Seth Gallagher.

Uilleann Pipes
21

I’ve been playing a Gallagher full set (concert pitch) for a number of years now. Seth’s surname/roots/ethnicity weren’t really considerations when I ordered my pipes. I based my order on musicality/quality/delivery time, and I continue to recommend Seth’s pipes based on their quality as a musical instrument and his high standards of business practice rather than any mystical tribal links.

Larry Dunn

22

… but you have to admit that mystical tribal links sounds cool. :smiley:

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Hi Guys,
Thanks again for your input and especially to those of you who used pm.
Two other issues.
How or where would I find a reasonably accurate figure for the number of pipe makers in the US (past and present).

Finally, anyone mind having a go at these three questions?

  1. "Does/did ones ethnicity (be it first, second or third generation et cetera) influence ones prefered taste in music".

  2. “If one plays a musical intrument does/did ethnicity play a part in the initial selection process”.

  3. Finally, “When you bought your instrument or indeed when you buy your next one; be it an update or even a change of instrument type, would/did you specifically seek out a maker of the same ethnic roots as ones self”.

Joseph (the “pain in the arse” UK one) :wink: :wink:

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A:

  1. No.
  2. No.
  3. No no no. What the hell?

PD.

25

I was reading this thread with much interest and felt moved to add some thoughts - I play the flute and chose my maker not for ethnicity but for ability - The man who made my instrument could have come from mars for all I care. All I wanted was a dependable tool that did the job - which I got-now the rest is down to me

26

I play a Gallagher full set because he is related to the guy that likes to smash watermelons with the sledgeomatic!!!

27

Another fluter here, although I’ve played Highland pipes in the past.

In my experience, the only time ethnicity comes into the equation is in a negative sense - Pakistani instruments have a very negative reputation. I doubt this is because of “ethnicity” per se, but because of a history of producing large volumes of poorly made instrument-shaped objects.

  1. I suppose ethnicity plays a role
  2. No. If yes, only in the sense that one becomes interested in the music via exposure. I do not continue to play Irish music because I am Irish (barely)- I play it because it is good music.
  3. Absolutely not. It’s not even a shadow of a consideration. It comes down to price vs. reputed playability, sound, durability, and attractiveness of the instrument itself.

On the general topic of craftsmen’s nationalities, there are some non-Irish “irish flute” makers - I am aware of Gilles LeHart (French) and a Spanish maker who also makes Upipes. One of the world’s foremost bodhran makers is (I believe) of hispanic descent.

THe most revered antique “irish” flutes were made by ENGLISH people, londoners, in the nineteenth century.

Guitars (common in ITM today) weren’t originally Irish. Neither were banjos or bozoukis.

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nor were accordions, concertinas, fiddles, etc.

-philip

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  1. No. But I wish I had a dollar every time someone asked me if I was Irish whenever I told them I played Irish music.
  2. No.
  3. No. Do people actually do this?

To answer your otheer question about finding an accurate list pipemakers in the States, I think NPU has a list of pipemakers all round the world. Don’t know how updated it is, but it’s worth a look.

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  1. No
  2. No
  3. No. Although I’m sure there’s some ethnocentric types that might, but in my experience they’re too busy beating up children or burning churches or whatever to bother with playing an instrument. :moreevil:
31

All things being equal, people often vote with their ethnicity. Ballots here in Cook County are filled with all types of position that you almost never heard of before - so it’s just find the most Irish sounding name and vote. Why wouldn’t that come into play with the purchase of an instrument?

The story of Alain Froment and making pipes in Ireland invariably gets a snicker from any audience in the US. “Aren’t there any good Irish people making pipes?” or “Couldn’t you find an Irish guy to make the pipes?”.

Booking agents/venues/festivals prefer Irish-born acts to US-based Irish music acts. US-based groups add on an Irish-born performer to do the talking as American accents become discordant to the effort.

The Pakistani pipes will like go to some lengths to distance themselves from the distance they have to the tradition and location of Ireland. Certainly the shopowners selling the stuff will do that.

32

I put a deposit down on a Seth Gallagher starter set in the key of D and should be getting the set around December 2005 timeframe. My choice to have Seth build the set has nothing to do with his nationality or family liniage. Rather, I chose to have Seth make my set for two reasons of equal importance 1.) he is known to be a quality craftsman of the pipes 2.) his shop is not far from my home (we both live in lower NYS), so I have relatively easy access to the pipemaker.

PS I forsee myself building at least a half set over time…hopefully a full set.

33

Speaking of Alain Froment…

He’s probably leaving Ireland in the near future, and coming back to to France (Britanny)