Scottish and Irish

The differences between the national instruments of both nations

The Great Highland Bagpipe• Lung-powered

• Loud (not much dynamic range)– Ideal Solo or Featured

• 9 notes + 2 nontraditional– Limited number of keys– Locked intonation

• Chanters in different keys– “band” (>Bb), Concert Bb,

Concert A

• Drones tuned to the tonic in octaves

The Uilleann Bagpipe• Bellows-blown

• Quiet (not much dynamic range)– Ideal for jam sessions,

low-key venues

• Two octaves, chromatic– Can play in any key– Can bend notes

• Chanters in different keys– Eb, D, C#, C, B, Bb,

• Drones tuned with two on tonic unison and octave, and one on the fourth or fifth

Side-by-Side

• Highland & Uilleann• Uilleann w/Backstiching

Highland Bagpipe

The musical diversity of the instrument

Written and SoundingFor the Bagpipe

• Written A minor – treble clef, A4 is written tonic

• Sounding Bb Mixolydian– Sounding tonic is Bb4

• Traditionally no accidentals, so sharps are implied on “C” and “F” in our “A” scale – Eb and G in Bb mixolydian

The Highland BagpipeRange and Keys

• Concert Bb Chanter: (Ab, Bb, C, Db*, D, Eb, F, Gb*, G, Ab, Bb)

– Bb Mixolydian– Ab Mixolydian*– Eb Major– Ab Major*– C Minor *Indicates Non-traditional Notes– Bb Minor*– Eb Pentatonic– Ab Pentatonic– Db Pentatonic*– Bb Pentatonic

The Highland BagpipeRange and Keys (con’t)

• Concert A Chanter:(G, A, B, C*, C#, D, E, F*, F#, G, A)

– A Mixolydian– G Mixolydian*– D Major– G Major*– B Minor *Indicates Non-traditional Notes– A Minor*– D Pentatonic– G Pentatonic– C Pentatonic*– A Pentatonic

Bagpipe Arrangement

• Simon Fraser University Pipe Band• Edinburgh Military Tattoo