Union Pipes - Irish Traditional Music Archive

More documents

Recommendations

Info

69 SPreAD OF ‘UnIOn PIPeS’ was followed by, among others, a Mr edward reynolds, ‘late from Dublin’ who was performing on the ‘Irish union pipes’ in Boston in March 1812; 226 and a Charles P.F. O’hara, a multi-instrumentalist who had ‘resided many years in the west of Ireland’, and who published The Gentleman’s Musical Repository; being a selection from the ancient and modern music of Erin, and several original pieces by the compiler; adapted to the violin, flute, flageolet, hautboy and union pipes in new york in January 1813. 227 Among these pipers, the instrument was most commonly called the ‘Irish union pipes’; 228 they were, seemingly, signalling an ethnic connection to their audiences in a way that had not often happened in Britain. But these Irish players also simply used the term ‘union pipes’. Both varieties of the term are also found used by professional pipers, both Scottish and Irish, in Australia (from 1815) 229 and in Canada (from 1835). 230 But by the fourth decade of the century, with its virtual disappearance from the British stage, the instrument seems to have come to the end of its run of popularity in Britain. It had by no means however disappeared from more modest venues such as taverns and halls there. Outstanding new Irish players on the ‘union pipes’, such as the blind William Talbot from roscrea, Co Tiperary, about 1822, 231 continued to find it worth their while to play in Britain and arrived there from 226 Columbian Centinel, Boston, 22 Feb. 1812. 227 Columbian, new york, 2 Jan. 1813. 228 See Carolan 2011: 22–5. 229 Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Sydney, 20 May 1815; 2 Sept. 1815. The newspaper of the first date has already been cited for the notice inserted by a presumably Scottish piper James Stewart about his ‘Set of Union Pipes’; the second has an advertisement from a shop selling musical instruments including ‘Union Pipes’. 230 Quebec Gazette, Quebec, 20 March 1835. The newspaper carries a notice of a St Patrick’s Day dinner at which a Mr Macnally played on the ‘Irish Union Pipes’. I am obliged to Patrick McSweeney, Quebec, for a copy of this reference. 231 Morning Chronicle, london, 13 Dec. 1822.
COUrTney’S ‘UnIOn PIPeS’ AnD The TerMInOlOgy OF IrISh BellOWS-BlOWn BAgPIPeS 70 Ireland at intervals until the 1850s, and Irish street players occasionally appear in court reports. 232 P. O’Farrell was continuing with his British career on the instrument as late as 1837. 233 But, with the advertisement in 1833 by a Mr Dixon in newcastle-upon-Tyne of a ‘Pair of Union Bag Pipes and a Pair of highland Bag-Pipes, no worse than new, may be bought for half their Value’, 234 there begins a litany of ‘union pipes’ advertised for discounted disposal at auctions, pawnbroker clearances and rummage sales which would last, decade after decade, in england, Scotland and Ireland, for the rest of the century. 235 These advertisements do indicate however that a subterranean union-pipes culture continued at some strength in all three countries through the century. They show an appreciation of quality of manufacture: ‘extra silver keys on chaunter’, 236 ‘black ebony, silver and ivory mounted, one note under concert pitch’; 237 of cost: ‘set of Union bagpipes which cost £20’; 238 and of makers: ‘Kenna’, 239 ‘M’Donald, edinburgh’, 240 ‘first class Union Pipes, made by Coin’. 241 Swaps are contemplated: ‘Wanted, a sharp Set of Union Pipes. Will give money or sweet low set (bass attached)’. 242 232 Morning Post, london, 14 Jan. 1830; Carolan 2005: 24–29; Matthews 2011: 15–23. 233 O’Farrell was still advertising as a teacher in london in Morning Post, london, 15 Mar. 1837. 234 Newcastle Courant, newcastle-upon-Tyne, 17, 31 Aug. 1833. 235 Pawnshop advertisements for unredeemed union pipes had been appearing at least as early as 1818 (Caledonian Mercury, edinburgh, 18 June 1818) but there is no indication in them that the pipes were being then discounted. 236 Freeman’s Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, Dublin, 4 July 1843. 237 Freeman’s Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, Dublin, 23 June 1896. 238 Freeman’s Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, Dublin, 7 Dec. 1887. 239 Freeman’s Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, Dublin, 7, 8 May 1846. 240 Glasgow Herald, glasgow, 3 Apr. 1857. 241 Freeman’s Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, Dublin, 25, 26 Aug. 1897. 242 Liverpool Mercury, liverpool, 29 Mar. 1887.
Page 1 and 2:
Denis Courtney on stage in Oscar an
Page 3 and 4:
COUrTney’S ‘UnIOn PIPeS’ AnD
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20: COUrTney’S ‘UnIOn PIPeS’ AnD
Page 69: COUrTney’S ‘UnIOn PIPeS’ AnD
show all

Union Pipes - Irish Traditional Music Archive

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?