It appears to me, in my limited experience, that very few recordings exist of C# pipes. Seamus Ennis, of course, had his Coyne set of pipes. And I know Dickey Deegan has a set in C#.
Are there any other recordings? Any other pipers out there who own/play sets in C#?
Jonathan
Neillidh Mulligan
On 2003-01-17 12:59, Peter Laban wrote:
Neillidh Mulligan
Ah, yes, I’ve forgotten about Mr. Mulligan’s set and recordings. I do have both of his, however lent to someone (mental note: get them back.) Thanks Peter.
How about Kevin Rowsome?
One of the Neil Mulligan recordings is called The Leitrim Thrush, and also has his brother Tom on one of the tracks. Nice liner notes. It was released by Spring records, 50 Shore road, Rostrevor, County Down.
Marc
“If e’er you pass this way again, don’t fail to see Rostrevor” - Séamus Ennis, quoting a person he collected tunes from. Does anyone know the rest of this quote? Can’t quite put my finger on it now.
Patrick.
The first Joe and Antonette McKenna album is with C# pipes; chanter in boxwood by Leo Rowsome, body by O’Meally.One should note that there are 16" chanters which are sharp of C but not up to C#,and 15" chanters also. Until the last 15 years or so many pipes were made in inches; a 17" chanter is near B but sharp of it according to A=440 standards, which were unknown when the older pipes were made. An 18" chanter can be refered to as a B flat but is really just flat of B. The Leo Rowsome 14" chanters are sharp of D but are often reeded down to D, yielding tuning problems. Lately we have been refering to pipes in pitches based on A=440 cps. This yields chanter lengths that are not at even inch lengths. This is handy for playing with other musicians at fixed pitches, particularly in D and sometimes C. I don’t know why anyone would require a flat set in say B to be anything but approximate in pitch. Most old Egans, Coynes etc. are made in inches and trying to make them play to modern pitch standards is a disservice.
Ted
Ted
[ This Message was edited by: Ted on 2003-01-17 14:53 ]
Actually Neillidh resurrected his late father Tom for his recording.
Patrick, Mr James Cauley, fluteplayer of the Fingal Trio rhymed his holiday greetings to th Ennis family. Have it somewhere, wasn’t that in the Eamonn de Buitleir film Miles and Miles of music that he told that one.
Hi Peter,
Yeah that’s the one. I love that video… needs another screening this weekend I think
I’m looking at Tommy Recks “Mason’s Apron” in three keys. Getting into that 2nd octave C#.. .great stuff!
Patrick.
[ This Message was edited by: Patrick D’Arcy on 2003-01-17 16:24 ]
Mickey Smith should be on the list as well I think.
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2003-01-18 07:52 ]
“Men may rhyme and men may not, but I could rhyme forever.
If e’er you pass this way again, don’t fail to see Rostrevor.”
A quote, if memory serves, from Seamus’ uncle (whose name escapes me) in a letter to James Ennis. “…and that wasn’t for his brother Brian’s Christmas cards!” --Seamus.
Ah, just read Peter’s reply, stand corrected on the source…there’e the rest of the quote, anyway.
Great stuff,
That’s the one…
Thanks Lemon
Patrick.
HI Guy’s
I play a C# set, Dont forget Liam o’ Flynn he now plays C# as well as concert he’s got seamus Ennis’s set you can hear them on his later CD’s there’s four cracking tracks on The Fine Art Piping CD by Liam and I hope theres more to come he certainly can makes them sing. 
Dublin piper Gay Mc Keown has a Coyne C sharp set as does Nollaig Mc Carthy also of Dublin. John Huges from the north of this country was playing a lovely sounding and unusual Coyne hybrid of some sort at the Belfast Tionol just past as well… there are quite a few of them played or being let slumber behind closed doors in these climes.
Regards, Harry.
not for long , tee hee hee 
Hey Harry,
S’that the Kennedy set you’re playing in the pic? How’s it (and you of course) been playing?
That’s the Kennedy set alright, Paul.
It’s playing well… much better than I am in fact 
The reeds that were in it when Joe brought it over seem to have fared well in the crossing and change of climate. I also have some blanks which Joe had sent forward of his arrival so that they might climatise here, he cut them then when he arrived.
The chanter is great, full of character, dosen’t let you away with much on notes like the A which has to be fingered fairly closed to remain in tune, and the C natural which requires the first finger of the bottom hand to remain down to play in tune. It’s quirky like some of the really good, old flat chanters.
The regs have brass reeds in which hum along nicely in behind the chanter and just infront of the drones (when you hit the right keys of course).
I played for a couple of years when I was @ 16 or 17 yrs. so it’s been interesting rediscovering the stuff that you never forget and relearning some of the technique that needs on-going attention (tight fingering, pressure ‘issues’).
It’s also great to be looking at old tunes again that wouldn’t occur to me to play on the flute often. Ennis’ setting of ‘Kid on the Mountain’ and his ‘Chase Me Charlie’ and ‘Dingle Regatta’, 'Sixpenny Money" for example.
I would highly recommend Joe’s talents to anyone who likes that dignified old piping sound.
Hope you’re well, Harry.
I am not totally sure but as far as I remeber Gay’s is a C. And Nollaig’s is certainly a B, formerly owned by Tom Busby and on loan to Nollaig.
John Hughes is a C sharp but not a hybrid, just a small one not by the same Coyne that made Ennis’ pipes to be sure. John also has a Coyne B chanter. Irecently saw a C sharp coyne very similar to John’s, I know who owns it but doesn’t play it.
I am not totally sure but as far as I remeber Gay’s is a C.<<
I think that’s what he thought for quite some time, but as far as I’m aware he now has it reeded well sharp of C and is of the opinion that this is it’s intended tuning. That’s just the impression I have from several pint laden conversations, I’ll ask him this weekend.
And Nollaig’s is certainly a B, formerly owned by Tom Busby and on loan to Nollaig.<<
Yes, you are right there. Pipe psychosis. John Hughes had just made a nice reed for the chanter that day, it is a Coyne B set although the only thing going on the night was the chanter.
John Hughes is a C sharp but not a hybrid, just a small one not by the same Coyne that made Ennis’ pipes to be sure.<<<
Ah, I see. which Coyne would that be then? I seem to recall someone saying that it wasn’t the original chanter he was playing(again it was a wet night).There’s only on reg if I remember correctly. And are’nt they of a lighter wood? At any rate they were sounding great in no small part due to the mans considerable reed making skills I’m sure.
Do I remember rightly in that Neil Mulligans father made the Csharp set he plays, or was it the B set?
H.