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Bagpipe chanter for a set of Uilleann pipes

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early 19th century

Postcard of Bagpipe chanter for a set of Uilleann pipes.
000-000-579-927-C
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Bagpipe chanter for a set of Uilleann pipes

Bagpipe chanter for a set of Uilleann pipes, early 19th century, with two square flat closed brass keys; a key mount for a third key has been prepared, the tube wall has been flattened as a seat for a square flat key but the sound hole has not been drilled and the slot for the key has been blanked off with a shaped piece of wood. Made of stained hardwood with mounts of walrus ivory on the tenon and foot and a brass ferrule on the foot.

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: 000-000-579-927-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0869: The Bagpipe Collection
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.2003.724
Date: Early 19th century (date of manufacture)
Material: Hardwood, walrus ivory and brass
Dimensions: 382 mm L
What: Chanter
Subject:
Who: Andrew Ross (successor to John and Robert Glen)
Glen and Ross Collection (musical instrument collection)
John and Robert Glen, Highland Bagpipe Makers
Reid School of Music, University of Edinburgh (place of display)
Where:
Event:
Description: Bagpipe chanter for a set of Uilleann pipes made of stained hardwood with mounts of walrus ivory and a brass ferrule on the foot.
References:
  • Cheape, Hugh,. A Checklist of Bagpipes in the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments. Edinburgh: Reid School of Music, 1983, p. 14.
    Find in NLS: Title, Author, Title+Author or British Library: Title, Author, Title+Author
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