Scottish and Irish The differences between the national instruments of both nations

The Great Highland Bagpipe Lung-powered Loud (not much dynamic range) – Ideal Solo or Featured 9 notes + 2 nontraditional – Limited number of keys – Locked intonation Chanters in different keys – “band” (>Bb), Concert Bb, Concert A Drones tuned to the tonic in octaves

The Uilleann Bagpipe Bellows-blown Quiet (not much dynamic range) – Ideal for jam sessions, low-key venues Two octaves, chromatic – Can play in any key – Can bend notes Chanters in different keys – Eb, D, C#, C, B, Bb, Drones tuned with two on tonic unison and octave, and one on the fourth or fifth

Side-by-Side Highland & Uilleann Uilleann w/Backstiching

Highland Bagpipe The musical diversity of the instrument

Written and Sounding For the Bagpipe Written A minor – treble clef, A4 is written tonic Sounding Bb Mixolydian – Sounding tonic is Bb4 Traditionally no accidentals, so sharps are implied on “C” and “F” in our “A” scale – Eb and G in Bb mixolydian

The Highland Bagpipe Range and Keys Concert Bb Chanter: (Ab, Bb, C, Db*, D, Eb, F, Gb*, G, Ab, Bb) – Bb Mixolydian – Ab Mixolydian* – Eb Major – Ab Major* – C Minor*Indicates Non-traditional Notes – Bb Minor* – Eb Pentatonic – Ab Pentatonic – Db Pentatonic* – Bb Pentatonic

The Highland Bagpipe Range and Keys (con’t) Concert A Chanter: (G, A, B, C*, C#, D, E, F*, F#, G, A) – A Mixolydian – G Mixolydian* – D Major – G Major* – B Minor*Indicates Non-traditional Notes – A Minor* – D Pentatonic – G Pentatonic – C Pentatonic* – A Pentatonic

Bagpipe Arrangement Simon Fraser University Pipe Band Edinburgh Military Tattoo