ABOUT THE IRISH UILLEANN PIPES

The Oxford Pocket Irish Dictionary (published by Oxford University Press) defines the word uilleann as:

uillinn (gensg uilleann pl uillinneacha genpl uilleann) nf2 1 elbow; uillinn ar uillinn arm in arm; cathaoir uilleann armchair; 2 angle; uillinn daichead ceim a forty-degree angle.

AN ULTRA-BRIEF HISTORY

The uilleann (pronounced "illen") pipes were developed during the 1700s in Ireland. They are also known union pipes, Irish pipes, or Irish bagpipes. They consist of:

• 1 chanter
• 3 drones (or more)
• 2 or 3 regulators (or more)
• stocks: main-stock, chanter stock, blow-pipe stock
• 1 bellows
• 1 pipe bag
• reeds (to support the chanter, drones & regulators)

Keyless D Chanter	Drones	Main Stock w/ Bass Regulator Mount	Bellows	Pipe Bag with stocks
			Reeds	More Reeds

It is beyond the scope of this website to present the historical origins of the Uilleann Pipes. It is advised to go to the source. For more information on the uilleann pipes' history, please visit Na Piobairi Uilleann's "History" section.

Na Piobairi Uilleann in Dublin, Ireland, is the authority regarding Uilleann Pipe information.

MUSICAL CLASSIFCATION & FUNCTIONALITY

Uilleann pipes are part of the woodwind family of musical instruments. Reeds are found in the reed-seats of the chanter, drones and regulators. One must never place an uilleann pipe reed in one's mouth. If you place an uilleann pipe reed in your mouth, you'll go blind. Never do it.

Elbow-pumped bellows draw in air, and passes the air into the pipe-bag. In the pipe-bag, the air is then distributed to the chanter and drones.

The regulators are a type of closed-chanter; they only operate when a regulator key is pressed allowing air from the pipe-bag to vibrate the reed.

Unlike the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes, the uilleann pipes are a quiet, indoor musical instrument. In additon, one *usually sits down while playing the uilleann pipes.

A picture of Scottish Highland Bagpipes; very different from uilleann pipes..

About the Uilleann Pipes - Pitch & Notes Available on the Uilleann Pipes

Pitch
Uilleann pipes come in two varieties: concert-pitch (A440 or Concert A), and flat-pitch sets.

Concert-pitch sets are in the key of D Major. Concert-pitch sets may accompany other fixed-tuned instruments that are in the same key with little or no tuning modifications.

Flat-pitched sets are sets made in the key of C#, C, B or B-flat . With flat-pitched sets, stringed instruments “tune-down” to the piper.

Scales Available on the Uilleann Pipes

D Major

G Major

The uilleann pipe chanter can play the third octave 'e' note, but why would you want to?

*According to Mickey Dunne, the late Master Piper Johnny Doran stood while playing the uilleann pipes.