Union Pipes - Irish Traditional Music Archive

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43 eSTABlIShMenT OF ‘UnIOn PIPeS’ In October 1793 Courtney, back in Britain, is appearing on stage in Bath 128 and in Bristol, but for once not meeting with a success, although the fault seems to be that of the Bristol audiences: The Theatre is but thinly attended... Courtenay, with his sweet and simple melodies upon the Union Pipes, is here; but he plays his ditties in vain, for there is scarce attendance enough to pay the piper... Trade had ever a dull ear for music! 129 In February 1794 Courtney is in london, playing in Covent garden on the opening night of a new season of Oscar and Malvina, but this time advertised as performing on the ‘Irish Pipes’ 130 – the first time he uses the term in connection with this Scottish creation. 131 he continues with the new form for the remainder of this run. his name also appears in a new london publication A Musical Directory for the Year 1794 as ‘Courtney, Bag and Union Pipes, Cov ga Th.—no. 1, york-Street, St. James’s’. 132 From this, he may also have played a mouth-blown bagpipe or, more likely, he was giving a generally understood alternative name for his ‘union pipes’. For the run of a new variety entertainment Mirth’s Museum, which begins at the lyceum in the Strand in March 1794 with ‘The Music entirely new, by Mr. reeve’, Courtney is back between the acts – as ‘the celebrated Mr. Courtnay’ – with ‘several new Airs on the Union Pipes, Accompanied on the harp, by Mr. Wieppart’. 133 Again reeve had a hit on his hands and Courtney is uniquely singled out for notice: 128 The World, london, 15 Oct. 1793. 129 The World, london, 22 Oct. 1793. 130 The World, london, 6 Feb. 1794. 131 no explanation is given for the change from his usual terminology. It may have been influenced by compatriots like ‘The ghost of Carolan’, by his Dublin trip, or by McDonnell’s example. 132 The only other piper in the Directory is the highland Society of london’s ‘Macgregor, John, Bag-Pipes’ (43). 133 The World, london, 1 Mar. 1794. In later appearances of the advertisement he is ‘Mr. Courtenay’.
COUrTney’S ‘UnIOn PIPeS’ AnD The TerMInOlOgy OF IrISh BellOWS-BlOWn BAgPIPeS 44 ‘Courtnay, on the Union Pipes, as usual, was universally encored, in the favourite Overture to Oscar and Malvina...’; 134 ‘Courtnay, on the Union Pipes, received the most liberal applause last night in the Overture to Oscar and Malvina...’. 135 By the beginning of April, Courtney and Wieppert are billed there as also playing ‘edmund O’hanlen’s gavot with the much-admired Air of “eman eknough, 136 or the little house under the hill”’, and ‘an entire new Overture, for the Union Pipes and harp, composed by Mr. reeve’. 137 But while Mirth’s Museum continues, Courtney himself seems to be in financial or other difficulties. In the same advertisement he announces Mr. Courtenay respectfully begs leave to inform his Friends, and the Public, that Mr. lingham [the manager] has kindly given him a Benefit on the above-mentioned evening, to extricate him from the difficulties he now labours under; and humbly flatters himself his endeavours will secure him the honour of their Patronage. his domestic circumstances have altered: he has by now moved from 1 york Street, St James’s Square, to 12 Danmark Street, exeter Street. By the end of May 1794 Courtney is again playing ‘a Solo on the Union Pipes’ and he and Weippert are playing ‘a Duetto on the Union Pipes and harp’ in the newly rebuilt Covent garden, 138 which can now hold audiences of 3,600. On 2 June they are performing ‘several much admired Pieces on the Union Pipes and Pedal harp’ between theatrical 134 Morning Post, london, 15 Mar. 1794. 135 Morning Post, london, 18 Mar. 1794. 136 Irish ‘Éamonn an Chnoic’ (edward of the hill). 137 The Oracle and Public Advertiser, london, 1 Apr. 1794. By this date also ‘The Music of the most favourite Airs are published, and may be had at Messrs. longman and Broderip’s...’. 138 Morning Post, london, 26 May 1794.
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Union Pipes - Irish Traditional Music Archive

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