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 Paddy's pipes |
About Uilleann Pipes The uilleann pipes sound different from other pipes. For one, it is quieter than the more familiar Scottish pipes. On the Scottish pipes, the chanter has only one octave and a set of three drones. On the Irish pipes, you have two octaves on the chanter, which give them a much greater range. The construction of the Irish pipes is different. The uilleann pipes have an additional set of keys (thirteen all together). The keys rest on your knees and allow you to play back-up chords or rhythm. This makes the pipes more like a one-man band as opposed to the Scottish pipes that don't have the range of the Irish pipes. The Irish pipes are also blown by bellows, unlike the Scottish pipes which are blown by mouth. This means that the reeds are different as well. The Scottish have wet reeds versus the Irish, which have dry reeds. The Irish pipes are the most versatile and complex of all bagpipes. About Playing the Pipes I don't know about the method of playing, I just play for the mood. One of the differences in my playing is that I use a different pressure from most pipers, bringing out the mood of whatever I am feeling for the music or the environment at the time. The pressure also influences the tone. Plus, with that control of your instrument, I think that one can play in almost any style of what one hears today (or in the past, for that matter). To be original is what matters, it is the mood that makes the difference. It is the soul of the music. I respect all pipers for their efforts because the pipes are very trying. They are very sensitive to every change in climate or weather and you constantly have to make adjustments in your tuning and reed movements. Those of us who make our own reeds all realize the frustration of getting the pipes on stage in tune. The Octopus is very temperamental when out of water. Paddy Keenan
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