Flat and Concert Pitch

gallant_murray · Post by **gallant_murray** » Wed May 16, 2007 10:39 pm

Ok, I did a search on this but there was just too much to sift through. I'm not piper and I'm relatively new to serious ITM listening. Is there a clip or two that someone can direct me to that illustrates the difference between concert pitched pipes and flat pitched? I have an idea of the differences, but I'm not sure I could listen to a recording and tell you what type of pipes are being played. I kinda get the impression that most 'purists' prefer the flat pitched. Is that correct?
Thanks.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed May 16, 2007 11:36 pm

gallant_murray wrote:I kinda get the impression that most 'purists' prefer the flat pitched. Is that correct?
Thanks.

I can't say that's necessarily so. I think it's more accurate to say that enthusiasts of the tradition (so much nicer than "purists", don't you think?

) just prefer good piping when all's said and done. That said, flat pitch holds a special place in my heart (my own main squeeze is a C set), but I've heard plenty of piping on concert sets where I couldn't imagine it being any other way.

It also comes down to the instrument and how it's reeded. I've heard both flat and concert sets that I thought were not set up at their best, and so the experience wasn't so satisfying.

BigDavy · Post by **BigDavy** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:55 am

Hi Gallant Murray

Some nice flat sets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tnWxsNshZQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF8uHVu4Res

David

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:14 am

BigDavy wrote: Some nice flat sets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tnWxsNshZQ

You know, I never really noticed this before, but both Mick and Caoimhin seem to be barefoot at the alter in this video.

itisi · Post by **itisi** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:16 am

Concert pitch (D)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-uhowyUuqE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzRdla8bnVY

John O'Gara · Post by **John O'Gara** » Thu May 17, 2007 5:51 am

Joseph E. Smith wrote:

You know, I never really noticed this before, but both Mick and Caoimhin seem to be barefoot at the alter in this video.

Yeh, talk about putting more sole into the music!

Hans-Joerg · Post by **Hans-Joerg** » Thu May 17, 2007 6:06 am

http://www.irishpipersclub.org/articles/flatSets.html

gallant_murray · Post by **gallant_murray** » Thu May 17, 2007 9:34 am

Thanks everyone for the responses. I feel much better about the subject now. That article was really interesting.
Nano, I certainly didn't mean anything offensive by the term "purist." I apologize if anyone has taken it that way.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Thu May 17, 2007 11:15 am

gallant_murray wrote:Thanks everyone for the responses. I feel much better about the subject now. That article was really interesting.
Nano, I certainly didn't mean anything offensive by the term "purist." I apologize if anyone has taken it that way.

No, gallant_murray, I didn't take it in the offensive sense from you. I've just seen enough squabbles over the term, is all (one person's purist is another one's Trad Nazi, elitist, crank, snob, etc.), so I've gotten a bit wary of it and tried to make some lame humor.

I'm a purist by inclination, myself.

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:39 pm

gallant_murray wrote:
Nano, I certainly didn't mean anything offensive by the term "purist." I apologize if anyone has taken it that way.

I took it that way. It upset me so much that, after a good cry, I had to make myself a cuppa Lyon's Original and chased it down with a buttered scone.

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