Fully Keyed Chanters...Why

meuritt · Post by **meuritt** » Wed Jan 30, 2002 10:43 am

I can see the need for the C natural key and even the F natural is handy on occasion, but what about the rest? They sure make the chanter look pretty, and complicated, but who uses them for what?

Mike

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 3:29 am

F : hardly ever, don't like the sound, just pick the one F in Planxty Browne, which I don't play seriously anyway

Gsharp: Fairy Queen (the hornpipe but not the same as The Queen of the Fairies and not the Carolan piece), when Sick is it tea you want and a few odd tunes

Bflat: Lady Aylmer, Valentia harbour

They look fancy though

rorybbellows · Post by **rorybbellows** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:32 pm

yes I agree Me

RORY

MikeyLikesIt · Post by **MikeyLikesIt** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:41 pm

I think the extra keys can be useful for variation. One extreme of this variation which I am quite fond of is that like the Bothy Band does in a few of their recordings, starting of a set in D, G, or whatever else that can naturally be played on a D chanter and finishing the set in E or A major. Well, for me, this creates a BIG energy push in the music, and the keys would be necessary to do this. Anyhoo, that's my 2cents.

-Mike

djones · Post by **djones** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:25 pm

I have a fully-keyed chanter and, save for the Cnat, I haven't learned to use them yet...

PJ · Post by PJ » Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:43 pm

A lot depends on the repertoire you play. I play about 90% Irish which means that I use the Cnat key from time to time and the Fnat occasionally. I'm getting into Scottish Lowlands music a bit so I'm beginning to use the G# key. I don't have a Bb key and don't know any tunes in which it is used. However, I know of a few people who play traditional instruments (Irish flutes, tin whistles, mandolins, etc) for different kinds of music and they argue that the more keys you have the more notes you can play and the more you can expand your non-traditional repertoire. If that interests you.

Patrick D'Arcy · Post by **Patrick D'Arcy** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:08 pm

I'd have to say I play only Irish music on the pipes ...well except for the odccassional renditition of Trumpton, Take 5, Take te A Train, Misty or some hackneyed heavy metal tune

And I have to say that I encounter tunes that require keys all the time. I play sometimes with fiddlers and their fancy A tunes and the odd G minor tune.. more of which I'd like to learn.... Thusly keys are good IMHonestO... and they look nice and complicated

It's all jewelry isn't it? Chanter keys, car keys, cell phones, ampalang, regulators.

For your inconsideration,

Patio.

ausdag · Post by **ausdag** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:01 pm

Patrick D'Arcy wrote:Chanter keys, car keys,

Florida Keys

NicoMoreno · Post by **NicoMoreno** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:05 pm

mmm, key lime pie

djm · Post by **djm** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 8:12 pm

My understanding is that the many extra keys came in with the gentlemen pipers of the 19th century, who played more than ITM on the pipes (and could afford it).

djm

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:00 pm

ausdag wrote:
Patrick D'Arcy wrote:Chanter keys, car keys,
Florida Keys

NicoMoreno wrote:mmm, key lime pie

I'll take a Ki-------lo.

ausdag · Post by **ausdag** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:22 pm

Hey, hey we're the Mon........keys......always Mon...key...in' 'round

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:05 am

ausdag wrote:Hey, hey we're the Mon........keys......always Mon...key...in' 'round

O-KEY Do-KEY, time to get back on topic.

ausdag · Post by **ausdag** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:42 am

Sorry. Since I contributed to getting off topic, I've found 4 of a number of threads on the subject of Keys to bring it back on topic -

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=12956

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=19250

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=20900

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=31153

Cheers,

DavidG

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:53 am

Good archivin' mate!