My daughter plays oboe and wants to learn to play pipes. She likes the idea of the versatility of the uilleann pipes but wants to be able to play standing up. From what I’ve seen on the web, these pipes are sit down only. She has in mind to play in a band some day so would really want mobility. Are the 2 incompatible? Thanks. Travis.
Uilleann pipes are a sit-down instrument.
What kind of band?
Some of the old pipers stood up to play from time to time, such as the great Johnny Doran
He used to put his leg up on his case. Also there was a device called a pipers crook. This enabled pipers to play standing up. I have tried playing standing up with my right leg supportd on my pipes case. I managed for about 2 tunes then my leg gave out!
The pipes can be played standing up.To keep everything in tune(reasonably)keep the little finger on the bottom hole(E) as you would in open playing with the chanter off the knee.What you do with the rest of the set to support it is up to you.Don’t forget the uilleann pipes developed from bog standard pipes.But if your interested in marching bands then the Highland pipes would be better.
Slan go foill
Liam
I’d like to play the uilleann pipes lying down !!
Boyd 
…and my wife would like me to play them at the bottom of a swimming pool
Boyd
Johnny Doran had a saxophone-player’s neckband with hook attached to support the weight of the stock, and as far as I know stopped the chanter against his chest: it may well have had a stop valve at the base of the chanter.
I have it on good authority that Finbar Furey once paraded around Croke park playing the pipes in Igor/Quasimodo posture.
I can come up with ideas but don’t have the time to implement them or take them to prototype. I’m sure someone could make a leather ‘horse’ or ‘leg on a stand’ where you can prop your drones over it and play standing without any difficulty.
It would be great in live stage environment giving the piper more visibility.
I recall seeing guitarist Steve Howe of the YES group in concert using an acoustic on a special stand where he was able to walk up to the instrument while playing electric guitar and play a passage on the acoustic guitar and go right back to the electric without more than a second (or two) delay.
I know of one Uilleann piper who has taped the last tone hole shut and does cross fingerings to get his chanter to play in-tune off the knee.
On 2002-12-11 09:07, Travisnrha wrote:
My daughter plays oboe and wants to learn to play pipes. She likes the idea of the versatility of the uilleann pipes but wants to be able to play standing up. From what I’ve seen on the web, these pipes are sit down only. She has in mind to play in a band some day so would really want mobility. Are the 2 incompatible? Thanks. Travis.
I think this might mean walking as in a marching band. Closest I ever got was to be wheeled throught the town on an office chair one xmas eve, but then again I was ver ver druunk!!!
But seriously, It would be a difficult task, and if you are not walking, then what is wrong with sitting down?
Cheers
Alan
UPs are, as the consensus indicates, not really designed for standing/walking. Might I suggest that she investigate Northumbrian smallpipes? These can easily be played standing up, and have some of the distinctive features that may have attracted her to the UPs; that is, they can play staccato (stopped chanter end) and more than one octave (up to 2 full chromatic octaves). They are a very different instrument than UPs, but one of my personal favorites. See http://www.nspipes.co.uk for more information.
Tony’s idea of a leather horse gave me a thought: why not have a uilleann pipe band seated, all riding donkeys, and playing the alien pipes in a parade (sorry!). Well, the Scottish Dancers do a mock of the Irish Jig at our Caledonian Games!
And for our friends up north, maybe the RCMP could be talked into adopting the UPs as their instrument of choice, playing and marching their fine horses down main street. (I know, too much idle time..)
I don’t know what you’re all complaining about. I used to play cello in the marching band! :roll: But seriously folks; one other reason I like the idea of playing alien (thanks Alan) pipes is the fact that I’ll never have to play a march in a screaming hot
or freezing cold parade again. Tell your daughter the charm and magic of being in a marching outfit tend to dwindle quickly. If she’s absoulutely set on the idea, highland pipes are the thing especially for the volume needed to be heard on the march.
Marc
Q: Why do highland pipers march?
A: They’re trying to get away form the sound too.
[ This Message was edited by: marcpipes on 2002-12-11 16:11 ]
[ This Message was edited by: marcpipes on 2002-12-11 16:12 ]
I was busking once when a couple of travellers stopped to listen - one of them was pretty wild and managed to break the stool I was using on and I ended up having to play standing up leaning against a wall -
All good ideas! (Especially the swimming pool one!) Actually, she’s 15 and marching band is not what she had in mind. Rather Flogging Molly, Drop Kick Murphy etc.
On 2002-12-14 15:47, Travisnrha wrote:
All good ideas! (Especially the swimming pool one!) Actually, she’s 15 and marching band is not what she had in mind. Rather Flogging Molly, Drop Kick Murphy etc.
A few suggestions have been made for playing the uilleann pipes standing. However, if she wouldn’t be marching around, then (again) why NOT sit? In order to receive more visibility on stage, she could sit on a barstool or something with more height.
I wholeheartedly agree with Marcpipes on this. I played the highland bagpipes in a band for 20 years and quickly tired of the stress involved in making sure that the chanter was in tune with the pipe major, making sure that my drones were working and also making sure that I had both the March set and the M,S and R set down for the painful competitions. And then feeling the judges eyes burn into my back as I missed a grace note.
With the Uilleann pipes, I dont have to be in tune with anyone, I dont have to worry about competing and for once can play for the pure enjoyment!
Kearney, perhaps you should contribute to the thread on competitions which has just started next door on the ITM forum.
Careful how exultantly you advertise not having to be in tune with anyone–some people get their hackles raised about this without much provocation.