Liam O Flynn --- King Of The Pipers

[thissong4you]

The Queen of the Fairies "takes the piper right up to the highest note on the chanter which is a bit of a dangerous area..." Great interview...marvelous hornpipe...magnificent playing. Thank you, Michael.

[bitterboy100]

The guy is incredible! I've never heard anyone this good. The pipes have such ranch! WOW! Great upload!

[gcpropertymanagement]

Thanks, Clare! 

[erin9034]

ONE of the GREATEST things I've ever witnessed!

[DMLDEBLITTLE]

Thank you so much for posting this. I'm like you, the music does something to my emotions. Guess it's in my blood. I wished he would have played a set with Paddy. Great bit on the history too. Amazing just amazing.

If this music isn't in Heaven then we shall have to go rogue and bring it on up. It makes me feel like I'm in heaven just listening to it.

[poopandpeeandpoooooo]

my names liam flynn:D

[mrslecole]

It doesn't get any better than this!

[Socrates2851]

Beautiful!

[Eoind]

I remember watching Liam O'Flynn coming to play in my school as a young lad, fantastic musician!

[JimReaper2007]

I agree totally with your comment about emotions listening to this music. It is so moving to listen to. I always feel it could bring a tear to a glass eye. Wonderful!

[fiddle4u]

Now that the way to play Irish music --

jim,,,

[Donegaldan]

He is king of the pipers, disciplined and dedicated

[stevehyde]

It does have rather bewitching sound, I love it.

[splortz]

Where does Liam O'Flynn call home? Is he in the Dublin area or out west?

[CollieryRaas]

Is there any cds out there with him just playing solo?

[clarebannerman]

@CollieryRaas Loads---Just Google "Liam O Flynn"

[30Ciaran]

@CollieryRaas even better look for Johnny Doran, rare recordings as he died in 1941, the Jimi Hendrix of the pipes. I hope you find and enjoy!

[CollieryRaas]

Anyone know of any cds with him just playing the pipes? Any suggestions?

[Gwyhir]

I saw Liam play with Andy Irving in Hull in about 1970 - I was a folk guitarist at the time, and from an Irish family. The sound of uillean pipes played by Liam or Seamus Ennis still sends a shiver down my spine. I wonder if there are strange ancient forces at work with this instrument.

[mairehanleypipes]

absolutely fantastic!!!!! wish i could play the pipes like that!!!!! :)

[ansliabhdraiochta]

first heard a uillean pipe in 1974 in kertalg

brtianny , lim o' flynn with planxty and by the evening the Goadec sisters also for the first time ...to much emotion for a day...!

[susanshelit]

One thing that has always fascinated me about the Uillean pipes, is how in the world did they ever! thought up something so complicated and ingenious?!

Love the sound none the less:)

[mwj666]

@susanshelit Well for the 'concert pitch' pipes you can thank(?) the Americans. The chanters used to have a much narrower bore (the current 'flat sets' in C and B flat still do) and the bore was enlarged to increase the volume as they were too quiet for American concert halls. And for anyone wanting to learn - the saying is that it takes 21 years to make a piper: 7 years learning, 7 years practicing and 7 years playing ;-)

[Dayepipes]

@mwj666 The best old narrow bore sets are regarded as being the best sounding all-around pipes ever developed. Wider bores may have begun in Ireland though, before they took off in America then back to Ireland, maybe never fully debugged. The narrow bore drones are totally scalable to the wide bore sizes, if all proportions are maintained, and modern chanters are improving by leaps and bounds. Liam O'Flynn is a terrifically expressive player!

[mwj666]

@Dayepipes Agree with all you say - didn't know wide-bore pipes may have begun in Ireland but happy to take your word for it. As for old flat sets - mine are in C, look to be 95% a copy of Ennis' 1830s Coyne set & were made from 150-year-old Indian Ebony so you could argue they are 180 years old lol! Beautiful sound when played by a good piper - which I do NOT claim to be! Liam - brilliant, many young pipers are technically as good but IMHO some just play too fast to get the feeling into it

[joeygsmom]

what a great musician...and he always looks so composed, very in charge of his craft.

[bbmurph1]

Love Liam O Flynn, he's one of my favourite pipers. But John McSherry is unquestionably THE KING!

[ormepipes]

He's good. But were going to have to agree to differ on that one. Lets just count ouselves luck that we can hear them both.

[bbmurph1]

fair enough!

[bigboredthing]

:) Going to start learning the pipes, got my first lesson in 3 weeks time, I'm a 17 year old girl, and can't wait!

[culmie]

@bigboredthing Good for you young miss! Post a vid of your efforts when you can, Id not be harsh on anyone trying to play this instrument. I wish you success :d

[bigboredthing]

@culmie Thank you! I'll see what I can do in the future :-)

[khasab]

@bigboredthing are you still learning the pipes? How's it going?

[bigboredthing]

@khasab Yeah still learning :), it's tricky and I haven't got a lot of time to practice because I'm at university, but I'm mastering the basics ^_^

[khasab]

@bigboredthing I have just one little question; why do you say you are autistic when clearly you are not?

[bigboredthing]

@khasab clearly you are wrong. I have Asperger syndrome, which is a form of autism. go talk to my doctor/mother/lecturers/husban­d if you don't believe me.

[khasab]

@bigboredthing I guessed as much. True, Asperger's syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder. But very mild compared to some. You wouldn't normally call it autism, you would normally give it it's name to distinguish it from other , more severe, forms.

[ormepipes]

I had the great good fortune to meet Liam several years ago. There is no doubt in my mind that this guy is the finest living piper. He outshines not only his contemporaries but those that preceeded him - Truly, THE king of the pipers

[onearmfrog]

I just love the reference with the cylinder recordings.. Wonderful playing and a wonderful interview!

[wallyabb]

magical, beautiful... god bless the irish!!!!!,, im from argentina and im playing thir music and im really blessed!

[Domitianvs]

Fair play to you Liam, indeed!

[Offtofott]

Is really difficult to express the emotion that this music causes.

5*

[RemnantVariable]

@Offtofott it is the passion, the pride, the courage, and the will of a people that will never die. It is an honor just to listen to the history of a people who were happy with the very little that they had. It is a story of the people who knew the greatest gift in the world was life itself. No matter how hard things got for them they would never give up. It is the moment of joy we get from hearing such a beauty that reminds us that we can never forget where we come from.

[allendupras]

@Offtofott the easiest way to express the emotion the music causes is the music itself then huh?? :D

[hermanninator]

Of course there will be music like this in heaven!

And the greastest massed bands ever!

And french cornamuse music!

Why do you think it´s called heaven?

[TyroneousP]

Grand tune!

[ianrodmac]

Hell's Bells, Mike, this is just Hauntingly Beautiful! You're a star for posting this. Liam is so calm talking about it, it's like he doesn't realize this was sent down from above! That proud smile at the start of Faeries is well deserved! Awesome. Thankyou. Happy Halloween.

[Donegaldan]

The king of pipers

[Kahavat]

Extraordinary musician and beautiful tune.

Thank you for sharing.

[RugbyHockeySoccer]

This is a God send, THANK YOU GOD FOR O'FLYNN!

[leorowsome1]

Good job Liam. Glad to see that you're still improving!!

[OfGreatLakes]

I love O'Flynn's grin after trying to explain why he played the hornpipe three times through. No worries, I'm sure there are many of us who wouldn't mind hearing it a fourth time at all!

What a great set of tunes, I really like Queen of the Faeries.

[ataraxiauk]

i love uillean pipes. players with this amount of skill are amazing to listen to. I love things played in minor keys and this demonstration in sharp shows the versatility of the instrument really well

[unionfallen]

can someone explain what makes a hornpipe a hornpipe?

[Domitianvs]

The rhythm is very special. It is played in 4/4 time with a feeling somewhere in between dotted rhytm and shuffle, though it's usually written out in straight 8th-notes. Also it's played a fair bit slower than a reel. Hope that helps a little bit anyhow.

[fartsandpoos]

im sure its just practice mate!!

[jackyjd]

jesus has touched this mans hands. to be humble with what he has is sacred

[lughlamh]

Jesus didn't play the uileann pipes

[ErnstBecker]

Don't be so sure Boyo !

[J2OLDS]

But he knew the right people to give the gift to.

[ErnstBecker]

Right so !

[mossyslopes]

What fantastic fluidity ....... amazing .

[naychud]

I play the pipes and favour B flat.

[marcomio]

Me too, but my hands are too small. I can go C# or C, but not below that. Wish I could...

[naychud]

A pity he does not play more on flat pipes.These D pipes are very harsh.

[wmkpiper]

Yeah, your poor ears. Please!!!!

[bigboredthing]

one day... i WILL learn uillean pipes. and when i do.... lol :) I(L) Liam!

[deltafreelancer]

Thank you! Looked all over the net for this.

[Dayepipes]

Thanks for posting this! Someone had sent me a crude tape of this years ago so I'm glad to have a good quality version available to the public. The closeups of the hand are very instructive for pipers too.

[simmo303]

clarebannerman

You are in heaven now being able to enjoy this; I know exactly what you mean about this music.

[Chiquitness]

I really don't get how it is just possible to make two arms and two hands and ten fingers work so well all together...

Awsome mister 0'Flynn

[OfGreatLakes]

I just noticed from this video that uilleann pipers use their wrists to get to the drones too! Incredible.

[ncxcrnnr]

Thank you for posting this. Ever since I discovered Kila I've been in love with the uilleann pipes!

[Nipponkoku]

Yeah - I believe the saying is 7 years learning, 7 years practicing, and 7 years playing.

^_^ 21 years. And that's assuming you do everything right!

[Cavanpiper]

Haha. I think it is more like 7 years learning, 7 years practice, and 7 years playing. Either way, a long time, but well worth the time.

[animalextim]

i believe the first is The Sailor's Cravat

[54spiritedwill54]

One of the best pipers. My favourite irish piper.

[jud82145]

i play the highland pipes, should i try these some time?

[Seamus616]

Im a highlandpiper myself in Ireland, and have a family member who plays the Uilleann pipes, and from what ive seen its much harder to play the uilleann pipes

[naomheanna]

Worth the listen to though when u get to hear such melodies

[ceanadach]

I'll let ye know....I'm gettin' some soon(practice)...

I expect it soundin' like the ugly wail O' A Banshee at first!!!

[finnhere2]

This far I've only heard the Scottish bagpipes and thought the Irish is the same, but wow... I totally fell for this. Must search for more uileann music... I envy you Irish!

[boxplayer2]

queen of the fairies - incredible tune

[onearmfrog]

I can't believe all of his high notes are in-tune!

[mairead027]

Beautiful!

[moneymore4]

definately the most musical

[eejie418]

The most beautiful piper there is!!!!

[edelahaye]

According to the comments by Paddy Glackin himself, Liam was taught by Leo Rowsome.

I missed the name of the first tune, but the second is "I am Waiting For You". Love that tune.

[edelahaye]

The hornpipe seems to be The Queen of The Fairies (up to high-d. I'm dying...)

[marcomio]

That d'' is (as he says) "a bit of a dangerous area."

I hope I get there before I die...

[Donegaldan]

No, we don't have to say who is best, just my humble opinion. His skills, fluid style and elevation of Planxty as a legendary group speaks for itself.

[Donegaldan]

Liam og O'Flynn. Probably Ireland's best uileannn piper.

[ifeic]

We have such a fine tradition of pipers. Do we really need to say who's best? :-)

[Paradigm1976]

What's the title of this masterpiece?

[clarebannerman]

If you watch the clip in full he tells you the names of the two reels.

[zwrdl]

Sadly my hearing is very poor. I can hear the pipes, sure, but not the interview. Would you be so kind as to tell me the name of the first piece?

[clarebannerman]

First reel is : The Sailor's Cravat & the 2nd is "I'm Waiting For U."

[zwrdl]

Thank you very much.

[lallapiper]

Liam you are my hero!:D

[Donegaldan]

Liam Og O'Flynn is 'at one' with his pipes. A legend.

[ifpiper]

You know anyone who can make something so difficult look so easy is a master! Asolutely bloody brilliant!!

[Noetje1970]

I love the contrast between the flying fingers and his serene face... And three wonderful tunes, thank you for posting!

What year is the interview from?

[mirogalego]

One of the best pipers. My favourite irish piper.

[boymettsgirl2007]

Wow. Never heard a piper who played like that in my life. Just flip on the drones and you get a tune so awesome it just makes your heart stop. That last hornpipe was cool too.

[mfddler]

Brilliant!

[liamg353]

Seen Liam playing with Planxty in the 70s Brilliant.

[Cemently]

Mighty stuff!

[papigil]

Oh !!!. Thank you a lot for sharing it !. Greetings from Galicia ( spain ) !.

[jeroendevries]

thanks for posting this one, for me he is the king of the pipers I meet Liam one time, here in the Netherlands He is an very nice man.

[robyn7623]

I think jesus meant to say I tell you the truth my father is preparing pipes for you in his kingdom(instead of place)

[Wishuey]

Good grief! If I don`t stop watching and listening to your videos and get my day started I`ll be tempted to spend the next twenty four hours or so transfixed in front of the monitor. "She Who Must Be Obeyed" won`t be pleased....

Thanks once more. Wonderful!

[andrewaaaaaaaa]

Great pipe playing from Liam.Thank you for this post.He is a very talented musician.Magic to listen to his music.Thanks for the posts.