Uilleann Pipes Flashcards
Summary of essay
- Popularity and revival of uilleann pipes
- Playing of the pipes, sound and technique. Parts of the pipes explained
- Liam O’Flynn, Paddy Moloney and Séamus Ennis
- Ornamentation on the uilleann pipes
Popularity of the uilleann pipes, start and revival intro
Became popular in the 18th century, as harping tradition was going into decline and were revived again in the 1950s as a result of the founding of the Dublin Piper’s club. Pipes were later included in the lineup of the 1960’s Ceoltoirí Chualann and later the Chieftains.
Promotion of piping today- organisations works
Organizations like Píobairí Uilleann have ensured the survival of the Uilleann Piping tradition in Ireland.
Sound of the pipes and range
The Uilleann Pipes have a sweet, mellow tone. The pipes have a range of two full octaves
Difference between the scottish pipes and the uilleann pipes
They are quieter than Scottish bagpipes and can be used for performing indoors. They are also played sitting not standing.
What the uilleann pipes look like
They are made up of the bellows, bag, and seven pipes -the chanter, three drones and three regulators.
How pipes are played
Pipers pump the bellows with one elbow to keep bag filled with air while they play the tune on the chanter with both hands. The drones sound continuously and are turned off with a drone key. The tenor, baritone and bass drone are tuned to the bottom note of the chanter, each an octave below the other
The regulators provide chordal accompaniment, played with wrist movement.
wo well known pipe players name them and what they are from
Well known players of the uilleann pipes are Liam O’Flynn, who was a founding member of Planxty and Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains.
Detail Liam O’Flynn’s involvement with the instrument and irish music
Born in 1945 in Kildare. He featured on the recording of Shaun Davey’s Brendan Voyage for uilleann pipes. He was commissioned by Mary Mc Aleese to compose a piece of music, “An Droichead” for her inauguration.
Discuss another piper not Paddy Moloney or Liam O’Flynn
Prominent figure in piping tradition is the Dublin piper Séamus Ennis. Played tin whistle and the uilleann pipes and was a broadcaster on RTÉ. He also worked for the Irish Folklore Commission and was a collector of tunes. He died in the Naul, Dublin, where there is a Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre dedicated to him. His albums include “The Return From Fingal” and “The Best of Irish Piping.”
Name three techniques used to implement ornamentation on the uilleann pipes
Crans, Triplets and popping
Explain a cran
A cran is a staccato effect created on the low D on the chanter.
Explain a triplet
A triplet is when three notes are played in the time of two notes of the same value. They are added in as three consecutive notes which are either ascending, descending or repeating.
Explain popping
Popping is a technique used by the piper where they accentuate the note by lifting the chanter off the knee.
