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Set of drones and regulators in a common stock for Uilleann pipes

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by James Reid, North Shields, Northumberland, c. 1840

Postcard of Set of drones and regulators in a common stock for Uilleann pipes.
000-000-579-929-C
© National Museums Scotland

Set of drones and regulators in a common stock for Uilleann pipes

Set of drones and regulators in a common stock for Uilleann pipes, by James Reid of North Shields, Northumberland, c.1840. Bass drone in four sections, looped to reduce overall length and joined with two brass U-bends. Baritone drone with two joints. Tenor drone with two joints. Treble drone with two joints. Baritone regulator extending back into the stock; four closed square flat brass keys; tuning bead and tuning rush set in the bore. Tenor regulator, five closed square flat brass keys; tuning bead and tuning rush set in the bore. Cocus wood, brass and ivory mounted, the tuning slides are mounted with cork slips. Drone stock, light hardwood, stained; cracked and strengthened with a ring of white metal. Each regulator is marked 'J. REID'. Bass drone top joint missing. Formerly stock of J. and R. Glen, Edinburgh, or from the collection of the firm's proprietors.

The Irish bagpipe, known today as the Uilleann pipes was developed by bagpipe makers in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It was based on the earlier Pastoral and Union Pipes which were used in the pastoral dramas and ballad operas of the 18th century. In this form, it was always a bellows-blown instrument and originally had a long or 'flat' chanter and two drones in a common stock. The tonal range could be extended for orchestral performance by cross-fingering and overblowing. In the late 18th century, keys were added to the chanter to increase the melodic range and regulators were added to the drones to provide chordal accompaniment to the chanter.

This piece comes from the Glen and Ross Collection of musical instruments which were preserved in the shop of 'J & R Glen, Highland Bagpipe Makers' until it closed about 1978. This was the business founded in 1827 by Thomas McBean Glen in the Cowgate in Edinburgh, dealing in and repairing musical instruments. His brother, Alexander Glen, specialized in bagpipe-making and was succeeded by his son David. Thomas' sons, John and Robert Glen, succeeding to the business in 1866, probably did most to collect instruments and their antiquarian interests were carried on by Andrew Ross who acquired the business from the Glens in 1947. The National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland purchased the bagpipe collections from the family in 1983.


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Online ID: 000-000-579-929-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0869: The Bagpipe Collection
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.2003.725
Date: c.1840 (date of manufacture)
Material: Cocus wood, brass, ivory, cork, light hardwood and white metal
Dimensions: Baritone drone 357 mm L; tenor drone 300 mm L; treble drone 225 mm L; baritone regulator 393 mm L; tenor regulator 280 mm L; drone stock 235 mm approx L
What:
Subject:
Who: Andrew Ross (successor to John and Robert Glen)
Glen and Ross Collection (musical instrument collection)
James Reid (manufacturer)
John and Robert Glen, Highland Bagpipe Makers
Reid School of Music, University of Edinburgh (place of display)
Where: England, Northumberland, North Shields (place of manufacture)
Event:
Description: Cocus wood, brass and ivory mounted set of drones and regulators for Uilleann pipes.
References:
Translations:
Related Records:
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