I'll think more on what he meant when I have more time!
For expression - I quite agree with you on fiddle tunes.
On the other hand, there are expressive tunes written primarily for
pipes, surely, where they sound superbly best on pipes?
And it is truly hard for anyone to make them work with these, because of
the very dynamic limitations you mention.
When I had some lessons with Jean-Pierre Rasle on my first Swayne pipes,
he rightly said that the old pipers (in France in his case) rated it
much harder to make a good job of a slow air than a dance tune.
And it's all subjective, ain't it!
For me, I find the nsp's far more expressive than my very nice toned
piano accordion, which has any amount of dynamic control.
All best wishes,
Richard.
On 17/12/2010 22:46, Anthony Robb wrote:
Hello Richard
Doubleday wrote:
The Northumberland small-pipe is fitted up upon the plan of
construction common to all bagpipes aEUR" that is to say, aEUR" it
consists of a pipe with stops, by means of which the melody is played,
and of three longer pipes sounding different musical intervals in such
a way as to produce a rude and imperfect accompaniment to the melody.
Taking this in the context of his whole argument he seems to be saying
that common forms of bagpipe have chanters which aren't in tune over
their range and therefore clash with the constant reference point of
the drones. But he then goes on to say that the special quality of the
smallpipes is that they can be played in tune and make a melodious
sound.
It's interesting how we arrive at two contrasting interpretations of
his words. For me he delights in the sound of the small-pipes.
On the point of expression I've been moved to tears as much by the
pipes as the fiddle. The question is, can they match the fiddle when
playing the big fiddle tunes? I have to say after 45 years involvement
at all levels in this music I have yet to find a single example.
I would dearly love to as the pipes are my heritage.
I heard them as a school boy and loved them more than any other
instrument in the world, but loving them more than any other instrument
is one thing, convincing myself they are the most expressive instrument
in the world is another.
As aye
Anthony
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