Piping Links
- Na Piobairi Uilleann
- SWAUP
- Reedshaman
- Uilleann Obsession
- Mad for Trad
- NWUP
- The Session
- Last Night's Fun
- Chiff and Fipple
- EZFolk
- The Hibernia Centre
- TradLessons.com
Other Links
The Uilleann Pipes
The Irish uilleann (pronounced 'ill-an') pipes, or union pipes, have been
described as a hive of honeyed sound and rightly so for these pipes are
complex and beautiful, both visually and in terms of the rich and
expressive sound they produce.
The pipes were developed in the 18th century and may well have evolved
from an instrument similar to the Oboe. A modern concert pitch set of
pipes consists of a chanter on which the melody is played, 3 drones which
provide a background accompaniment and 3 'regulators' which are best
thought of as keyed chanters which the piper plays with his wrist to
provide an extra dimension to the music. It is no wonder that the uilleann
pipes have often been referred to as 'the organ pipes' and indeed have
been used in Irish churches to provide the music instead of the organ. As
may be imagined, this complex instrument is accepted as one of the most
difficult instruments in the world to master and it has been argued that
it takes 21 years to make a good piper.
In order to play the pipes, the piper is seated with the chanter resting
on his upper leg and the drones and the regulators resting across his lap.
The instrument is, of course, wind driven, but unlike their Scottish
cousin, the uilleann pipes are powered by a bellows which is strapped
around the waist of the piper.
The sound of the pipes is complex, rich and expressive and a far cry from
the much louder Highland pipes. The uilleann pipes are capable of
expressing great joy or great sorrow depending on the occasion and have
been adopted as the national instrument of Ireland.