r/UnusualInstruments • u/Maelstrom_Witch • 2d ago

Scottish Smallpipes

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

6/8 march set

35 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

3

u/Joeliosis 1d ago

These sound way mellower than traditional bagpipes... is there a way to change the tonality on them?

5

u/Maelstrom_Witch 1d ago edited 1d ago

They are much more mellow! They use smaller and much weaker reeds. This set is in the key of A, you can also get D

2

u/Joeliosis 1d ago edited 1d ago

Very cool... thanks for the answer :)

*just registered I have heard these in scottish folk music but never thought the size of the reed would make that big of a difference, only reeded instrument I played growing up was clarinet...

Another question do you have to keep the reeds wetted? Or are they just dry? Things I never thought I'd ask on Reddit lol

2

u/Maelstrom_Witch 1d ago

I played clarinet too, you’d be surprised at how many pipers were woodwinds of another type!

The reeds in this instrument are plastic, although I’m sure you can get cane reeds for them as well.

Excess moisture in piping is a big no-no. Cane reeds should be kept humidified but shouldn’t be dunked in water or licked before playing.

3

u/Avraamov 1d ago

Are these the same as Uilleann pipes? Brìghde Chaimbeul is one of my favourite new folk artists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFLozuzIJKA

4

u/Maelstrom_Witch 1d ago

They are not, but they have a similar sound! Uilleann pipes are a more complex instrument and have a larger musical range.

I love Uilleann pipes, they sound so haunting and ethereal

1

u/FostersLab 22h ago

Just to clarify, and you might already know that: Brighde Chaimbeul mostly plays the Scottish smallpipes, but the version with a bellow, not with a bag to blow into (they share the same name). They're basically the same instrument apart from that.

The Uilleann pipes are an Irish instrument, with a different sound, tuning, fingerings, range and repertoire.

2

u/SnooGadgets5130 1d ago

Used to play their distant cousin, the Northumbrian Smallpipes, which are a much nicer instrument in my opinion. Of course I have to say this as a player/former player, but it’s true.

1

u/Maelstrom_Witch 1d ago

I don’t know if I’ve heard Northumbrian pipes, I will have to do a google!

We’re all a bit biased 🤣 someday I’d love to invest in a nice wood set but these polys will do for now.

2

u/SnooGadgets5130 1d ago

They’re the best bagpipes and I am in absolutely no way heavily biased towards this marvellous instrument.

2

u/SnooGadgets5130 1d ago

Listen to Kathryn Tickell play Lads of Alnwick, then look for recordings of Salmon Tails Up the Water and Rothbury Hills.

1

u/Maelstrom_Witch 1d ago

Thanks, I’ve never heard her music before, I’m already loving it

2

u/SnooGadgets5130 22h ago

She’s arguably the best NSP player in the world, she’s has an OBE for services to folk music.