Chiff and Fipple Forums

Nick, these are fantastic!

Question -- is the Taylor set pictured on the Edward O'Donnell page the same you reference in your introduction? If so, would love to see more pictures of it

EDIT: Never mind, a little Googling did the trick! http://www.whitmerpipes.com/o'donnell_photos_set.html

I wonder if Charles Taylor trained as a cutler at any point. The netalwork always has the look of some technique learned outside instrument making and then creatively reapplied.

Two more short biographies added to the Website:

Michael J. Dunn (1856-1935) Milwaukee, Wisconsin; fireman and custodian of remarkable early recordings.

John Ennis (1847-1930) Chicago and New York City, writer and policeman, father of Tom Ennis.

Lives of the Pipers

Nick Whitmer

Fabulous as always sir!

Really great work Nick. I had not known about that john Ennis poem either--thank you

PB+J,

A reprint of the poem about a gathering of NYC Irish musicians circa 1920, complete and easier to read, is in An Píobaire vol. 4 no. 21 August 2003 pp. 26-28
http://162.13.136.126/data/PIOBAIRE/PIOB0421.PDF

Nick

nwhitmer wrote:PB+J,

A reprint of the poem about a gathering of NYC Irish musicians circa 1920, complete and easier to read, is in An Píobaire vol. 4 no. 21 August 2003 pp. 26-28
http://162.13.136.126/data/PIOBAIRE/PIOB0421.PDF

Nick

Ah marvelous! Thank you again

Three biographies in two articles added to the Website. All were active in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Barney Farrell (active 1892-1901) and Thomas Farrell (active 1905-1925)

John Mullen (active 1908-1925) "youngest Irish piper in the world" at one time owned a well-known Taylor set.

Lives of the Pipers

Nick Whitmer

Great work as usual. The connection to the Molloy family is really interesting. One of the interesting things about Irish immigration to the US is the very low "rate of return." Compared to all other immigrant groups, Irish immigrants to the US rarely went back to Ireland to live. It's interesting that Molloy's father not only went back, he brought what might be the world's most elaborate set of pipes with him. Pittsburgh is a delightful city now, but was pretty brutal in the early twentieth century

PB+J wrote:It's interesting that Molloy's father not only went back, he brought what might be the world's most elaborate set of pipes with him.

Well, I can't say when the set went to Ireland. Maybe in the 1930s, when Molloy's father returned, maybe during Matt Molloy's lifetime, or any time in between. I'll ask Matt next time I see him! (insert smiley face here)

Nick

Two biographies have been added to the Website:

Paddy Lavin (1908-1975) Roscommon and New Jersey, Michael Carney's best student.
William F. Maher (1862-1931) Bridgeport Connecticut, amateur piper.

Also updated information on John Mullen (1904-1933) of Pittsburgh.

Lives of the Pipers

Nick Whitmer

Two more biographies have been added to the Website:

Tony Mullin (1864-1934) Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, semi-prfessional piper.
P.W. Mulqueeny (1848-1926) "the only man in New Orleans who could play the Irish union pipes."

Lives of the Pipers

Nick Whitmer

Two more biographies have been added to the Website:

Daniel J. Murphy (1880-1961) Boston, recorded with Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band.
Patrick O'Neill (1898-1980) San Francisco, helped sustain piping when few were interested.

Lives of the Pipers

Nick Whitmer

Thank you Nick!
Fabulous as always!

Two more biographies have been added to the Website:

James Quinn (circa 1805-1888) earliest known piper to live in Chicago
Joe Shannon (1916-2004) well-known Chicago piper and Patron of Na Piobairi Uilleann

Lives of the Pipers

Nick Whitmer