The term "Uilleann pipes"

The "Uilleann pipes" are a unique form of Bagpipes originating from Ireland. This is also arguably the most advanced and most difficult form of Bagpipes to be learnt—usually due to technical challenges as will be explained below.

Unlike the Scottish Bagpipes (also referred to as the "GHB"—"great Highland Bagpipes") which are generally mouth-blown (with the exception of modifications of the latter such as the Northumbrian Smallpipes or the Lowland Pipes—also known as Border Pipes), the Uilleann Pipes are bellows-driven. This means that, instead of blowing air into the bag by mouth (usually by means of a blowpipe connecting to a blowstock which is tied into the pipe bag), it is supplied by a bellows which the piper straps on just above the right elbow (hence the Irish word "uilleann"—elbow) and his waist. The bellows is connected also by a blowpipe and a blowstock. Pumping the bellows moves the air within into the bag. A backflow of air out of the bellows and out of the pipebag is prevented by a simple valve system (also applied in the GHB). Some pipe makers add cushioning to either side of the bellows to make pumping more comfortable, since the wooden boards are known to cause bruises and pain. A set of Uilleann pipes is played in a seated position because of the physics of the chanter (see "The Chanter" below).

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Starting out - The "Practice Set"

When learning a new instrument, it is not usually common to start out with only a part of the instrument. Yet a student or a teacher of the Uilleann pipes will generally refer to anyone starting out with a "Full Set" as either insane or very brave due to the complexity of the instrument and the difficulty of learning it. Thus, a beginner will be prompted to start his "endeavor" with a so called "Practice Set". This consists of a) the pipe bag, b) the bellows and c) the chanter. The chanter is available in keys ranging from the "concert pitch" D chanter in half-note steps downward to a Bb (B-flat) chanter, the latter of which regularly is referred to as a "flat set" (as are any sets below the key of D—for more information, see "History of the Uilleann pipes" or "The Chanter" below). The previously mentioned "technical difficulty" is mainly based on the act or the attempt to pump the bellows, keep a constant pressure on the bag and playing the chanter (and perhaps also tapping your foot in in the rhythm of the tune being played) simultaneously. A piper frequently establishes this coordination within the first month of "playing"—if at that stage it can actually be called playing... The beginning student will normally play on this practice set for about a year before advancing to a "half set". The meanings "practice set" or "starter set" are by no means relevant to their appearance. For example: a practice set is used by many pipers to play single melodies or accompany orchestra or other various ranging musical styles that are not based on the "organ point".

The next level - The "Half Set"

A "Half Set" is the next upgrade from a practice set. As other forms of bagpipes are known to have "drones" (usually two or more pipes accompanying the melody of the chanter with a constant background note), so are the Uilleann pipes. They are generally equipped with three drones: a) the tenor drone—the highest sounding pipe, b) the baritone drone and c) the bass drone—the lowest sounding pipe, one octave below the bottom note of the chanter. These drones are connected to the pipe bag by a "common stock". This is a hollow, rather short but wide piece of pipe tied into the bag (as any other stock) by a thick yarn or hemp thread. The drones connect to the common stock as do the "regulators" (see "Full Set" below). The common stock and drones are laid across the right thigh. This is unusual, as all other forms of bagpipes carry their drones over the shoulder or over the right arm. Also, the drones can be switched off. This is made possible by a key connected to the common stock. The piper is able to switch on and off various drones individually (applying slightly more pressure to the bag and tapping the end of a drone) or all of them at the same time using this key. This makes the instrument more versatile and usable not only as a half set but also as a practice set applying the use of the drone switch. The drones, unlike the chanter and the regulators use a single-bladed reed (the actual part creating sound—mainly scraped from cane).

Another step - The "Full Set"

A "Full Set" is, as the name mentions, a complete set of Uilleann pipes. This would be a half set with the addition of three "regulators". These are three closed chanters also protruding from the common stock. A regulator uses keys (five on the tenor and 4 on both baritone and bass reg) to accompany the melody of the chanter with (limited) chords or single notes for emphasis on phrases or specific notes. The regulators (regs) are added to the common stock: the tenor and baritone regs on top of the drones and the bass reg on the side of the stock (facing the knee of the piper). A student of the pipes will not upgrade to a full set for at least three years, due to the difficulty of playing a melody, pumping the bellows, keeping constant pressure on the bag and playing the regulators at the same time. The regulators obviously cannot be played with any finger of either hand so they are played with the palm of the right hand. Some pipe makers also add another E regulator or a "double bass" regulator. The regs use the same double-bladed reed as the chanter. Hear this clip (http://www.kilkenny-band.de/Trip%20to%20Athlone&Teasick.mp3) for the sound of a full set of pipes including the application of the regulators.

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The Chanter

The Chanter is the main part of the Uilleann pipes. It is used to play the melody. The Uilleann pipe chanter differs from any other bagpipe chanter. It has nine note holes (example given of a D pitched chanter): Bottom D, Eb (E-flat), E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D' (also called "back D"). The chanter is set on the right knee and sowith closing off the bottom hole. To achieve the "bottom D" the chanter is lifted off the knee. For all other notes (except for off-the-knee passages) the chanter stays on the knee. For a full chromatic scale either crossfingering or additional keys can be used. Another characteristic of the chanter is that it can produce staccato notes because the piper seals it off at the bottom. Also a vibrato can be achieved by tapping a finger below the open note hole on the chanter. The bottom note also has two different "modes", namely: "bottom D" and the "hard bottom D". The hard bottom D sounds louder than the bottom D and is accomplished by applying slightly more presure to the bag. The latter is used more frequently. The chanter uses a complex double-bladed reed. This is the actual "instrument" and without it there would be no sound from the pipes. The Uilleann pipes reeds are also often called "the piper's despair" for the immense difficulty of maintaining and tuning (and even making) the reed.

(to be continued soon...)