So. I was listening to some David Power recently, and noticed that he likes to use his regulators - a lot. I’ve also noticed that most professional players use their regulators, well, regularly. At least, all the players I listen to or have heard. Examples that come to mind are Paddy Keenan, Brian McNamara, Cillian Vallely, David Power, Kevin Rowsome, Marco Pollier, and other lesser known powers.
The thing is, I have heard every single one of these ITM Pipers use the regs, some to a lesser extent than others, but they’re still there nonetheless, and I hear them. However, out of all the recordings of McSherry, I have never once, heard, or seen him use them things, not even on airs. Now, I don’t mind, because his chanter work is so powerfully moving and movingly powerful I could listen to three straight hours of him on a practice set, but I still couldn’t help wondering. Is there a story behind this, or is it something rather mundane?
He plays them on the “At First Light” album on the jig “Lady Lane”, which he composed, I believe.
The one time I actually saw him play was back when he was playing with Donal Lunny’s band and he had a half set with him. Rest assured, though, the man can handle a full set quite well, I’m sure.
Some pipers use their regulators at every possible opportunity, others find them to be more of a distraction than they’re worth but I think it’s safe to assume that any piper worthy of the title with regulators on their pipes can play them. Whether they play them often or whether you like it if they do is a matter of personal taste.
Yes definitely you can hear the reg´s as he passes into the beginning of the second tune. They are a bit low but reg´s they are.
I would guess that John will unleash his reg playing when he feel´s he has it as perfect as his incredible chanter playing . perhaps he was a late starter with reg´s , as set´s of pipes are very often bought in stages , the reg´s usually being the last. Give him time , Im sure it´s worth the wait
Therein lies the benchmark that separates the wheat from the goats, I mean the sheep from the chaff.
(emphasis mine)
Therein lies the difference between those whose chanter work alone is what makes a piper, and those whose lack of the same on their fully-outfitted sets can do little to vanquish the mono-tonous qualities of their playing and render their regulator work no better than a car’s horn.
I’ve been giving this a lot of thought (as I did with the now notorious Paddy Moloney lack of reg playing scandal of 2005) and I think I have come to a sound and final conclusion… so what?
How does his (McSherry) choice to play regs or not keep such a grip on the racing minds of the piping world? It’s his business, leave him to it.
Now get off your collective fannies and crack open your pipe cases.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=k0KQTv8qvkE
I think that if you watch John handle his chanter on “Dionna” you won’t be asking what kind of piper he could be. He has full command of what he is doing and it doesn’t suffer at all from the lack of reg accompaniment. Ahh, its just my opinion. Everyone has seen the youtube video. I think he’s pretty good anyhow.
I would go as far as saying that you don’t need drones either, it is the chanter that plays the tune. Unless it is solo piping, or the pipes are correctly miked up, you have difficulty hearing the drones never mind the regs. If you play in a session, you might as well use a practice set, as the chanter is the only thing you will hear anyway and there would be less chance of your pipes being damaged.
John can use them when he wants to (and brilliantly too!!) although he is kind of new to them, compared to the lenght of time he’s been playing pipes in general.
I think John is careful not to use them in a band scenario. It takes a lot of extra rehersal time to match regultor chords to guitar accompanyment, plus you have to remember to do the same thing all the time too, Guitarist and piper!
Quality regulator playing will seperate the men from the boys but I think in John’s case it’s a little different. Although, when he does use them it is quality.
I tend to use regulators a lot (and it’s not always quality either..) But this weekend I start a tour with a band Teada (filling in for Paul Finn, their accordion player) and I’ll have to remind myself NOT to use them. We just don’t have the rehersal time to match up our choice of chords. Also there is a case of when the weather turns, my regulators may be out of tune and if an arrangement of tune were to require regulators, well then I’d be screwed.
I’ll have enough fun kepping my chanter at A440…
if that was a dig at me well ive only been playing since october last so my playing can be monotonous if it wants
anyway what i meant to say is that its a solo album i.e. if he only used the chanter by himself, sound brilliant it would but it would sound better with the accompanyment of drones and regs. Im a big mcsherry fan, he’s my favourite piper out of any albums I have and from who ive seen live, so my comment wasnt one of those akin to “i hate those synth using ~$%£’s” it was more “hah that album will show the nay sayers who’s the boss”
(Must be in our names 
)