, as was the practise of Johnny Doran, with one foot up on the case that he carried his pipes in.

But since UPS are most commonly played in pubs, let’s see what happens to the GHB players there. Ooh, lookit! Not a one of them left standing. :wink:

I don’t think this FAQ business is going to be as easy as Snoogie thought. :smiley:

djm

11

Good points by vanfleet and djm. Highland pipes can be played sitting down as well. It’s quite common in the Cape Breton tradition as well as at ceilidhs and pubs. But you will most likely see a Highland piper standing while playing and an uilleann piper seated while playing.

Another difference is UP drones rest on the piper’s lap and the GHB drones are upright and lean against the piper’s shoulder.

Cheers,
Aaron

12

Perhaps a link to NPU’s explanation of uilleann pipes anatomy might be helpful:

http://www.pipers.ie/en/setsofpipes.html

And certainly, the Pat D’Arcy’s uilleann obsession site would not be complete without its description page, which ties it all up very nicely, with photos of people playing:

http://www.concentric.net/~pdarcy/page3/page3.shtml

13

And…you might add, as a matter of traditional humor, that the uilleann pipes were made so the piper could curse outlout to himself while learning, and carry on a converstion with others at the same time (or is it the other way around?), and to be able to snatch a drink mid-tune without missing a beat, when his lower hand is free for a moment. :smiley:

14

Seth Gallagher has a list of FAQs as well. You may wish to check it out and compare notes (so to speak). :smiley:

15

Here’s an expanded answer for the first question.

A: The Uilleann bagpipe is a specific kind of bagpipe. There are many kinds of bagpipe; in general, all a bagpipe is is a bag, to which is connected an air supply (either from the lungs or from a set of bellows), and which supplies air to one or more pipes. The purpose of the bag is to be able to supply a constant stream of air. Air is supplied to a chanter, on which the piper plays the melody, and to drones, which provide a constant accompaniment. The Uilleann bagpipes also have a unique set of devices called regulators, which are a kind of cross between a chanter and a drone. They are constructed with keys, and are fitted so that the piper can play the keys with his wrist as he plays on the chanter.

[I think a diagram or annotated photo would really help at this point :stuck_out_tongue: ]

As you can see, such an arrangement is rather complex. To make life easier for the beginner, it is normal to begin learning on a practice set, which has just a bag, a set of bellows, and a chanter. There are also a couple of common configurations between the practice set and the full set described above. First is the half set, which adds the drones to the practice set. Second is the three quarter set, which has two regulators (in addition to the drones and the chanter), rather than three (many players do not make great use of the omitted bass regulator, which is heavy and awkward).

Uilleann bagpipes were invented in their present form in Ireland. There is much more information on the web at blah…

–
Who is this FAQ to be targeted at? Folks from the whistle boards, players of other bagpipes, the unwashed websurfing public? It makes quite a difference…

Cheers,
Calum

16

It certainly is a lot more entertaining than I thought it would be!!. Just the arguments…err..discussion over GHB and UPs is worth the effort! :laughing:

All great input everyone and thanks. I’ll take it on board and create another version, which we can then proof and post.

Regards,
Gary

17

Ok, here is my revised draft. Thanks to everyone for their input.

Please let me know if you spot any spelling or grammar errors. If I don’t hear any strong objections, this will become our first start at the FAQ.

Regards,
Gary

[edited with additional changes]

1) What are Uilleann Pipes (UP)?

The Uilleann bagpipe is a specific kind of bagpipe. While there are many kinds of bagpipes, Uilleann bagpipes were invented in their present form in Ireland.

A full set consists of a bellows, a bag, a chanter, three drones and three regulators. The bellows supplies air to the bag, and the bag is used to maintain the air flow to the chanter, drones and regulators.

The chanter is used to play the main melody. The drones supply continuous tones for accompaniment, and the regulators are keyed chanters which are used to add various chords.

A practice (or starter) set consists of a bag, bellows and chanter.
A half set is a bag, bellows, a chanter and three drones.
A three quarter set is a bag, bellows, a chanter, three drones and two regulators.

For a more complete explaination with photos, please follow these links…
http://www.pipers.ie/en/setsofpipes.html
http://www.concentric.net/~pdarcy/page3/page3.shtml

If you want to know more about the origins of UPs check out this link…
http://www.pipers.ie/en/history.html

2) How are UPs different from Great Highland pipes?

  • Uilleann Pipes (UPs) are bellows blown where as the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes (GHBs) are mouth blown.
    UPs also play two full octaves. The GHBs only play a single octave.
    GHBs are usually played standing up, outdoors with drums in pipe bands at Highland games or played alone for solo competitions and recitals. GHB performances often require Highland dress.
    UPs are well suited for playing with other melody instruments (contrary to the opinions of most fiddle players) and are often played sitting down, inside, preferably in a pub. :wink:

http://www.daye1.com/scot2irish.html

Most people don’t know that there are many types of bagpipes from all over the world. Checkout this link…
http://www.hotpipes.com/main.html
3) How do I get started?

The first step is to find another piper near you and talk to them. See if you can make arrangements to hear their pipes. Also, try to attend a Tionól (pronounced chunnole) or piper gathering and listen to as many different pipes as you can. Decide what you like/don’t like.

If you can’t do either of these things, then try to amass as much piping music as you can and spend a lot of time listening to it. The videos from NPU http://www.pipers.ie , while no subsitute for one-on-one teaching, are a good start.

As well, try finding Irish clubs or Celtic music societies in your community and play penny-whistle with them, to give you a grounding in the music in general, and also helps to prepare you for playing the pipes.

When you finally decide to purchase a practice set (take a deep financial breath, they’re expensive), try to remember that these pipes are stupidly complicated and frustrating anywhere in the world, and in islolation it’s a touch harder because there’s nobody you can complain to who’s got a chance of understanding what you’re going on about.

The conventional wisdom is to start with a practice or starter set (bag, bellows, and chanter). Then add drones when you are comfortable with the chanter. Once you are comfortable with chanter and drones, then add the regulators. This allows you to grow your set as your skills increase, and also to spread the cost over a number of years. By only investing in a starter set at the beginning, you also limit the expense if you find this instrument is not for you. Do not buy one of the practice chanters that are mouth blown, and see the section below on finding a maker for other things to avoid.

Modification to the conventional wisdom would be to start with a half set. After getting proficient on a starter set, it can feel like you are starting all over again when you add drones and regulators. Also, when you add the other bits to your set, you will have to send it back to the maker and be without your set for a period of time.

How you get started is a decision you need to make based on your situation, financial as well as learning style and dedication.
http://www.daye1.com/can_I_learn.html

18

Good start Snoogie! One small suggestion though:

“A half set is a bag, bellows and chanter with three drones.
A three quarter set is a bag, bellows and chanter with three drones and two regulators.”

The phrase “chanter with three drones” is a little ambiguous. Maybe it could read “… chanter and three drones”.
Picky, picky picky. :smiley:
Rick

19

Nice start. But we have to make it more Celtic! :laughing:

We need to figure the number three more prominently, in the holy druidic traditon of triads, i.e. three drones, three regulators, the three seven-year periods of learning to play the UPs (a la Ennis).

And we need to get more New Age influences in here, like low whistles, and maybe some links to modern cults who combine modern druidic practises and beliefs with Buddhism, Rosacrucians, and vacuum cleaners with hepa filters.

And maybe something with herbal teas and their relationship with reeds and shamrocks and green things in general, oo, like St. Patrick’s Day and little men with pipes and balaclavas and …

Gee, this is fun! :smiley:

djm

20

I like your adjustments, Gary.

Hilarious suggestions, djm. I actually saw a book called “The Complete Idiots Guide to Celtic Wisdom.” It was full of New Age, Druidic, Wiccan stuff… you know, all of the revivalist stuff that has no documented basis in tradition. The Druids really shot themselves in the foot by only allowing themselves to be literate.

Cheers,
Aaron