In this forum we discuss all details of this instrument from chanter design, opinions on makers, reed issues, tone difficulties, etc. which is wonderful of course but lets step back for a minute… what is it that has drawn you to this wonderful instrument? For some it may be because of their strong Irish heritage, others perhaps it is the uniqueness of the instrument, or the challenge of playing…
I will start off… for me it is pure simplicity…a spiritual connection that captivates me and takes me to a trance-like state when I hear it’s notes. It’s sound sends me into an immediate selective hearing state that blocks other environmental noises, reflexes my eyes to shut and my breathing to deepen. It is an unfortunate experience for others around me, however, as they have to see the goofy looking expression on my face
Definitely the sound of the little beast. I also love the challenge it presents trying to learn to play and maintain them. And last but not least, it’s just a feckin blast to play with other pipers.
Maw wrote:
Amongst things already said, I like it because when the women folk say men can’t do two things at once…
I like to smile and say watch me play me pipes
The pipes strike a chord (pun intended) deep within me…Spiritual? Yes, but something else unexplainable… something vital and hauntingly familiar, a racial memory, if you will, even upon first hearing them. Makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, gives me goose bumps and certain slow airs when played well, dare I say, are able to bring a tear to my eye.
Plus they are a chick magnet. Yeah, right!?
Rick
for me the pipes have a sound like no other instrument.
when i first heard and saw them i was drawn like a fly to honey. there was no other instrument for me. ive been playing 9 yrs hate that i started so late in life ( i was 26 when i started playing)
Apart from all things already written in this thread I became aware recently that it might be in my genes to some extent: My mother´s father was from Franconia (he died before I was born) and played Tischzither. Tischzither is a sort of dulcimer with many drone-strings and is quite frequently used in Southern German Traditional Music. It is in just tuning and can only be played sitting. There must be some connections.
Best,
Hans
It’s got to be in the genes. Awakens something from generations long gone.
I read somewhere and it was possibly a tune or album title, “Strains on Winds Once Blown” which just about sums it up for me.
I’m of Irish parent’s (Mount Mellick) but it certainly wasn’t mum & dads influence as they don’t play a musical instrument of any kind.For some reason though I was always drawn to the sound of the pipes although in my early youth it was the GHB. I seldom liked the tunes I heard; it was the combination of drones against chanter and the reedy harmonics.
I didn’t get to hear Uilleann pipes until I stumbled upon “The Wandering Minstrel” vinyl by Ennis and he had passed on by then. Which is a shame as I would have loved to have met the man. Anyhow, I heard that album and BANG*$@~#. I was hooked for life. There was something very primitive in the sound of that album; dropped notes/octaves, squeeks, you name it. But Ennis also produced something very beautiful that struck a chord. Yeh, without doubt the “Gene factor”.
Joseph (the UK one)
It is . . .
The wild goose’s laughter
The washer woman’s sigh
The warrior’s battle chant
The banshee’s cry
The Holy Spirit’s whisper
In the still moonlight
The art of the Irish piper
brings a tear to my eye.
The fluttering vibratos, the ghost E bending, surge and pull my emotions. Listening to Troy Donockley rip away on ‘Reels’ and “Flight of the Wild Goose” drive me crazy. Spillane on Riverdance makes me want to bawl. There’s a spiritual connection, almost, with the pipes. Makes the hair stand on the back of my neck. Makes me want to go do something great and adventuresome.
