In Planxtys tune that follows raggle taggle gypsie how does Liam manage those 3 distinct high B’s with that pause separating them? Man, what a great sound he delivers.
Is the tune “give me your hand”?
It is give me your hand.
Katie, it’s so cool how he cuts the second octives so easy.
- Practice
- Practice
- Practice
4. Good reed
Also, L. Rowsome’s tutor book has an advise to play high b after fast high f#.
Amen!
In fact that is the key – if you listen carefully you can see he’s not cutting the three high b’s at all, he’s coming at them from below, but the f# is a passing note played even more briefly than you would play a cut. The f# is his ticket upstairs, as it were. Same technique applies for playing a tune like the Skylark, whose first note is a high b. If you have a super-responsive reed I suppose it’s conceivable that you could start on that note from a closed chanter, but for the rest of us you need to pass through a lower note ever so briefly on the way up. That passing note is so brief that it’s nearly inaudible; I like to think of it as an intentional leak.
thats a clever way to look at it…I am still very new and at times I hit the second oct by accident and other times I just can’t find it…like I think its the Mountain Road, not sure, but you have a low b followed by high E…I muff it up often. Intentional leak…if I slip into the high on error I kinda lift the chanter and it brings me back without stopping the tune…or I’d never finish a tune…I have tried repeatedly to get that high B in that kind of series, and the intentional leak on F allows it to happen…sometimes…
The tune I was thinking of earlier is kid on the mountain. I get stumped high e to low b. Have to let air leak out a bit to get the right Oct.
I don’t mean to get too technical or picky but after slowing it down in transcribe, I’m hearing a G not F. Ennis also wrote to use G by lifting just the index finger, in his tutor. Ive also had the thought that musically (although it’s inaudible) it makes more sense coming from the G as it’s a 3rd, and using F up to the A.
I’m kinda shocked at how inaudible it really is. On one or two it’s a little longer, particularly the very last one.
They released at least 3 versions of this set: Prosperous (Track 1), Planxty (Track 1), Planxty Live 2004 (Track 12).
It sounds like g to me, too, on all 3 recordings. Liam’s consistent for 34 years. 
It’s particularly clear on Prosperous, slowed down to 1/10 speed, where he seems to be playing |{ga}b2 {ga}b2 {ga}b2|{ga}b4, from g through an audible a to b.
But I’m no piper, so I’m only going by what I hear, not the fingering.
I keep listening to it. It’s a desert isle disc. I think we can all agree it’s great piping. Love his style.
What an extraordinary tune!
I cant stop listening to it or trying to play it.
Me too
chaos97 said:
“I don’t mean to get too technical or picky but after slowing it down in transcribe, I’m hearing a G not F. Ennis also wrote to use G by lifting just the index finger, in his tutor. Ive also had the thought that musically (although it’s inaudible) it makes more sense coming from the G as it’s a 3rd, and using F up to the A.
I’m kinda shocked at how inaudible it really is. On one or two it’s a little longer, particularly the very last one.”
I use a one fingered “g” grace note to get to high a and b.
I have not thought of using f# to get to a.
I believe this technique is called a “pinch” irrespective of which note is used.
I also enjoy listening to this track.
It was listening to Liam O’Flynns playing on Planxty records that first got me interested in uilleann pipes.
best wishes to all,
donpiper
Keenan and O’Flynn, Bothy and Planxty…inspired many to take up the pipes, I’m sure.
They sure are inspiring. I’m devoloping an Uilleann Obsession myself.
I may have to sell some tools to finance a beginners set and lessons though.
BTW, after several hundered listens I’ve noticed that I don’t seem to be hearing the drones. I’m I just not listening well enough?
don’t overlook ronan browne’s version on the cd/tape of popular airs called ‘celtic moods’ - the 2nd octave e’s going up to f nat are nothing short of unearthly