brimor
Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:47:01 -0800
Hi John, Steve and all,
Would you say that this conforms to the limits of the list?
Hopefully,
Sheila
-----Original Message-----
From: bri...@aol.com
To: dir...@gmail.com
Sent: Sat, Feb 6, 2010 6:51 pm
Subject: Re: [NSP] NSP duet with other instruments
Hi John,
Yes, as Matt commented, it is done frequently, and in my humble opinion, almost
sounds better than duets played by two pipes. Listen also to CDs by Anthony
Robb and others who use pipes ( F or G chanter) also with viola or fidola
(which I think - and no doubt will be immediately slapped on the fingers if
wrong - is a fiddle tuned like a viola, i.e. a fifth lower). I also often use
a clarinet, which has similar range to the viola and, in my part of the world,
is much easier to find than a viola (especially very much easier to find than
a viola who enjoys playing what purely "classically" trained musicians would
tend to refer to as "folk stuff"). Not only do you get the combination of
different pitches, but also the exciting variety of the tone colours of the
different instruments.
I have composed a lot of "cross-over chamber music" - a mixture of traditional
NSP with more or less classical, for Northumbrian F or G pipes with violin,
cello, and viola or clarinet. The viola has the advantage of being able to
play pizzicato as well as bowed, which adds another dimension, but the clarinet
has the advantage of its lovely different timbre and combines beautifully with
the pipes. The same can be said in favour of flutes, whistles, oboes, bass
etc. and most of these other instruments have a wider range than the basic
7-keyed chanter, and can play in numerous different keys. Thus you can get
wonderful variety of sound by having, for example, pipes alone, or with any or
all of the other instruments, interspersed with passages when the pipes just
drone quietly in the background while one or several of the other instruments
do their stuff, and/or even move to another key for a short passage.
To my way of thinking, the only time the combination of any other instruments
with the pipes is not very satisfactory is when they play in unison, because
the other instruments are frequently more used to playing in "equal
temperament" (like the piano), while the pipes use what is often referred to as
"just tuning". If you have really sensitive string/wind players they will
adjust to the pipes, or automatically use "just tuning" but, listening to many
recordings of unison playing, you notice that it does not always happen, and
the result is a bit of a mess. (Not good for the ears of the listener!).
The only other thing to bear in mind, and which used sensitively can be a
terrific asset, is that the other instruments can vary their dynamics, and can
easily overpower the small pipes. The lower pitched "D" chanter is very
easily drowned, whilst the brighter "G" can cut through more easily, but can
still be out-shouted by a loud violin especially if the latter is playing notes
at a higher pitch. Arrangements have to be carefully made, and if necessary
don't be shy about reminding the "other" instruments when they should be
letting the pipes be heard!.
Have fun experimenting.
Sheila
-----Original Message-----
From: John Dally <dir...@gmail.com>
To: nsp@cs.dartmouth.edu
Sent: Sat, Feb 6, 2010 2:45 pm
Subject: [NSP] NSP duet with other instruments
I've been listening to a lot of UP flat set and fiddle duets, and
laying my SSP in A a bit with a fiddler. I'm smitten with the sound
ix of low pipe and fiddle. I think fiddle and NSP would go well
ogether, but perhaps the NSP in D would produce a better match up
ith a fiddle than F or F# and the G chanter which can be, to my ear
nyway, shrill. Has anyone experimented with this sort of thing at
ll?
thanks,
ohn
PS Is there a monument at the Morpeth Chantry to those who have fallen
n the bagpipe wars?
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