lets say you are off travelling in india for a year, with your pipes.
what tunebook would you take?
Ceol Rince na hÉireann Volume 1.
djm
At this stage, I’d probabaly take with me Pat Mitchell’s book, the Dance Music of Willie Clancy.
I agree, Jonathan. Willie Clancy is not, by any stretch of the imagination, my “favorite piper.” In fact, I find the commercially available recordings of his playing to be rather abrasive. However, his playing, as transcribed by Pat Mitchell, was clearly brilliant and I am rediscovering with delight this collection of tunes that I once found daunting and well beyond my capabilities.
I think that each of us approach learning tunes, whether by employing written or recorded or even live taught music, with our own preconceived notions, sets of experiences, and innate approaches to interpretation of the music under study. For example, I’ve been focusing on WC’s version of Paddy O’Rafferty. I don’t like the “sound” nor "rendition"of WC playing the tune on one of the three Clancy CD’s I own. And, of course, that version was not likely the one used to provide the transcription for the tune book…but, it is close. I find myself playing it nearly as written or transcribed by Pat Mitchell but I can identify nuances in my approach to the playing of the tune that have entered my piping directly as a result of teachings by each of Benedict Koehler, Patrick Hutchinson (especially with regards to the timing of the middle staccato notes where indicated), Kevin Rowsome, and Neillidh Mulligan. Who knows what sort of unintended yet measurable influences Pat Mitchell has had on the rendering of these tunes as he transcribed them. I guess it would be fair to say Pat Mitchell has also influenced my playing of the tune as the event of transcribing a traditional tune has to change it in some way. (And, I often wonder, if he were taking on the task of doing so today, how different would be the final outcome of the work even if employing the same source materials). My point is, even though I’d take along the Clancy dance music tune book, I think I’d use that as a guide and, by the nature of “how things work,” even though studying intently from that tremendous resource, make the tunes I studied my very own in some subtle perhaps unintended ways.
But, India? I cannot imagine Uilleann pipes playing well there! I guess it would depend on where in India one was to spend a year. I think I’d take the opportunity to explore the wonderful complexities of Indian music and dance if I had a year there to focus on music of some sort.
India has several types of bagpipes of their own. You could make it an educational trip. No-one would probably want to listen to the caterwaul, but you would be very educated. 
djm
u are very right!
i am defenetly going to have a go in india’s traditional music
surely try to expolre thier bagpipes
the thing is that before im getting there im off to a few summer schools in ireland, learning the pipes.
i own a practice set and thinking of taking it with me to india (bad idea i assume… and been told by a few) but i just cant seem to bare the thought of leaving uilleann pipes for so long when i just started and while its burning in me.
the purpose of the trip to india is just travelling and finding a little house to sit and play music in nature.
i think im willing to danger my set for such an experiance…
i sure would appriciate comments about this plan…
I would be more concerned about my innards than my pipes when going to India. Terms like “Delhi Belly” are based on fact, not rumour. If you pick up a nasty bug like amoebic dysentry it will haunt you for the rest of your life.
djm
Yes, you'd be much better off renting a documentary on India from your local video shop and staying at home. The Jungle Book is a great read if you are into reading!!?? I know it's Indonesia but it's near enough for the experience.
Bleeding hell! :roll:
PD.
No joke, Pat. I have friends who did the “let’s do India for a year bit” and one young lady is still taken with bouts of severe illness every year, even ten years after the trip.
djm
I think you could do two things. You could bring the Willie Clancey book or the Patsey Touhey book or the Seamus Ennis book may be out before you go. This would give you a year studying one classic piper and all their tricks and tunes, and also you’ll see how any of those pipers mentioned above have influenced generations after them.
Or, you could bring one of the Ceol Rince na hEireann books or some big volume of tunes to increase your own personal store of tunes.
If I had room I’d bring all 5 but I have to say #1 is my favourite too!
But I would bring O’Neills Music of Ireland, the one with 1850 tunes.
I think every one should have this book. The reels and jigs are great but there are some fantastic tunes in the Miscellaneous, long dances, slip jigs, hop jigs, etc. You’d be well up on session tunes plus you’d have a great store of unusual dance tunes and airs that were popular at he end of the 19th and early 20 century.
A nice bundle to pass on to those musical friends around you.
And eat all the curry you want!!! A bizzilion Indians can’t be wrong.
Tommy.
You can always put the jacks paper in the fridge…
…
“And it burns burns burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire”
Diseases? Well, let’s see. Cutaneous leprosy is very common in India. One in four people in the crowded streets of Bombay have TB…so sez my physician friends born, reared, and educated in India.
hey all
what do you say dropping the diseases chat cause it isnt helping me…
i choose not to bring it in my mind…
i got a cracky ipod for the music so i can bring a lot with me, im collecting quite a bit for the trip 
about the book, im sure i can take a little few but still cant really decide which, cause i dont have them…
maybe ill just check them in ireland 
im not sure about a whole year, ireland and australia are also in the plan, but still ill be a long time there 
Wow. India for a year…whereabouts will you be goin’, Eran? Any one place in particular or just all over?
I would also maybe take the Willie Clancy book (although I’d need to get a new copy first…mine got stolen ages ago), but I would definitely fill that iPod thingy with as many tunes as possible. Probably Mick O’Brien and Caoimhin O Raghallaigh for starters.
I dunno about Indian bagpipes or anything, but if I was in India for a year, I doubt if I would be able to resist the temptation to start noodling on the bansuri (Indian flute). Then again, I’ve been in Japan for two years noodling on the shakuhachi and haven’t gotten very far…Maybe, like most Japanese people who play it, I’ll wait until retirement to take it up…
Seeing as how the aptly-named Indian Subcontinent is so incredibly vast, there must be someplace there that wouldn’t be completely climactically adverse to uilleann pipes, but I imagine you’re going to be in for a bit of frustruation. Then again, Israel doesn’t really strike me as an ideal environment for UPs either (not that I’ve been to either India or Israel…yet), so maybe you’re used to this kinda stuff already.
ill try getting a few reeds to go off with.
if the climate will not let play… ill just face it and send my set back home.
or maybe learn to make reeds there probably not…
ill just get there and let you know
im not intended to a specific place, im going to see it with my eyes and choose my little place, im sure there will be a few little places where ill be staying a period of time.
Well, then there’s the deadly snakes …
djm
Hey Eran;
Dump the book. Sorry to say it, but you’ll end up cursing yourself bringing something that’s going to suck up valuable room in your backpack.
I love to travel and the rule I’ve been told (and slowly come to agree with) is ‘twice the money and half the weight.’
Books, unlike clothing, do not dry out nicely in the sun. Speaking of which, I’ve been told that you can get clothing stupidly cheap and quite well made all over India, (or at least the cities) so the idea is you can simply buy the clothes you need over there.
The ipod is a great idea. I have a minidisc that I use and there’s up to 3 hours of music per disc, and not only that, but with a teeny microphone you can record anything, and India is nothing if not diverse. Make sure your recharging unit will work on their electrical system. That or buy lots and lots of batteries. I haven’t been there yet, but I’ve been told to get your shots, buy your drinking water and keep you eyes (and mind) wide open. I hope you have a great trip. Also, check out the ‘Lonely Planet’ website, there’s tons of stuff about travelling in India.
The second time I went to ‘the third world’ I foolishly brought a guitar with me. Wrong wrong wrong. It made me out to be a target (obviously rich), a possible entertainment unit (“Hey foreigner! Play us some rock n’ roll!”) and it made every train and bus worker smile as I approached. Bribes cost more when you’re obviously a prat. So carry the practice set in your backpack. These are, of course, just suggestions. Do what you want and have a great time.
Mark
The tune book I would take (carefully double wrapped in ziplock plastic bags) would have to be “The Dance Music of Willie Clancy” by Pat Mitchell, published by Mercier Press. It is thin enough to occupy very little space and has more than enough tunes to keep me going for years. If you don’t have it, I think you ought to look into getting it. Of course, it all depends on where I may be travelling to. I figure that anywhere it is safe enough for my pipes should be more than safe enough for a book of tunes.
I will be putting a few Shakuhachi on Yahoo auctions soon.
I’m selling my collection to finance a new set of pipes
Lee Sei-Macfhearchair