Newcastleton Festival 2015, Small-pipe Workshop Update

Blog update By Kevin Tilbury on his small pipes Workshop to take place at the Newcastleton Folk Festival, 2015 (see 'Festival Chat'). Kevin will be giving a beginners session on the Northumbrian and Scottish Small-pipes and providing a limited number of sets to the total beginner to get the student started. 

The progress is slow but sure, I have 6 bellows at the moment, some have been donated (one by David, the organizer of the Newcastleton Folk Club, many thanks to him) and others I have made; so there will be at least 6 sets of pipes on the day for beginners to use.

I would also like people who already have a set of small-pipes but do not play them/can't play them, but wish to do so to come along also, it is all about getting you started, sorting out the beginners problems that we have all gone through. So if you know of someone who has given up trying to play or has a set in the box at home which have been put away in frustration ! encourage them to come to the workshop.

Players who have Northumbrian sets we will be using the big drone at first (the D/C drone) this will be compatible with the sets I am making in D. Scottish Small-pipers are generally in A or D so a harmony can be achieved... all this can be sorted out, the workshop is about bellows technique, bag pressure, keeping the instrument stable, getting all parts in harmony, and obtaining a scale in tune, and if there is time left a tune!

If you wish to contact me regarding the workshop or anything to do with piping can do so at tilbsuk@yahoo.com or can see my web page at http://ethnopiper.blogspot.com

Bellows Piping in Newcastleton

Bellows Piping at Newcastleton Folk Club

A post from piper Kevin Tilbury

(see Kevin's blog at http://ethnopiper.blogspot.com/)

Newcastleton Folk Club Night, 23rd December 2014

It is only the 2nd time I have attended the Newcastleton Folk Club, but the piping there is increasing each time, last Tuesday evening there was Irish bellows-blown pipes and 2 sets of Scottish Small pipes. I feel it is important to include the titles of the tunes as we do not often record what we play and this can be of interest to future researchers.

Each person played or sang in turn, when it was my turn I played “Frisky” and later I played a Minuet, both pieces were from the Peacock manuscript, which is a manuscript written especially for the Northumbrian small pipes, dated 1800.


As my time came around again I did a duet with David (who was also playing bellows small pipes) the tune was called “Noble Squire Dacre” with 6 variations and this was followed by the Scottish version of “Buy Broom Besoms” from the manuscript “O’er the Hills and Far Away”, a compilation of tunes from the Scottish Borders. Later I played “Green Bracken” a melody with 3 parts, and later again I played “Kelso Lasses” next to “The Wedding O’Blyth” both tunes are from the “O’er the Hills and Far Away” manuscript.

David played pipes and sang which is something I love to hear. The labouring man' was the pipe song, and he also played Mr. Prestons hornpipe. the Irish piper, Mike, played some beautiful Airs and reels, some I knew but I do not know the titles.

Kevin


NOTE: Eliza will note down titles so that she can post them in future from the next club night on Tuesday 27th January 2015.