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Uilleann Pipes: History & Features

The Uilleann pipes are a form of bagpipes that originated in Ireland. They emerged in the early 18th century and developed their modern form over the following 50-60 years. Known originally as "union pipes" and later as "píoba uilleann," they are distinguished from other bagpipes by their sweet tone, wide range, and unique blend of chanter, drones, and regulators. The pipes are played by inflating the bag with bellows strapped to the player's waist and arm, which allows for techniques like sliding, tapping, and varying fingering to produce different timbres and dynamics not found in other bagpipe styles. Some famous modern players include Davy Spillane and P

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83 views2 pages

Uilleann Pipes: History & Features

The Uilleann pipes are a form of bagpipes that originated in Ireland. They emerged in the early 18th century and developed their modern form over the following 50-60 years. Known originally as "union pipes" and later as "píoba uilleann," they are distinguished from other bagpipes by their sweet tone, wide range, and unique blend of chanter, drones, and regulators. The pipes are played by inflating the bag with bellows strapped to the player's waist and arm, which allows for techniques like sliding, tapping, and varying fingering to produce different timbres and dynamics not found in other bagpipe styles. Some famous modern players include Davy Spillane and P

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Uilleann Pipes - H B B C T P T R D

History
- Irish form of bagpipes
- depicted in prints and carvings

- emerged in early 18th C- developed into its modern form in the last 50- 60 years

- Before- known as “union pipes”——> then “píoba uilleann” meaning pipes of elbow (use your
elbow to pump bellows)

- Protestant clergy employed pipers as alternative to organ

- Many players were protestant- e.g Piper Jackson from Co. Limerick (18th Century)

- Pipes- distinguished from many other forms of bagpipes by their sweet tone and wide range of
notes together with the unique blend of chanter, drones, and regulators

Regulators

- keys opened by the wrist- allowing piper to play chords and rhythmic and harmonic
accompaniment as desired.

Bag

- Inflated by the bellows

- strapped around the player’s waist and right arm

Bellows

- Relieves player from blowing into bag to maintain pressure

- the dry air helps keep reed dry. Moisture can be detrimental to tuning and longevity of pipes

Chanter

-plays the melody

- Like a low whistle- not blown in to.

- Lifted off the knee- causes “popping”.

- To achieve the "bottom D" the chanter is lifted off the knee, exposing the exit of the chanter's
bore, where the note is produced.

The chanter is set on the right knee thus closing off the bottom hole. Many players use a strip of
leather placed over the knee, called a "popping strap," which provides for an airtight seal.

Drone:

- D at three different octaves- tenor, baritone and bass


- Tune them to match chanter

Tuning

- Mostly tuned in key of D

- ‘Flat’ sets also exist

- Length of chanter determines key

- D mostly used in group player and ‘ flat’ for solo playing

- Mainly solo playing until late 19th C

Timbres (popping, sliding, tapping)

- varying the fingering of notes and also raising the chanter off the knee, which gives the uilleann
pipes a degree of dynamic range- not found in other forms of bagpipes

- a type of vibrato and tremolo can be achieved by tapping a finger below the open note hole on
the chanter.

- The bottom note also has two different "modes", namely the "soft D" and the "hard D". The hard
bottom D sounds louder and more strident than the soft D and is accomplished by applying
slightly more pressure to the bag and flicking a higher note finger as it is sounded

- “half-holing" or "sliding" - on chanter to create semitone

- The chanter uses a double reed similar to that of the oboe and bassoon.

Performers

- Davy Spillane from ‘Morning hearts’- Caoineadh cu Chulainn

- Paddy Moloney from the Chieftains

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