Is anyone doing any experimentation with more modern keywork on UP or other bagpipes? I’m thinking of stuff similar to modern classical instruments such as flute, clarinet, oboe, etc. It seems like with modern keywork one might be able to get greater range and greater consistency of tone and volume than is possible with the limited keywork used currently on UP.
For instance, I’m coming from the world of recorders, and several people/companies are working to introduce keywork and adjustable windways to give the instrument wider range, tonal, and volume capabilities.
I’m aware of the extensive keywork on Northumbrian pipes, but I’m thinking of something more intricate than the one-key-per-hole style that seems to dominate keyed bagpipes. (For that matter, is anyone aware of any other bagpipes that have keys?)
On another related subject, is anyone aware of easy-to-build reeded bagpipes that can be made from synthetic materials? I’m thinking something like the Penny Chanter, but with a parallel bore so it can be built with, say, 1/2" PVC pipe and a yogurt container single reed.
Okay, this is the last thing, I promise. Has anyone done any work to make a “bass” bagpipe? Using keys one could make a chanter that plays significantly lower than what’s usually found in bagpipedom. Probably the lowest chanter I’ve heard is a Bulgarian kaba gaida, though I’m by no means an expert (I still haven’t heard most types of bagpipe). There’s an issue though with the kaba gaida in that it requires a lot of air. Is this an unavoidable problem? Could a chanter be made to produce a quiet sound to keep airflow down? (I tried a great highland bagpipe once and was astonished by both how much air it took and how eardrum-blowingly loud it was.)
See the post “Parallel bore chanters” for information regarding your question and the reason it’s not really feasable. If you’re interested in instrument making, I can reccomend some basic and advanced books on making and the physics of sound as they apply to instrument construction.
cylindrical bore won’t work (trust me ) Daye’s penny chanter is the current best option, though I’m working on simplifying it. His is rather complex to help keep weight down, but, well, when mine’s done I’ll post the specs and you guys can decide for yourselves. Pennychanter plans are available for free on the internet.
Andreas Rogge has created his own key layout on the chanter, I suppose you could say that it is based on the bassoon/oboe key layout. His set up allows the thumb of the bottom hand to play each note that would traditionally be played by other fingers. See the image below:
Is anyone doing any experimentation with more modern keywork on UP or other bagpipes?
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Gay McKeown took delivery of a new concert set a couple of years ago (or so) that were made by Alain Froment (if my memory serves correct).
These pipes had the reg keys that were very flat - lying almost right on top of each other.
Gay demonstrated for us during the San Fran. tionol Sunday morning class that he could actually run the heel of his hand in either direction along the keys, while not even leaving his hand away from the keys.
I took the 50/50 gamble and went with Froment - such is my memory.
Thanks for the correction and the great pic - those ARE some innovative reg keys! When Gay played them by moving his hand back and forth, it almost sounded like a harmonica or a button box.
I trust you on that. I saw the thread where you were talking about cylindrical bore experimentation. I was actually talking about non-UP bagpipes when I mentioned cylindrical bore chanters, though. I’m interested in making a sort of practice chanter for my Bulgarian gaida and I was just wondering if anyone had done something like that before.
I would definitely be interested in seeing some books on that. A quick search of Amazon.com didn’t turn up anything that seemed appropriate…
my brother’s a theory and comp major at Montclair S.U. - I’m sure he’s got some interesting stuff, too - I’ll have to ask him what he recommends when he comes home
Is anyone doing any experimentation with more modern keywork on UP or other bagpipes? I’m thinking of stuff similar to modern classical instruments such as flute, clarinet, oboe, etc.
On Brian Howard’s page, there’s some photos of his “Howard System” keywork, which seems different than the “standard,” more like orchestral woodwind keywork.
On another related subject, is anyone aware of easy-to-build reeded bagpipes that can be made from synthetic materials? I’m thinking something like the Penny Chanter, but with a parallel bore so it can be built with, say, 1/2" PVC pipe and a yogurt container single reed.
My home page has plans for a (parallel-bore) Scottish small pipe made from CPVC and brass tubing &c. The chanter uses a double reed from beer-cup plastic.
The reason to build this keywork was that I had a chanter witout blocks to fit keys in the “traditional way”.
This was a “prototyp”, at the momemt I build a new chanter with this keys, but all keys used by the thumb know. I hope on the second chanter the keywork will look better
No, I use the bottom hand (right hand in my case) thumb for all the notes except the F natural. For the F natural I use the ring finger (E finger) of the bottom hand. The key is played simply by playing an E note and then depressing the F natural key with said finger.
The Amateur Wind Instrument Maker by Trevor Robinson
Very good, very basic book on instrument construction.
The Physics of Musical Instruments (look for the 2nd edition) by Neville H Fletcher & Thomas D Rossing
Very good book on the physics of musical instruments, very heavy in math/physics. Covers all instruments.
Acoustical Aspects of Woodwind Instruments by CJ Nederveen
Excellent book on the physics of woodwinds. Heavy in math/physics. Well worth reading.
There’s also Benade’s book, but the two above cover all the same topics in depth and Nederveen’s does a better job of woodwinds.
That should get you on your way.. Fair warning, though: If you don’t like physics or have a basic understanding of it and/or mathematics the second two books will be rough reading. With Nederveen’s, you can skip the equations and still get a good amount of understanding, but you’ll miss the full effect.
The F nat key is played with the top pinkie on my Rogge chanter.
That might explain how Robbie Hannan plays a trill on the F nat sometimes [in reels !] and I’ve been finding it damn near impossible.
[Robbie uses a B set by Andreas for performing..]
I’ve just “air-chantered” [like air-guitar, but it’s a different instrument… ]
with
1] my top hand pinkie playing the key and the G finger playing the trill
then
2] my bottom hand ring finger playing the trill on the other type of F nat key
I have to say I found No 2 a lot more natural, even though my “real” [errr..not air ] chanter is a no 1.
\
Does anyone else out there play air-chanter?
…and if so, what kind of keys do you have on yours??
Aside from the Howard system keywork (and now this Rogge stuff), I`m not aware of any sort of innovative keywork for uilleann chanters. The Rogge chanter photo looked interesting though.
As far as other bagpipes go, Nigel Richard of Edinburgh has made chromatic keyed chanters for Highland and Border pipes. I believe Hamish Moore has also done a few experiments with keywork (years ago in his workshop I saw a GHB chanter–I think he was making it for Jerry OSullivan--with an interesting high b key), but I dont think its something hes particulary crazy about doing.
Bass bagpipes? Wasnt there someone who had a low g chanter? I cant remember who. Also, check out Galician piper Xose Manuel Budino`s album “Paralaia.” He plays a wide range of gaitas, one of which sounds pretty low in pitch.
) Daye’s penny chanter is the current best option, though I’m working on simplifying it. His is rather complex to help keep weight down, but, well, when mine’s done I’ll post the specs and you guys can decide for yourselves. Pennychanter plans are available for free on the internet.
]
] chanter is a no 1.