I don't think I'll ever truly enjoy the sound of the pipes

[Jeff Stallard]

I'm convinced that 99% of the people who dislike bagpipes have not figured out the difference between in-tune competent playing and out-of-tune warbling with shoddy, slurred embellishments.

:roll:

Sorry, but that's ridiculous. I don't like mushrooms. Is that because I haven't had "good" mushrooms? Someone else might say that 99% of people who LIKE bagpipes only like them because they haven't heard what GOOD music sounds like.

[feadogin]

"the pipes"....Uilleann?....GHB?....NSP?....all of the above?????

Cheers,
David

It better be Highland Pipes....

J.

[No E]

Some people just don't like the sound of the pipes. Some people don't like the taste of whiskey, some can't stand opera. Poor Basmatis.

No E

[avanutria]

I spent an evening in the freezing cold in Wyoming, in a sparsely furnished room (no curtains, high ceilings, hardwood floors), listening to a young woman play GHB and loved every minute of it. My ears rang for a week.

Hey Susan, I have a MP3 of one of the tune sets that young woman played; if you'd like it let me know.

[The Weekenders]

Trollbait.

The longer I listen to irish music, the more I love the pipes. And I love the variety of playing styles within.

But still, I only whistle for this lifetime. I do want to just get good on it and I will be happy to enjoy others.

See you at the SF Tionol. I will be the guy auditing pipe classes just to listen.

[Flyingcursor]

I'm convinced that 99% of the people who dislike bagpipes have not figured out the difference between in-tune competent playing and out-of-tune warbling with shoddy, slurred embellishments.

:roll:

Sorry, but that's ridiculous. I don't like mushrooms. Is that because I haven't had "good" mushrooms? Someone else might say that 99% of people who LIKE bagpipes only like them because they haven't heard what GOOD music sounds like.

I'll have to go along with Jeff here. However I've heard some incredible piping and I do love that sound when well played.

[susnfx]

Hey Susan, I have a MP3 of one of the tune sets that young woman played; if you'd like it let me know.

Thanks, but I've still got it!

Susan

[Wormdiet]

I'm convinced that 99% of the people who dislike bagpipes have not figured out the difference between in-tune competent playing and out-of-tune warbling with shoddy, slurred embellishments.

:roll:

Sorry, but that's ridiculous. I don't like mushrooms. Is that because I haven't had "good" mushrooms? Someone else might say that 99% of people who LIKE bagpipes only like them because they haven't heard what GOOD music sounds like.

Obviously 99% was a bit of an exaggeration. BUt - how many Joe Sixpacks have heard really first-rate piping in an environment that it can be appreciated? I would guess the majority of the population here in the U.S. has not. Even when hiring professionals. I had a piper at my wedding who looked pretty darned good on paper - years of experience, claimed to a be a teacher, etc. He wasn't even close to being in tune and his fingering would have been appropriate in grade IV competition. I *speculate* (can;t prove it) that this is the type of thing a lot of people hear when they form their initial impressions of GHB.

And of course, de gustibus non disputandem even for properly exposed ears. I like some heavy metal too, which I'm sure several "well-informed" listeners don't.

[Martin Milner]

I'm convinced that 99% of the people who dislike bagpipes have not figured out the difference between in-tune competent playing and out-of-tune warbling with shoddy, slurred embellishments.

:roll:

Sorry, but that's ridiculous. I don't like mushrooms. Is that because I haven't had "good" mushrooms? Someone else might say that 99% of people who LIKE bagpipes only like them because they haven't heard what GOOD music sounds like.

Obviously 99% was a bit of an exaggeration. BUt - how many Joe Sixpacks have heard really first-rate piping in an environment that it can be appreciated? I would guess the majority of the population here in the U.S. has not. Even when hiring professionals. I had a piper at my wedding who looked pretty darned good on paper - years of experience, claimed to a be a teacher, etc. He wasn't even close to being in tune and his fingering would have been appropriate in grade IV competition. I *speculate* (can;t prove it) that this is the type of thing a lot of people hear when they form their initial impressions of GHB.

And of course, de gustibus non disputandem even for properly exposed ears. I like some heavy metal too, which I'm sure several "well-informed" listeners don't.

I'm thinking UP, not GHB. Even great players on CD, I'd rather hear the tune played on something else, fiddle, flute or whistle preferably.

For my taste, the fiddle is the most easily expressive of the ITM instruments (but of course that's because I play one). I love the woody throatiness of a well played flute, and the burbling cheerful stream of notes of a whistle. Banjo is a bit plonky, accordian usually just played unsympathetically (but well played is a dream). Concertina is a refreshing change, and well played is again a joy, but all too rare to hear one these days.

Pipes, I dunno, often I have trouble catching the phrasing, so I can't always tell when the tune proper starts, until something else comes in to keep the time clear. The dry-fartiness combines with the often out-of-tuneiness, to produce a sound that is just less pleasant than most of the other possible melody instruments.

I loved Peter's playing in Milltown, and maybe the room being played in made a difference, but I chose not to attend the Uillean Pipes concert, though the concerts I attended (flute/whistle, fiddle, concertina) went on too long for posterior comfort, which helped me decide not to.

[Cayden]

I actually agree with a lot Martin said above, unfortunately there aren't a lot of pipers I like to listen to these days but when everything goes and they're played well the pipes are wonderful.
When I started teaching the pipes I really had to look at them and wonder what made me enjoy them in the first place. That is exactly what I did and I found a new joy in playing them. When I listen to music it is mostly fiddle and flute (never flute on it's own though) and some concertina players. Yesterday morning I was listening to a tape of WIllie Clancy in flying form recorded during the early 60s. The ease, the joy and inventiveness of that music had me walking on air all day.

[Flyingcursor]

Although I know what bothers my ears and what doesn't, it's probable that what I've liked in the few pipers I've heard isn't even close to what some of you consider good.

[Feadan]

The dry-fartiness combines with the often out-of-tuneiness, to produce a sound that is just less pleasant than most of the other possible melody instruments.

But they're not out of tune Martin! It's that wonderful "just intonation" that we all know is so much better than the "equal tempermant" rubbish


Cheers,
David

[GaryKelly]

But they're not out of tune Martin! It's that wonderful "just intonation" that we all know is so much better than the "equal tempermant" rubbish


Cheers,
David

Whenever I see "just intonation" I always think "almost intonation", which is wrong I know.

I'm rather partial to the sound of the pipes, particularly on tunes where they have the drones going. Not keen on the regulators though.

[peeplj]

But they're not out of tune Martin! It's that wonderful "just intonation" that we all know is so much better than the "equal tempermant" rubbish


Cheers,
David

Whenever I see "just intonation" I always think "almost intonation", which is wrong I know.

To appreciate just intonation, you really need to listen to a choir singing, especially the music of the Renaissance. Those open soaring harmonies happen because of just intonation.

--James

[Feadan]

But they're not out of tune Martin! It's that wonderful "just intonation" that we all know is so much better than the "equal tempermant" rubbish


Cheers,
David

Whenever I see "just intonation" I always think "almost intonation", which is wrong I know.

To appreciate just intonation, you really need to listen to a choir singing, especially the music of the Renaissance. Those open soaring harmonies happen because of just intonation.

--James

I'm not really dissing just intonation and re: choral singing I love being a part of creating the harmonies. But I have to confess that despite various threads on this I am still not convinced that within a mere 2 octave range that the differences are that huge. And when Uilleann pipers in particular start ranting and waxing eloquent about the virtues of just intonation I have wonder just how many of them use that as an excuse for a poorly tuned chanter. "Why...thats not flat...it's the just intonation that you aren't appreciating that gives such wonderful character to my instrument" There do seem to be a good many out there (poorly tuned chanters and/or reeds that is).

Cheers,
David