The Uilleann Pipe

Do you love Irish music and appreciate the country’s typical instruments? We recommend that you discover the Uilleann Pipe! Behind this complicated word lies a magnificent instrument, a true symbol of Irish culture! Just as popular as the harp or fiddle, the Uilleann Pipe is actually an Irish bagpipe, with a particularly distinctive sound. The Uilleann Pipe is played by many Irish people, but is notoriously difficult to learn: in fact, it’s relatively complex to play!

History of the Uilleann Pipe

The Irish bagpipe: an instrument that was originally forbidden

The Uilleann Pipe (meaning “elbow” in Gaelic) is a recent instrument, only coming into existence in the 20th century… It replaced 2 almost identical old Irish bellows bagpipes:

Union Pipes, an instrument used since the 18th century.
and the Piob Mor, an even older bagpipe, once used in major battles.

At the time, these 2 bagpipes were the victims of numerous attempts to ban them… Brehon’s law was designed to put an end to Gaelic order and culture, prohibiting the playing of Gaelic instruments such as the Irish bagpipe on pain of death… (As a reminder, the Irish were already advocating their independence from the British, and doing so in music too, using Gaelic instruments such as the Irish bagpipe…)

The Uilleann Pipe was born in the 20th century

After several centuries of struggle, the Irish bagpipe is a lesser-known instrument. The British have almost succeeded in banning it altogether.

Nevertheless, a few enthusiasts refused to submit, and got in touch with luthiers, who together created a new bagpipe: the Uilleann Pipe, a bellows bagpipe with only minor differences from its predecessors…

Its sounds are softer, and closer to the pastoral bagpipes found in the rest of Europe… His key system has been improved, and his game has become more complex… In short, a new playground for fans of traditional Irish music!

The Uilleann Pipe runs out of steam, then picks up again!

The emergence of the Uilleann Pipe soon fueled a new passion among Irish musicians, who saw it as a veritable revival of Irish music… They practice it in pubs and on the streets, and flee as soon as the British authorities threaten to take action.

Today, the Uilleann is still a much-loved instrument, and one of the most important in Irish culture… Great Uilleann pipers such as Lyam O’Flynn and Paddy Moloney from the Chieftains truly delighted the ears of an ever-growing audience!

Description of the Uilleann Pipe

A complex instrument, to say the least!

The uilleann pipe is the most sophisticated instrument in the bagpipe family. The latter has a bellows, which must be activated by the arm, while the hands operate a so-called chanter, a kind of pipe made up of drones and regulators. These are keys (13 to be precise) that are operated by the wrist or the cutting edge of the hand to create three-note chords.

The chanter ‘s slightly tapered bore gives it low power, making it suitable for indoor playing. It’s nothing like the 120 decibels of a Scottish bagpipe, which makes for a very noisy practice wherever you are! (Very pleasant for the neighbors!).

To sum up, an Uilleann Pipe consists of the following components:

A soft, waterproof bag:
Most were made of leather (today, some pockets are made of Gore Tex). This bag acts as an air reservoir, with at least two tubes attached to it. It can be used to regulate pressure, and provides a continuous flow of air to allow the musician to catch his breath without interrupting the sound.
A chanter:
It is used to introduce air into the bag. This hose is fitted with a valve that prevents air from exiting the bag by the same route. Air is introduced either by blowing through the mouth, or by means of a bellows.
Ancillary pipes :
The other pipe or pipes are used to produce sound. To produce sound, they are equipped with single reeds (like the clarinet) or double reeds (like the oboe). These reeds, attached to the end of the pipe in the bag, are therefore invisible. When the pressure in the bag is sufficient, these reeds are set into vibration, each emitting a sound.
Bumblebees:
The pipes can produce a permanently pitched sound, and are known as drones. The pipes can also produce a melody by plugging or unplugging holes drilled along the chanter.

The Game

Uilleann Pipe is played in a seated position. One arm feeds air to the bellows, while the 2 hands work on the chanter, plugging or unplugging the holes.

In the past, the Uilleann Pipe was played standing up, with one leg bent to rest the chanter on. This position was not the most comfortable, and required a certain amount of endurance over the long term.

It combines perfectly with other traditional Irish instruments. Bodhràn, tin whistle, fiddle… The Uillean Pipe offers a sensational experience in harmony with Ireland’s cultural heritage!

Buying and Pricing an Uilleann Pipe

The major drawback of the Uilleann Pipe is its price. A full set (drone, chanter, regulator, bellows and pocket) costs between €3,000 and €4,000, hence the fact that many Uilleann Pipers only have a practice set (chanter, bellows and pockets for the modest sum of €1,000).

World-famous luthiers make them to order. And don’t forget to budget if you want one made to measure!