What Key ?

Uilleann Pipes
1

I just picked up Pipering of Willie Clancy Volume 2 - and was wondering what key the chanter is in ???

I know it’s a simple question but it is not listed anywhere on the sleave.

For the bonus question - what key does Seamus Ennis use?

Thanks - and for all the people who got the answer right - Guinness on me next time when you’re in NC :smiley:

Slan,

2

SE played a Coyne C# set, which is now being played by L. O’Flynn.

Pay up, bucko. :smiley:

3

I think he plays several sets on that recording. IIRC there are some tunes played on a B set (Coyne?) and some on a D set (Taylor?). I’ll have to listen to the CD again.

One interesting thing about that particular CD is that on several tracks Sean Reid plays the regulators while WC plays the chanter. Why they did this, I’d love to know. WC was well able to play the regulators and in my humble opinion, the accompaniment provided by Sean Reid was not the best.

4

You’re right PJ, it does say that Sean Reid helped him on the regs…it seams odd to me; but what do i know! most pipers that I have listened to hardly EVER use their regs anyway.

…and yes Evil Moderator you get as many pints as you want IF you come up here to NC !!!

5

Most groovy, oh generous one!

6

I unfortunately don’t havbe the recording yet, but the b set that Willie had was a Harrington, now in the possesion of Ronan Browne.

7

No;

He did enjoy playing a Harrington B which Ronan has, but he didn’t own it. I don’t think any of the Piping of Willie Clancy recordings were made on that Harrington. Some of the tracks on those albums were indeed played on a Taylor concert pitch chanter, not sure if any of them were played on the Rowsome chanter. I can double check with RB to see what he knows about those tracks and whether any commercially released tracks feature the Harrington.

The Coyne B which he used (and which I believe features on the B tracks in the albums) has a weird chanter, apparently messed with, so its sound is a bit unusual for Coyne B. Seamas O’Rochain has this set now, the chanter is rushed up to the throat which has it playing a bit more “normally” now.

best regards

Bill

8

The book “The Dance Music of Willie Clancy” has a short biography of WC which lists some of the sets that he owned (or at least had the use of) in his time. There were several Rowsome sets and at least 2 Moloney sets. Then there was the Taylor set (which is pictured on the cover of both volumes of the Pipering of WC). He also had a Kennedy set - was that in D? He’s pictured with that set in the book.

He certainly didn’t seem particularly tied to one set of pipes, unlike Seamus Ennis or Leo Rowsome.

9

Thanks for the correction guys. Best do my homework before opening my big mouth. Speaking of hw…

10

I was at Willie’s house in the early 1970’s and he had quite a collection of pipes, including a set by Chris Langan.


Pat Sky

11

Pat,

That’s interesting that Willie had a Chris Langan set. I somehow sensed there was a mystical connection between Toronto and Milltown Malbay :slight_smile: