So it’s a year on since I started a page for information on the piccolo in traditional music.
When I was looking for a piccolo a few years ago, I found there wasn’t much out there or real interest.
So this is just a call out for any new info/ leads on info/ interesting/ players/ photos of old instruments.
New instruments…
Particularly interested in hearing about players from Scottish Country dance bands or folk who might have heard and remember John Doonan
All the best,
Pat
A very interesting little gem you’ve produced in these pages Dunnp. I’d say maybe it should go into the sticky section, but then it may not be looked at without your prompts, well done.
I uploaded on YouTube a video of a nice piccolo I have for sale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWPdpKmWUME
Details of the instrument are here: https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/fs-old-6-key-basel-piccolo-with-video/93692/1
One day I will post something about my Metzler piccolo, shame on me for being too lazy 
Hi Patrick
There is quite a lot of information about John Doonan available. I knew John well and he was a stalwart of Irish music on Tyneside in his lifetime. He came from a musical family and passed on his music to his own immediate and wider family. He had a great story for every occasion and was not shy in sharing them.
He recorded many fine albums, the best for me was Flute for the feis and At the fies. He notably appeared on Paddy In The Smoke and Lark in the clear air too. He recorded albums with The Doonan Family Band.
https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/records/johndoonan.html
He had a fine style that was particularly good for dancing and he regularly played for Irish dancing and for competitions but was equally splendid at playing slow airs and accompanying songs.
For me he was one of the most talented musicians I ever played with both formally and in sessions at his home or in and around Newcastle. He was not afraid of using the keys on his piccolo and had a tremendous understanding and interpretation of traditional music. A few samples from Spewtube
https://youtu.be/P1rQRkUaNCQ
https://youtu.be/mi5q87ZIyyE
https://youtu.be/Zb7UHgmmH6s
Notably and not widely known: in the 1970s it was not unusual for a track or two of John Doonan to be featured on John Peel’s Top Gear. Peel would also feature tracks of the Bothy Band. It would be a J Doonan set sandwiched between The Angelic Upstarts and Soft Machine! It was a trait of John Peel to play music that was good from any genre and he recognised JD as being good. JD on John Peel '72; https://youtu.be/_-DKnWjN4x8
JD 70th Birthday picture;
J Doonan in 1980s with sons Mick & Kevin (Ged Grimes and Phil Murray)
Son Mick Doonan and Phil Murray dancing at one of our concerts in Holland 
A wonderful photograph of The Doonan Family Band;
Nice touch with the pics & personal accounts/experiences, thanks for sharing!
The brilliant albums mentioned above have recently become available again thanks to Topic Records’s ongoing programme of rereleasing their back catalogue as downloads.
Classic stuff; I was fortunate enough to see him with the Doonan Family Band & I’m sure he’s one of the reasons I took up piccolo.
Hi Lorenzo,
I had an Oesch with a wooden head I got from a music shop (eBay) in Poland. It was brand new and played great.
I ended up selling it to a guy in the states who participates in a ‘clique’. At the time I had three d’s and decided on keeping the Rudall Carte and the Murray.
I will message him about yours if you like. I got the sense he was looking for them but not sure.
Thanks for the post Norman. I was in touch with John’s son at one point. Things got busy for me and I lost touch but I will ring him sometime when my life’s a bit less hectic. You will see some stuff on the piccolo page. Links to recordings and some photos. His playing will remain the most influential on the instrument.
All the piccolo stuff started for me when I had some hand pain playing bigger flutes. I seem to have sorted the pain by playing on the shoulder. Heresy to some bit worked for me, I also realised how many great players play this way.
So I still play piccolo all the time as my Monzani is pitched a little too low for sessions.
I use some techniques not all that commonly heard these days (but coming back via Harry Bradley, Stephen Doherty, Michael Clarkson etc.) like trills (some old piccolo players have these everywhere) and a piccolo adaptation of backstitching (f c#Af) (gc#Ag) .
My favourite instrument is an early boxwood and Ivory (band flute) instrument pitched in C with a tiny Embouchure hole. I would love a d like it.
Also if anyone recently bought the all Ivory piccolo on eBay please get in contact.
Cheers guys, one day the piccolo will regain some of its lost ground like one row melodeons and flat pipes,
Patrick
Of course, that would be great 
I use some techniques not all that commonly heard these days (but coming back via Harry Bradley, Stephen Doherty, Michael Clarkson etc.) like trills (some old piccolo players have these everywhere) and a piccolo adaptation of backstitching (f c#Af) (gc#Ag) .
Of yes i love that stuff, I should practice trills myself 