I have been lurking around this forum for some time and have found it very informative.
It was the pipes that sparked my interest in Irish Music originally but after hearing Kevin Crawford I turned to the flute and haven’t turned back until recently. I have been playing Irish Music on my own for a while and am interesting now in getting on a good makers waiting list. I am fine with waiting for 1 ½ to 2 years as it gives me some time to get where I want to be with the flute before I turn to another instrument.
After soaking up many of the posts on this forum I have a vague idea of who some of the well known makers are. I don’t have any aspirations of playing the pipes in a session so the flat set’s appeal to me (from what I’ve read). The clincher took place yesterday as I listened to the sound sample of the Childress flat set. I didn’t know that Pipes could sound so …dare I say.. pleasant?.
I would like to get a flat set now but am still not sure what key. How would a Bb set sound? Are there any cd’s that have tunes played on a Bb set? I suppose Bb appeals to me because it’s sounds nice on the flute. I notice only Rogge offers this key. If Bb is not common do you generally see more B or C? I would appreciate some CD recommendations.
Right now I’m looking at Rogge, Gallagher, Childress and Angus who all make flat sets. If you were starting fresh like me whose list would you be on and what key would you get if you were only playing on your own?
I’d appreciate any advice, feel free to send me a private message or email.
Bb narrow-bore pipes aren’t that common, and I can’t think of too many recordings that were made with them. I can’t recall if Ronan Browne’s Peter Hunter/Dennis Harrington hybrid set is in B or Bb, but it sounds pretty good to me.
The most common pitch I’ve encountered in narrow-bore pipes is B; it has a pleasantly mellow, sweetly reedy and nasal tone that sounds (to me) like a fine old sean nos singer. C sets are the next most common, and then it’s a toss-up between C# and Bb. They can all be very beautiful, just form your own opinions.
Really when you get down to it, it pays to listen to a variety of sets in person. If you can, get someone who can play pipes to check out the set for you, too.
I’ll send you a private message about the guys you’re evaluating.
Craigmac.. Todd plays Rogge.I have a B set of his(Rogge).and a beautiful sound it is.Whenever you get evaluations from folk ask them if they have owned one of the sets in question,I don’t mean playing a tune on one at a tional ,but really knows the set, otherwise the opinion is worthless
Slan
Liam
Not at all Peter I was in Miltown the year he got his(that was about 6 or 7yrs ago) and there appeared to be a complete misunderstanding between buyer and maker and I leave it at that.Notwithstanding your unshakeable preference for Woof(who I respect as a maker)does not alter the fact that Rogge is a fine and respected maker.But don’t take my word for it ask Martin Nolan,Sean og Potts,Robbie Hannan,Cieran OMaille.Tom Clarke to name but a few!!.
Now then enough of this tit for tat WHO is the Mystery player of the forthcoming CD you mentioned rather coyly??Hmmm let me guess!!!
Slan go foill
Liam
I don’t know the exact dealings between Todd and Andreas, I know a few things though and I couldn’t resist a giggle when Todd vs Andreas came up, I read a full assesment by Todd of the snakewood set he didn’t accept from Andreas.
And I know the opinions of some of the players you mention as well as those of Maire ni Ghrada, Nollaig McCartaigh, Rolf Knusel and other players of Andreas’ sets.
But rather that making this particular and talk about one particular pipemaker I think everybody should realise there are almost as many opinions about pipemakers as there are pipers. What will suit me will not necessarily suit the pipers above and what they play will certainly not suit me [and that is an informed opinion]. But that’s often an idividual decision based on your own taste and what you want to get out of your instrument.
It’s always a matter a talking to as many people playing a particular maker’s pipes as well as those who used to play a particular maker’s pipes but don’t do so anymore to get a good, balanced opinion. Because, let’s face it those who play a particular make of pipes obviously enjoy playing that type of instrument, those who had one and moved to something else may have a different story to tell. Talking with as many pipers will also show you that there are some nuances and opinions that are generally not aired in public.
On the other matter, I don’t play a Bflat set so I wasn’t coyly referring to anything I was up to, just to be clear about that. There are a few things in the pipeline from various people, duet and solo recordings, one of them in Bflat.
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-10-27 08:56 ]
[quote]
On 2002-10-27 04:51, Peter Laban wrote:
I don’t know the exact dealings between Todd and Andreas, I know a few things though and I couldn’t resist a giggle when Todd vs Andreas came up, I read a full assesment by Todd of the snakewood set he didn’t accept from Andreas.
And I know the opinions of some of the players you mention as well as those of Maire ni Ghrada, Nollaig McCartaigh, Rolf Knusel and other players of Andreas’ sets.
But rather that making this particular and talk about one particular pipemaker "…
Peter you are the one who is making this particular and you would have done well to stay out of it.as I said,I was with Todd that particular year and I had many a chat with him,it was between him and Andreas.Not between between Todd,Andreas and YOU!!
The players I have mentioned,who are respected and professional musicians,are well pleased with Andreas,as are a host of others.I have no axe to grind here but I think it is fair to point out to folks who might be puzzled by all this,that I have noticed your veiled comments in this and other posts,and there is no love lost between you and Andreas is there?
I wasn’t referring to you playing the CD,don,t be daft the thought never entered my head!!But you did seem rather specific(not several cd’s) but specifically one,so who is it then?c’mon name names
Slan Go foill
Liam
Peter…I’m disappointed to hear that it’s not you who’ll be making a “flat set” recording. Why not surprise us and make one on your particular flat set, regardless of what key it is.
If your playing is as informative as your dialogues here, I’m sure we’re all in for a pleasant and pleasurable learning experince.
Always appreciate your non-abrasive, matter-of-fact comments.
As do I. The uilleann pipes are an instrument technically as complex as any in a symphony orchestra (more so, really) and yet have never undergone anything approaching a standardisation of manufacturing specifications. Imagine being able to go into a shop that had as many choices of chanter reeds as guitar strings, any of which would play in tune in your pipes. There may indeed be some parameters that may be applicable to measurements, but any given set of pipes made today, or at any stage in history, are the result of a totally individualised approach to the instrument. Endorsements can only serve as a rough roadmap, which is what Peter has reminded us of, in one way or another, several times in this forum. Good on ya, man.
On 2002-10-27 13:10, Uilliam wrote:
[The players I have mentioned,who are respected and professional musicians,are well pleased with Andreas,as are a host of others.I have no axe to grind here but I think it is fair to point out to folks who might be puzzled by all this…
They are indeed and I pointed out that ANY pipemaker attracts people who do like his pipes as well as finding there are people who don’t.
I did my best not to make this about anybody in particular, if I have been less than subtle about several pipemakers in the past, I try my best not to comment to specific on these things these days. At the time the whole affair involving the snakewood set was well aired and quite publicly so so I couldn’t resist joking about hauling Todd vs Andreas into a thread about recommendations but in fairness the man who did buy that set when Todd refused it is quite happy with it.
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-10-28 02:23 ]
Peter…I’m disappointed to hear that it’s not you who’ll be making a “flat set” recording. Why not surprise us and make one on your particular flat set, regardless of what key it is.
Lorenzo,
Go to the (former) Clips and Snips Forum http://tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/non.html and scroll to the bottom. There you will find a very nice recording of Peter playing “An Bhean Tinceara” on a -C- Wooff set. Right below Peter’s song (to the irony of this thread) is “3 Sea Captains” played by Christian Roch on a -D- Rogge set.
(edited to add URL)
[ This Message was edited by: paul on 2002-10-27 22:41 ]
I just bought Todd Denman’s CD “A Celtic Peace”, and I must say it is AWESOME! It’s wonderful music like this that makes me want to sell a liver so I can get a set to start learning with!
[quote]
" but in fairness the man who did buy that set when Todd refused it is quite happy with it."…
Peter I am glad that you mentioned that the snakewood went on to another who is quite happy with it…I would say that he is more than quite happy with it as I have seen him on several occasions with it and he treasures it like a child! Still I think you have redressed the balance and thats fair enough!
Slan go foill
Liam
Lorenzo,
Go to the (former) Clips and Snips Forum http://tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/non.html and scroll to the bottom. There you will find a very nice recording of Peter playing “An Bhean Tinceara” on a -C- Wooff set. Right below Peter’s song (to the irony of this thread) is “3 Sea Captains” played by Christian Roch on a -D- Rogge set.
Paul,
I don’t think the comparison between Peter’s and my recording could in any way serve as an evaluation of our respective instruments. This is where the light-hearted “hey, listen, I’m making music, man!” backfires on both player and manufacturer. After all it all comes down to taste. I play a Rogge D set and a Wooff C chanter. I like them both. And I’m not tone-deaf.
Christian, as a beginner, I am in no way qualified to judge your and Peter’s (or anyone else’s) playing at all. Personally I like both clips very much. I only mentioned the thing about your clip on the Rogge set because it was directly below Peter’s Wooff clip. I thought it was in the spirit of the thread. Just light-hearted-ness.
If my post made you feel that I was insinuating that you are tonedeaf or anything else negative at all, then I most certainly owe you an apology. No such thought thought ever entered my mind and it was certainly not my intention.
I think you can only really compare two sets of pipes when you play them yourself and know what to look for or have the same person play both instruments. Listen how Ennis’ pipes sound in the hands of Liam Flynn [or how his Rowsome pipes sounded in the hand of Willie Clancy when Sean Reid gave him the loan of them]
