Pibgorn video #2 - different reeds, new tunes 2:6:09

Well, a year or so on..... on and off I've made a load of reeds from cane, elder and other things, with rather limited success! I do now have two reasonably reliable and usable-at-the-right pitch (D) reeds. (I made lots that worked well in C# or Eb!!!)
However, I haven't played it a huge amount or developed more than a little as a player! I have played it in a public concert now, though, and indeed one that was recorded for a forthcoming live CD of Y Glerorfa, the Welsh folk orchestra. .Anyway, here's a new clip to show the two different reeds. The tunes are Hela'r Geinach (Hunting the Hare), then Nos Galan (New Year's Eve - yes, that famous winter carol tune, "Deck the Halls" in English), Nos Galan again and finally Y Gofid Glas (The Blue Devils).

To hear/see 3 pibgyrn used "in anger"!!!!, see this Facebook clip: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1414735767584&ref=mf

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Folk
• celtic
• Welsh
• traditional
• pibgorn
• hornpipe
• pibgyrn
• folk
• music
• tunes
• carol
• Wales
• Cymru
• Jemtheflute
• Jem
• Hammond
• elder
• reeds
• Nos
• Galan
• Deck
• the
• Halls
• Hela'r
• Geinach
• Gofid
• Glas

[williamswhistlepipes]

have you tryed playing scotish smallpipes or highland pipes the fingering looks the same....i met a bloke once who had been making irish pipe chanter reeds from willow and they sounded fine.

[Jemtheflute]

@williamswhistlepipes - no, I haven't tried either - just a GHB practice chanter many, many years ago. I have had a couple of brief attempts on uillean pipes. I don't know about the fingering - I think it is close to many other half-closed systems - there are 7 holes, one behind for the L thumb and 6 on the front like a whistle' The upward scale is:

D T xxx xxx

E T xxx xxo

F# T xxx xoo

G T xxx ooo

A T xxo ooo

B T xoo xxx

C# - ooo xxx (C nat T oxo xxx or T oxx xxx)

d - oox xxx

[Jemtheflute]

@williamswhistlepipes no, I haven't tried either - just a GHB practice chanter many, many years ago. I have had a couple of brief attempts on uillean pipes. I don't know about the fingering - I think it is close to many other half-closed systems - there are 7 holes, one behind (the highest) for the L thumb and 6 on the front like a whistle' The upward scale is:

D x xxx xxx

E x xxx xxo

F# x xxx xoo

G x xxx ooo

A x xxo ooo

B x xoo xxx

C# x ooo xxx (C nat T oxo xxx or T oxx xxx)

d o oox xxx

[Alosnup]

In Spain the Vasques uses a similar instrument called "Alboka".

Thanks to share with us!

[Jemtheflute]

@Alosnup: thanks - yes, I know of the Alboka - there are some YT video clips of them too. I think they usually have a double pipe, but are otherwise very much the same kind of thing.

[rozniy]

well, my snake didn't faint this time :-)

[Jemtheflute]

@rozniy : that's a relief! "Third time pays for all" - try my most recent pibgorn clip, "Bwrlwm" - almost musical! Your snake should levitate and fly away, not just dance! ;-)

[TheManAloneChannel]

love the sound of those things! But I know virtually nothing about them! still, very cool.

[Jemtheflute]

I believe there is a North American member of the elder family, but how suitable it is/similar to the European common elder I couldn't say; I don't think that should be a major problem, though. There are also several makers supplying pibgyrn from whom you could order - see Gerard KilBride's website &/or web-search.

[Jemtheflute]

Hi. It doesn't matter much what wood the pipe itself is made from, it has little influence on the tone. Any narrow-bore pipe will work tolerably if it has the right proportions. Elder is the Welsh traditional material (readily available and has a natural soft/hollow centre that is relatively easily enlarged), but mine is turned from boxwood and I know folk with instruments turned from all the usual woodwind-use fruitwoods & hardwoods......