Hi,
just came back from a holyday (Sommermusikfest). I couldn´t attend the final two hours of the auction but I was the high bidder at that time. When I came back I switched into internet with trembling fingers and nearly burst. I MADE IT! I´m ful of joy and simply had to tell yous. I´m plannig to have the chanter filled and rereamed since it is “butchered” anyway, so that after the restauration the set will not only be a pleasure to look at but also to reed (and consequently to play). I will post pictures and a sound file in time. I can´t write more things now and will pay attention to the saying they have over here: “Don´t sell the bear´s skin before you got him” (Funny thing cause bears are long extinct in Germany).
Best
Hans
Hi,
just wanted to let you know that the Sott has arrived. Of course, unpacking the parcel felt like on a child´s birthday. The chanter is c (or very close to). It has not been shortened. As the man I´m planning to have it restored by seems to be on holydays I can´t write you anything further about this so far.
Best
Hans
I hesitate to tell you what to do with your new purchase, but I hope you reconsider the above plan. Even if/though the chanter has been thoroughly butchered, there may be bits of information to be gleaned from what’s left. In cases where part of an instrument isn’t restorable (and by “restore” I don’t include irreversible changes), I think it’s better to replace. It wouldn’t take more effort IMO to replace the chanter outright than it would to fill/re-ream/etc., and the end result might be more musically satisfactory. The resemblance to the original, if the chanter is filled and rebored, would be only cosmetic anyhow.
I have some concerns that this kind of logic can be taken too far, too, though I don’t accuse you of this kind of thinking, i.e. “the finger holes were enlarged, so I might as well get it re-bored” but it’s a slippery slope. There’s almost nothing left of Scott’s work anyway, it would be a shame to lose even what fragmentary knowledge could be gleaned from an already-mistreated chanter.
billh,
what you write makes sense to me. So, I think it is better to have it copied - including the odd c natural - and keep the original. The reason I wanted to have it rereamed was because I want a very well playable chanter but even rereaming might not guarantee this and you´re right: It would only be cosmetics anyway. The original - or what is left of it - will be kept.
An other question: Except for the bag and the bellows it is complete but as the chanter was hosed the chanter-head is missing. I would like a proper restauration have been done and therefore need some photoes of an original Scott hosed head. Does any of you by any chance know of someone who might have a Scott with an original head?
Now look what has become of this set. Hans-Jörg passed away last year and, having remembered my interest in it on a visit gave it to me. Great honour indeed. I tried to do it just and refurbished it carefully. A report may be read in https://www.kannmachmusik.de/english/irish-uilleann-pipes/restauration/
I solved a number of mysterious questions, only one remains: Who was RUSOVIVS ??