Chanter Reeds for Smallpipes; Session Et
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"Pipes presented to James Fraser... as a token of esteem " IN THIS ISSUE New Classes for smallpipes; North Hero Gathering; Galloway Summer School; Chanter reeds for smallpipes; Session Etiquette; Irish origins of Jacky Lattin; Whats in a Name; Pastoral Pipes; Music; Reviews From David Stevenson From Richard Evans Edinburgh Cumberland THE STANDARDISATION OF I do not know of `Glen Kabul or `Trip BELLOWS OUTLET DIMENSIONS to Pakistan, but if Robert is interested in It would seem to be a good idea to have tunes linked to that region I have noted some sort of standard dimensions for down and arranged for my own playing a Letters bellows outlets, allowing interchange melody played by the Azad Kashmir Editorial between makers. Standardisation is not a pipe band of the Pakistan army. Also, new idea of course, having been when in Kabul and Peshawar three years Information about the cover From Malcolm McLaren Brisbane Australia mentioned several times in Common ago I was trying to recall the old picture is to be found on page 27. If any Stock [Vol 7.1 pp 8-11; Vol 14.1 p16. English(?) tune `Fortune my Foe and reader can add to this, please get in Ed]. came up with a number of variations or touch. In the last "Common Stock" was the wonderful article by Colin Ross about Julian Goodacre recently supplied developments which are playable along The Melrose piping weekend in me with the dimensions he uses, with a with the original. The original is said to June was reported to be well attended the Chanter Reed for Border Pipes....he request to pass them on. His bellows have been popular at executions, which and productive, with the three tutors is to be congratulated for this. One thing outlet consists of a wooden block with a may have an ironic link to bloody events moving groups to give I have noticed is that for some chanters it between tapered socket. The connecting tube which occurred near where I had been maximum spread of expertise. The may be necessary to make the staple remains attached to the bag and has a staying in Kabul shortly after I left, when Galloway Summer school was also well from a size smaller brass tube eg : 4.00 matching tapered end. The only critical the Taleban took the City. I could attended (see Ian Murrays report in mm. dimensions are those of the taper itself. probably find and post photocopies of these pages), and now available are the Metric sizes are available in good This is 60mm in length and tapers from adult learning evening classes in hobby stores, and are very handy as they these tunes to you or Robert if you wish. Edinburgh set up by Jim Buchanan (see allow for smaller increments between the 17mm down to 13mm over that length. The `Scottish Poetry Library Jig further on for more on this). The North inch sizes. My only observation on the on page 31 is not exactly as I wrote it - Hero Gathering, with its emphasis on Also I have found a good way to measurements is that the taper is a bit though it works! [Apologies; correction teaching and exchange of information is "stabilise" cane (as in chanter reeds) and long for convenience - I would prefer is printed on page 29 - Ed]. described by Craig Hohm, and Hamish make it less susceptible to climatic about 45mm. The answer to that is to use Moores annual classes, with a change... simply spray it from a spray a rather shorter length, measuring from encourage young pack of Automotive Silicon. You dont the wide end. This will maintain scholarship award to From pipers, continue in Vermont. All of have to put that much on that it drips, it compatibility, since a longer plug will Frank Klawonn which points to a growing and healthy will soak in to a certain extent, and you simply protrude slightly into the bellows, Emden Germany interest in the bellows blown pipes - a can carefully direct the spray into the through the socket. state of affairs which the out-going cavity between the lips of the blades. I am told that these dimensions I have recently joined the LBPS and chairman - Andy Hunter - has been I have been doing this for about are used by Jonathan Swayne and Simon Munro has just sent me the latest particularly keen to encourage. And 12 months now, without any apparent Hamish Moore as well as Julian; we will edition of Common Stock (Vol 14 No.1). of course such interest can be change to the tone or volume of the reed. also use them in future. Robert MacDonald asks in his letter to initialised by a visit to the web site - I do think it makes the reed resist As compared to the traditional Common Stock for some tunes. I guess which can be which now has a new address: moisture ingress, Northumbrian-style system we have used many others have already answered, but particularly noticed in smallpipe chanter www.scotmusic.co.uk/lbps up to now, there is a further advantage: in case he needs the Easy Club Reel I Jock Agnew, reeds at times. the bellows will lie flatter in the pipe can supply a copy of the notes that I got 11 Ulting Lane, Langford, Essex, CM9 6QB case. from a friend who found them [email protected] I hope this information is useful somewhere on the internet. There is also and I am sure Jock would welcome a recent recording of this reel by a comments. German group called DeReelium. 2 EDINBURGH HAS A NEW CLASS ALP Scottish Music Group provides levels of tuition for absolute beginners, improvers, intermediates, advanced intermediates and weekend FOR SCOTTISH SMALLPIPES (IN A) workshops. The teaching method is principally learning by ear in the belief that the acquisition of this skill frees the player to use expression in the tune rather than being tied to the page; also that playing should be from memory Jim Buchanan, Secretary to LBPS, has set up this teaching enterprise which which will help students to join in the numerous sessions that take place caters for pipers coming, so to speak, directly off the street. around Edinburgh. Thirty classes are run by ALP on a wide variety of instruments at all levels. " The growing number and quality of Edinburgh It began with a desire to learn "proper gracings for piping in the Highland folk sessions is an indication of their success. manner. This drew me to Andrew Warrens class for the practice chanter for Rory Campbell and Gary West happily agreed to share the teaching the great Highland bagpipe that is run by the Adult Learning Project Scots of the class. With this promise ALP were then keen to include a new class Music Group, usually known as ALPSMG. This experience made me to complement the existing Highland Bagpipe class. Their brochure said realise that there was a demand for a class for smallpipes, some rented, that "Highland bagpipes are in one key and are probably best described as the could be run within the ALPSMG framework. With prompting from pipes you imagine when you think of the bagpipe. Scottish smallpipes are classmate Kenneth Dickson who shared the same view, I raised the idea with played using a small bellow which is strapped under the elbow. These pipes the LBPS Committee. For about two years Andy Hunters committee had come in several different keys and can therefore be played with other been thinking about a specification for practice pipes for beginners and it instruments - without drowning them out! " seemed to me that here would be an ideal opportunity to try out the Next we set up stall on enrolment night on 14th September and were experiment of practice pipes, paid for by the LBPS, being rented out to gratified by the queue of applicants at our table. By the end of the evening learners. If we had some sets then we should seek people to teach a course twenty-two people had signed on for the first term. The cost for 10 lessons and then get ALP to provide the framework by hiring teachers and providing is 36 per person and we found 5 sets of practice pipes to hire out at 10.00 a venue. per month. LBPS paid for two sets and Nigel Richard, Julian Goodacre and I should explain what the ALP initiative is about. It is part of a City myself cobbled together three more. Seven people were keen to hire so of Edinburgh Council Community Education organisation initiative and is a demand outstripped the supply. It turned out that about a third of the new registered charity. ALPSMG is run by a voluntary committee with active class are beginners, one third improvers and one third Highland pipers participation by students and tutors who decide the format and composition wishing to learn smallpipes with the divergent aims of being able to join in of their classes. The Group employs a part-time Development Worker and pub sessions and of preserving domestic harmony. an Administrator funded by the Scottish Arts Council. The aims of the Scots Now we have split into two classes; beginners taught by Ian K Murray Music Group are: (to whom grateful thanks for giving so freely of his time and experience) and • to create a critical relationship of respect and status to Scots music song a bigger class with Rory as principal teacher and Gary as back-up. Our and dance that it may live in the heart of the community and beyond teachers contrasting styles are a constant stimulus to this class and, yes, we • to build a repertoire in the Scots idiom with reference to the past, present really are trying to develop the skill of learning by ear although most of us and into the future are still hooked on the dots.