How High Do You Play?
- CorneliusG
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- Tell us something.: I'm a new Uillean piper (5 years), but a GHB piper of several decades. I'm interested in this forum for the information I can gather on the UP. I work with a UP teacher, but he's the only one I know who plays and I can't be bothering him all the time. (That's not really me in the photo.)
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How High Do You Play?
Hello. I'm a new player on the UP (about 4 months), having played the GHB for several decades. I've been lurking on this forum for a while and haven't seen this addressed, but it's something I'm curious about.
Getting up into the high register consistently, and staying there, is one of the most challenging things I find about learning the UPs.
So how high in the octave do you go in your repertoire? My teacher tells me that in his entire repertoire he has only two tunes that have high C's (C6, in other words). On a good day under ideal conditions he said he has hit D6, E6, and F6, but that's not in the context of a tune.
So I'd be interested in hearing from more experienced players than myself (which is almost everyone): how high do you go in your repertoires, i.e., practically speaking, not as a matter of what's physically possible for the UPs.
Thanks.
Getting up into the high register consistently, and staying there, is one of the most challenging things I find about learning the UPs.
So how high in the octave do you go in your repertoire? My teacher tells me that in his entire repertoire he has only two tunes that have high C's (C6, in other words). On a good day under ideal conditions he said he has hit D6, E6, and F6, but that's not in the context of a tune.
So I'd be interested in hearing from more experienced players than myself (which is almost everyone): how high do you go in your repertoires, i.e., practically speaking, not as a matter of what's physically possible for the UPs.
Thanks.
- daveboling
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Re: How High Do You Play?
I can think of 5 or 6 tunes I play that use the high C-nat, but none that go any higher. I'm sure they're out there, but I've found no need to seek them out.
dave boling
dave boling
I teleported home one night
With Ron and Sid and Meg.
Ron stole Meggie's heart away
And I got Sidney's leg.
-- Douglas Adams
'Bundinn er bátlaus maðu'.
With Ron and Sid and Meg.
Ron stole Meggie's heart away
And I got Sidney's leg.
-- Douglas Adams
'Bundinn er bátlaus maðu'.
- rorybbellows
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Re: How High Do You Play?
Heres one with a high high d and even his royal highness has trouble with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL1Og2Ak8P0
RORY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL1Og2Ak8P0
RORY
I'm Spartacus .
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Re: How High Do You Play?
Yeh...once you can play the Queen of the Fairies and consistently get that 3rd D, that's a sense of achievement - and
helps answer 3 big questions in one go.
M
helps answer 3 big questions in one go.
M
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Re: How High Do You Play?
CorneliusG wrote:Hello. I'm a new player on the UP (about 4 months), having played the GHB for several decades. I've been lurking on this forum for a while and haven't seen this addressed, but it's something I'm curious about.
Getting up into the high register consistently, and staying there, is one of the most challenging things I find about learning the UPs.
So how high in the octave do you go in your repertoire? My teacher tells me that in his entire repertoire he has only two tunes that have high C's (C6, in other words). On a good day under ideal conditions he said he has hit D6, E6, and F6, but that's not in the context of a tune.
So I'd be interested in hearing from more experienced players than myself (which is almost everyone): how high do you go in your repertoires, i.e., practically speaking, not as a matter of what's physically possible for the UPs.
Thanks.
Hrrrm. . . I can think of just a few that go past high B in my ready-to-go repertoire. (Flute, not pipes, but the range challenges are similar)
Splendid Isolation
Richard Dwyer's
Naughton's (Mary Bergins)
My name is John. It is NOT "OP."
- Finikey O'Reeley
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Re: How High Do You Play?
I try not to play when I'm even a little high. Throws off my focus.
Never give others good reason to be glad to see you go.
- oleorezinator
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Re: How High Do You Play?
A gentleman never tells.
Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love.
Love is not music. Music is the best.
- Frank Zappa
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love.
Love is not music. Music is the best.
- Frank Zappa
- oleorezinator
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Re: How High Do You Play?
I heard Tim Britton coax a chanter
up to f# in the 3rd octave consistently
with one reed that he had going.
up to f# in the 3rd octave consistently
with one reed that he had going.
Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love.
Love is not music. Music is the best.
- Frank Zappa
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love.
Love is not music. Music is the best.
- Frank Zappa
- CorneliusG
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- Tell us something.: I'm a new Uillean piper (5 years), but a GHB piper of several decades. I'm interested in this forum for the information I can gather on the UP. I work with a UP teacher, but he's the only one I know who plays and I can't be bothering him all the time. (That's not really me in the photo.)
- Location: North America
Re: How High Do You Play?
Finikey O'Reeley wrote:I try not to play when I'm even a little high. Throws off my focus.
- PJ
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Re: How High Do You Play?
Getting to, and staying in, the upper octave, (particularly above hi G), is a question of technique (pinching and venting). Your teacher will show you when the time is right.CorneliusG wrote:Getting up into the high register consistently, and staying there, is one of the most challenging things I find about learning the UPs.
I play plenty of tunes which have hi B and hi A. I only play 3 or 4 tunes which require hi C, but I sometimes use hi C as an ornament/grace note on hi B or A.
PJ
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Re: How High Do You Play?
PJ wrote:Getting to, and staying in, the upper octave, (particularly above hi G), is a question of technique (pinching and venting). Your teacher will show you when the time is right.CorneliusG wrote:Getting up into the high register consistently, and staying there, is one of the most challenging things I find about learning the UPs.
I play plenty of tunes which have hi B and hi A. I only play 3 or 4 tunes which require hi C, but I sometimes use hi C as an ornament/grace note on hi B or A.
My chanter is maybe a little *too* easy. . . the low G pops upstairs if I look at is sideways.
My name is John. It is NOT "OP."