Traditional Irish Instruments - Irish bagpipes

In Ireland have been two types of bagpipes. The first ones to be documented in the 1500’s was the Great Irish Warpipes (píob mhór; literally "great pipes"), an instrument similar in design to the Scottish bagpipes. It is called Warpipes because they were, like in Scotland, used as an instrument of war. An Irish Gaelic version of “Fierabas” may contain the first reference to warpipes: the quote “sinnter adharca agus piba agaibh do tinol bur sluaigh” translates as “let horns and pipes be played by you to gather your host.” The manuscript may date to the 15th century and the writer may have had bagpipes in mind.  Even Galilleo’s father (musician Vincenzo Gallilei), mentions the Irish pipes in a 1581 work. In “The Image of Ireland,” poem by John Derricke, published in the same year, there is mention of the Irish warpipes as form of communication in battle.

“The Image of Ireland,” by John Derrick 1581http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Irish_Warpipes

It seems that the Warpipes disappeared from Ireland in the 19^th century. By then another type of Irish bagpipes became popular. The “new kids in the block” were the ‘pastoral’ or ‘union pipes’ or píobaí uilleann (literally, "pipes of the elbow").

Uilleann pipes (pronounced ill-in or ill-yun depending upon local dialect), are a hard instrument to master, local lore mentions that a musician requires seven years learning, seven years practicing, and seven years playing before a piper could be said to have mastered this complex instrument. 

 

Uilleann pipes, full set

Amongst the bagpipes the Uilleann pipes are the most complex, they come as a learning set, the half-set and the full-set.  As an instrument, the Uilleann pipes are composed of the following parts: bag, bellows, chanter, drones and regulators.

The Uilleann pipes  appeared in the 1700’s, played by gentlemen and clergy alike. The most known players in the 20^th century are Paddy Moloney, Liam O’Flynn, Paddy Keenan, Davy Spillane and others. Uilleann pipes has been an instrument played mostly by ‘traveller’ families, most notably by the Keenans, Dorans, and Fureys.

Paddy Keenan, Ottawa 2011

For more information on the history, structure and the playing of the Uilleann pipes, check Na Píobairí Uilleann (The Society of Uilleann Pipers).

Traditional Irish Music

Wikipedia tells that that the folk music of Ireland (also known as Irish traditional music, Irish trad, Irish folk music, and other variants) is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres in Ireland.

In A History of Irish Music (1905), W. H. Grattan Flood wrote that, in Gaelic Ireland, there were at least ten instruments in general use. These were the cruit (a small harp) and clairseach (a bigger harp with typically 30 strings), the timpan (a small string instrument played with a bow or plectrum), the feadan (a fife), the buinne (an oboe or flute), the guthbuinne (a bassoon-type horn), the bennbuabhal and corn (hornpipes), the cuislenna (Irish war bagpipes, different from the Uilleann bagpipes, which was developed around the beginning of the 18th century), the stoc and sturgan (clarions or trumpets), and the cnamha (castanets). There is also evidence of the fiddle being used in the 8th century.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Irish_Music

To learn about traditional Irish music, check “A History of Irish Music” (1905) by William H. Grattan Flood.
http://www.libraryireland.com/IrishMusic/Contents.php (Online book, can be downloaded or read in web format).

If you are interested in self-taught programs to learn of some of the traditional instruments, check ComhaltasLive, the weekly internet video programme of Irish traditional music produced by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. These video-programs are organized by instrument, tune (reel, jig, etc.) and venue (competition, concert, etc.). 

Also, another source is the Revised Tunebook from the Kington, Harp of Tara Branch, of Comhaltas.

Instrument loans for beginner musicians in Irish traditional music

The Brach website has a new page about instrument loans.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) is searching for beginner music students that may be interested in borrowing one of the Ottawa Branch owned Irish instruments. The loan of the instrument is for the sole purpose of learning the instrument for playing Irish traditional music, at the beginner level.

The translation of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to English is ‘Gathering of the Musicians of Ireland.’ CCÉ was founded in 1951 by a group of Irish pipers who were concerned that the traditional music of Ireland was in decline and in danger of being lost. Since then the organization has grown into a global movement involving tens of thousands of people and has come to encompass traditional Irish dance and the Irish language as well as the music. Therefore, at the local level we must continue our best efforts to preserve the tradition.

The Ottawa Branch of CCÉ owns a collection of musical instruments common in Irish traditional music. These instruments represent a substantial investment and commitment by CCÉ Ottawa to maintain the musical heritage of Ireland. By loaning these instruments, beginning students are spared the initial cost while they find their way and determine whether learning the instrument is for them or not.

The collection, and current status, of the instruments is:
Two full sized harps (unavailable);
Two Stentor student 3/4-size fiddles (AVAILABLE);
Irish wooden flute (unavailable);
Single-row button Hohner accordion (AVAILABLE); and
Half-set of David Daye uilleann pipes (AVAILABLE).

Beginner students can petition the Branch to borrow an instrument. If the student is eligible and the instrument is available the student will receive the instrument on loan. Each loan is subject to written terms and conditions set by the Branch. It is expected that the student will make an honest effort to gain sufficient proficiency and passion for the instrument and the music, and eventually acquire their own instrument. The loaned instrument is then returned to CCÉ for loan to another beginner.

While some of the instruments are already spoken for, the uptake of instruments to interested beginners has been disappointingly low. Normally the availability of these instruments is announced at the monthly ceilis, and in the CCÉ Ottawa branch newsletter. CCÉ is eager to loan one of the instruments to persons who indicate a serious intention to make that initial effort to learn their chosen instrument. If you are such a person, or know of such a person, please contact the Vice-Chair of the of the CCÉ Ottawa branch for more details.