Hello Folks * Yes, reeds make a huge difference. In general I use different reed patterns to converge pitch, that's why I have 4 different patterns just for 'F' chanters. * When I referred to a modern trend towards concert F (A=440) I did not for a millisecond mean to imply it was a universal trend. I was actually thinking of the Cut & Dry Dolly album where we needed pipes in concert F to play with Alistair Anderson's concertina. This seemed to start something and this very evening I played for over 2 hours in F with Sylviane Bartowiak (concertina player and regular Cleveland Branch attender). It is modern in the sense that it wasn't something the Reids needed to consider. * I totally agree, this music is primarily social. That's why I have three different 'F' chanters to play comfortably in various situations. As Francis rightly points out this is not essential but it does make the music-making a joy rather than an acievement.
Cheers Anthony -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html