If Scottish music stirs your heartstrings and you want to learn the bagpipes Houston pipe and drum bands will welcome you with open arms. While there are many cultures which use bagpipes, the Scottish and Irish or uilleann pipes are the best known. From northern Africa to the Persian Gulf and through much of Europe, bagpipes of one sort or another are quite common. They all share some features.
All need an air supply. This is supplied either by bellows or by the player blowing into the instrument through a blowstick or blowpipe. Bellows are seen on the Border and Northumbrian smallpipes of England, the Irish pipes and the musette de cour of France. They first appeared around the 16th century. Blowpipes are usually equipped with a non-return valve.
The bag is airtight. Air is forced out as required by the player, thus producing an ongoing sound. Although synthetic materials are now being used, bags were once made exclusively from the hides of sheep, cows, dogs or goats.
One or two chanters are used to produce the melody. Finger-holes are operated by both hands. If the chanter is open-ended like the uilleann, there is no way of stopping the sound unless the chanter is placed against the leg. Once the air is stopped, the sound stops. The inner walls of the drone and chanters are bored out. Some are conical in shape while others are cylindrical.
Some chanters have single reeds; some have double. Double reeds vibrate against each other and are found in most Western European pipes. In addition to the chanter, pipes have drones. These have no finger holes. However they are jointed and their length can be adjusted a little by sliding the parts together. Adjusting the length alters the pitch so the drones can be tuned to blend harmoniously with the chanter. Another way of altering the length is by operating a tuning screw.
The drones and chanter are attached to the bag through sealed sockets called stocks. Once playing starts, the sound continues. Rest periods cannot be utilised so players embellish their playing with grace notes or ornaments. These help add meaning to the melody by accenting strong notes. Performing embellishments in a competent manner takes years of practice. The techniques to achieve ornamentation vary with the type of pipes.
Most people are familiar with the Great Highland Pipe of Scotland and would recognise its shape and sound. It has been nominated the national instrument of Scotland. Although modern pipes have at least three drones, the highland pipes started out with one. The second drone became the norm in the early 1600s and the 'great drone' was added in the early 18th century.
The Great Highland pipe has a sheepskin bag and was operated by mouth. The chanter and drones were made of ivory or bone. They are now mostly made of hardwood. Both hands are used to play the melodies, the chanter has a reed and the three drones rest on the shoulder. If you are in the market for bagpipes Houston music stores will be happy to help.
All need an air supply. This is supplied either by bellows or by the player blowing into the instrument through a blowstick or blowpipe. Bellows are seen on the Border and Northumbrian smallpipes of England, the Irish pipes and the musette de cour of France. They first appeared around the 16th century. Blowpipes are usually equipped with a non-return valve.
The bag is airtight. Air is forced out as required by the player, thus producing an ongoing sound. Although synthetic materials are now being used, bags were once made exclusively from the hides of sheep, cows, dogs or goats.
One or two chanters are used to produce the melody. Finger-holes are operated by both hands. If the chanter is open-ended like the uilleann, there is no way of stopping the sound unless the chanter is placed against the leg. Once the air is stopped, the sound stops. The inner walls of the drone and chanters are bored out. Some are conical in shape while others are cylindrical.
Some chanters have single reeds; some have double. Double reeds vibrate against each other and are found in most Western European pipes. In addition to the chanter, pipes have drones. These have no finger holes. However they are jointed and their length can be adjusted a little by sliding the parts together. Adjusting the length alters the pitch so the drones can be tuned to blend harmoniously with the chanter. Another way of altering the length is by operating a tuning screw.
The drones and chanter are attached to the bag through sealed sockets called stocks. Once playing starts, the sound continues. Rest periods cannot be utilised so players embellish their playing with grace notes or ornaments. These help add meaning to the melody by accenting strong notes. Performing embellishments in a competent manner takes years of practice. The techniques to achieve ornamentation vary with the type of pipes.
Most people are familiar with the Great Highland Pipe of Scotland and would recognise its shape and sound. It has been nominated the national instrument of Scotland. Although modern pipes have at least three drones, the highland pipes started out with one. The second drone became the norm in the early 1600s and the 'great drone' was added in the early 18th century.
The Great Highland pipe has a sheepskin bag and was operated by mouth. The chanter and drones were made of ivory or bone. They are now mostly made of hardwood. Both hands are used to play the melodies, the chanter has a reed and the three drones rest on the shoulder. If you are in the market for bagpipes Houston music stores will be happy to help.
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