Ailin wrote:How about Liam O'Flynn and Planxty?
I've been traveling and talking to some very popular pipers and makers over the last 6 years - the name that comes up again and again is Liam O'Flynn and Planxty. Also Bothy Band. You cannot underestimate the electricity that made the pipes much more popular.
I would have to disagree with the "Golden Age" of piping though. There are a few things to consider:
The late 60's and early 70's were an enormously popular time for piping - lots of influences here from none less than Leo Rowsome and Seamus Ennis, Brendàn Breathnach, Sean Reid, Willie Clancy, Dan O'Dowd, Pat Mitchell, and I'm really just scratching the surface there (apologies for leaning too Dublin centric!!).
Pipes have become a popular possession and in the right hands they have become quite spectacularly played and made. That does not mean that the popularity of the uilleann pipes have made better players. And in fact you would be arguing with the best makers with the opinion that today's pipes supersede yesterday's makers. Benedict Koehler still bows to Leo Rowsome and his genius.
The globalization of the uilleann pipes has been impressive over the last 20 years, no doubt. Gay McKeon figures in a few years that the number of sets out there will top 5 figures! Again, this does not mean that the overall quality of pipe playing is comparatively better today than 30 years ago - or 80 years ago (or ever, frankly!).
I think what we have realized is a neo-renaissance of Irish music and the uilleann pipes. Though maybe it could be argued that popularity may be waning now, and that what I describe as a neo-renaissance is actually a neo-neo-popularization that may or may not have legs for another 40 years - who knows?
Speaking of traveling, I'm in the Miami airport waiting for a connector to New Orleans. I have a photo shoot for a few days so I may not be able to read replies!
Cheers!