First time I have seen this bloke playing, and he is superb.
It is a set of Highland Reels - a fast dance in 4/4 time. He starts by just playing the melody on the chanter, then gradually introduces a little of the regulators (chords, levers played with the right wrist)), and accelerates; then the drone (continuous background from the longest pipes), before using the full range of regulators to support the melody - both as background chords and rhythmically.
Exciting, stunning, and heart-breaking at the same time. And live!
Last October at an Irish music camp I attended a presentation by uillean piper Colm Broderick who was the proud recipient of a set of pipes owned by Liam O'Flynn. I link a story about how he came into posession of the pipes.
ReplyDeleteThere is something almost mythical about passing down an instrument that's been played by more than 1 renowned musician. The reverence given to them imbues them with some quality I can't put my finger on but it reminds me of Elijah passing the mantle to Elisha in the OT - & the folktales of enchanted instruments.
https://carlow-nationalist.ie/2019/09/04/oflynns-hallowed-pipes-passed-on-to-talented-carlow-musician/
I have the highest regard for Liam O'Flynn - his playing was touched by genius:
ReplyDeletehttps://charltonteaching.blogspot.com/search?q=Liam+O%27Flynn
I agree that each musical instrument is unique - but perhaps especially a set of pipes.
Thanks for the link - a nice set of hornpipes indeed. Merry Christmas!
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