Hello Bart There are, of course, differences in techniques dictated by the two radically different repertoires - the complex and stylised decoration requirements in music for baroque musette are immediately apparent. But I would say that the similarities between the two instruments are far more striking than their differences. So yes, it would be a great idea to learn NSP, both for its own sake as well as filling in that long waiting time.
I have heard some duet pieces originally for musettes played very convincingly on NSPs. The closed fingering method and tones of both instruments have a lot in common. But it's not the same sound though. Perhaps the most important difference derives from the narrower bore and finger-hole sizes on original musettes. The balance of the drone sound is perhaps more predominant with the musette, and of course, the NSP, uniquely amongst bagpipes, is completely closed when all fingers are down, allowing total separation between the notes. In contrast, the musette has a modified 'closed' fingering. It has an open and flared bell, the seventh finger generally being left open but providing a leading note when it is closed. Stopping the note doesn't happen by closing all the fingers as with the NSP , but by returning to the six finger position. The sound of the chanter doesn't stop at all of course; it just disappears briefly into the drone harmony. This is beautifully explained far better than I can, on this Japanese site: http://homepage.mac.com/muzette/Eng.File/ The 'execution' page has parallel sound files allowing you to build the drone harmony and demonstrating the articulation method and sound. Hope this helps Francis On 11 Oct 2006, at 23:27, Bart Blanquart wrote: > > Anyone here that plays (or has played) both the NSP and the baroque > musette that can enlighten me on how the fingering and playing > technique > is similar/different between the two? > > I play a (bellows-blown) 'doedelzak'/'cornemuse' -- the traditional > pipes in central France, Belgium, and the Netherlands -- which are > played with half-closed fingering. I have ordered a musette but am > looking at approx. another 4 years before it'll be ready... so was > wondering if picking up the NSP would be useful in preparation when it > comes to fingering/technique. > > (Yes, I know, it'd be useful in that I get to learn another nifty > instrument and its repertoire in any case :-) ) > > Thanks, > > Bart > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html >
