Must have CD for Pipers or those who want to be pipers

Ron Rowe · Post by **Ron Rowe** » Fri Aug 17, 2001 9:14 am

While browsing at Borders book shop I found the greatest Piping CD "The Drones and the Chanters", nothing but U pipes played by the legends. Seamus Ennis, Leo Rowsome, Willy Clancy, Dan Dowd, Paddy Maloney, Tommy Reck and Peadar Broe. It soen't matter where you get this CD but if you love the U pipes get this CD

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Fri Aug 17, 2001 9:21 am

Ron,

Is this the CD you mentioned when you were out? I'll have to check it out! Also look for 'Piping Hot - A Celtic Bagpipe Collection' It's more of the same, although a few of the tracks aren't Irish as such...still all in all a GREAT CD!

B~

Ron Rowe · Post by **Ron Rowe** » Fri Aug 17, 2001 10:59 am

yeah Brian it is the one I picked up in SLC, just unbelievable the skill level of these guys

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Fri Aug 17, 2001 4:07 pm

There is a vol. 2 of The Drones and the Chanters that features more recent players such as Gay McKeon, Sean Potts, Liam O'Flynn, and Ronan Browne. It's also great.

Ron Rowe · Post by **Ron Rowe** » Fri Aug 17, 2001 4:34 pm

didn't see that one, guess I'll have to drop a note to Steve over at shannaquay

TonyHiggins · Post by **TonyHiggins** » Sat Aug 18, 2001 8:01 pm

I copied this list of cd recommendations from the uilleann message list I subscribe to. I don't know who recommended the cd's, it looks like two people's choices. I only have the first cd, never heard the others. But these people are fanatics, so I'd consider their recommendations.
Tony

The Gentlemen Pipers...a compilation of pipers across time since we can record
The Drones and the Chanters vol 1....much better that vol 2
Neil Mulligan's solo CD called The Leitrim Thrush
Kevin Rowsome's new CD
Mick O'Brien's CD May Morining Dew
1. Seamus Ennis - 'The Pure Drop/The Fox Chase' (two albums now sold as a
two-CD set)
2. Kevin Rowsome - 'The Rowsome Tradition'
3. Willie Clancy - 'The Minstrel from Clare'
4. Seamus Ennis - 'The Wandering Minstrel'
5. Tommy Keane (and Jacqueline McCarthy) - 'The Wind Among the Reeds'

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Sat Aug 18, 2001 9:02 pm

Tony,

I saw the discussion about "must have" CDs on the UP list as well. I don't recall if the comment about vol. 1 of The Drones and the Chanters being much better than vol. 2 was made there or if you are giving your opinion. Regardless, I much prefer vol. 2. We're talking about personal taste here, of course, which is highly subjective, but it seems to me that the more recent pipers remain true to the tradition while still giving the music a more contemporary feel. I like that combination, but then I also like the less traditional players like Davy Spillane (who is more trad on his last CD).

TonyHiggins · Post by **TonyHiggins** » Sun Aug 19, 2001 4:07 pm

No, Terry,
I haven't heard either vol. I, at this point, have a pretty small selection of uilleann pipe focused cd's. I just sent the list along as someone else's.

I'm just about to embark on the piping journey myself. A kind Chiff and Fippler, just lent me a practice set. (We've only communicated by email and the board.) I'm bringing the chanter to a local guy's house in the next day or two to get a reed made. Then I'm in business. My mom is visiting family in Ireland and will return home in a couple of days. I asked her to pick me up an instructional video from Na Piobairi in Dublin. I believe they're located close to where she grew up. I'm ordering Heather Clarke's tutor from the Seattle Pipers Club. A guy about 30min from me has offered to give me starter lessons, so, dude...the only drawback is it will cut into my whistle practice time. And I was making some advances lately by steady practice. Oh well. I don't look forward to grinding out the absolute beginner basics, I just want to hear the tunes I love so well come out of a chanter. (Patience, my pet.)
Tony

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Sun Aug 19, 2001 7:40 pm

Tony,

I'm fairly new at piping (and collecting piping CDs) myself. It sounds like you're on the right track. The NPU video series is very good (I haven't used Heather Clarke's but I've heard it is good also).

It means so much to have a more experienced piper nearby to help you. I found a new friend within five minutes of my house who has helped me greatly. One of the most important things such a person can do is to make sure the pipes themselves are not malfunctioning and thus holding you back.

I don't think piping will necessarily detract from your whistle playing. The tunes are the same, and playing them on a different instrument enhances your understanding of them. The fingering on the pipes is just different enough, of course, to make the transition a bit more mechanical at the beginning. Your time learning tunes on the whistle, however, will pay great dividends as you begin playing the pipes.

I am admittedly a fellow novice struggler, but if I can be of any help or encouragement, let me know.

Terry

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Mon Aug 20, 2001 5:48 am

I would think you may need to get some general listening in as well to get a grasp of Irish music. No real point in starting an instrument if you're not even slightly accustomed to the 'language' of the music.
Get some nice fiddle music, which is nicer to listen to than piping anyway, Paddy Canny/PJoe Hayes and Peter O loughlin's 1960 lp has just been re-issued. Feck the contemporary feel, this music sounds as fresh as if it was played today and it will never ever bore you. Listen to Paddy Canny, Kevin Crehan's new CD, Bobby Casey, if you can get him, even Mary MacNamara's concertina CDs are good for a bit of easy listening and accesible tunes.
Pipingwise you haven't lived until you hear ennis' Return to Fingal. Peter O loughlin/Ronan Browne's South-West wind should be high on the list. And piper's departing from the tradition? Well, get the basics sorted first before departing from them.

And, with all due respect, maybe get them at Custy's or the Knotted Chord in Ennis, Co Clare Claddagh or Na Piobairi Uilleann in Dublin. They are big and specialised in the music and know what they are talking about.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2001-08-20 07:49 ]</font>