Manchester Pipers Gathering UK

Subject: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Pied Piper
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 06:56 AM

Some interest has been shown in having a Pipers Gathering/Session here in sunny Manchester.
Might I suggest that the Friday night Session at the Castle Oldham St would be a suitable venue.
If you are interested let me know and we'll work on a date.

TTFNPP

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: ploughflyer
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 08:05 AM

Hello John,

I think this was first put forward on the discussion forum on the NW England Bagpipe Website at ceyre.freeserve.co.uk and created some interest but no definite proposal.

I am sure a Friday in the Castle would be good for most people and I would certainly try to come along.

Regards,
Cameron

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: smallpiper
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 08:39 AM

Yep count me in.

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Pied Piper
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 10:35 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: GUEST,Les in Chorlton, Manchester
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 01:06 PM

Sounds great! Excuse my ignorance but is this a night of tunes on pipes? Any particular kind of pipe? Any songs, with pipe accomp?

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: John Routledge
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 01:16 PM

Should be able to come along with 8 Pints in Harmony Duo!! (NSP)

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Sep 03 - 12:55 PM

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: kitchen piper
Date: 13 Sep 03 - 02:03 PM

I'd be up for it, but Manchester is quite a distance away from me, so plenty of notice would be helpful!
:-))
VIx

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: GUEST,Les in Chorlton, Manchester
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 03:47 AM

Sounds great! Excuse my ignorance but is this a night of tunes on pipes? Any particular kind of pipe? Any songs, with pipe accomp?

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 06:35 AM

I volunteer to man the machine gun

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 06:40 AM

Are you after me, personally?

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 05:39 PM

I doubt it Les, but one never knows...

It is my understanding that a Pipers Gathering would be a gathering of pipers (with me so far?) of all complexions who would be interested to meet people of like mind and compare notes, musical and otherwise. They might even have a squeeze of each others bellows, but I'm pretty sure tunes would be played, separately and together, and possibly a few pints sunk.

In all probability no songs would possibly not be sung...

But as I have never been to a Pipers Gathering, this is all speculation on my part.

I would hope and expect that interested non-pipers would also be welcome, as long as they made the right sort of admiring 'ooh's and 'aaah's and clapped profusely at the right times.

:0)

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: smallpiper
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 07:46 PM

You could be right noreen except the bit about squeezing eachorthersbellows (I had to say that in a rush as the prospect of it happening is just too shocking) thats not allowed - I mean most pipers I know(including myself will not let anyone touch their pipes in fact its a hanging offence even to touch them by accident).

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 08:02 PM

ooooOOOOoooo

...or even get a tiny drop of water on them...

Sorry, will be more careful in future.

Concertina players enjoy pushing each other's buttons, that's all...

:0)

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: smallpiper
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 08:10 PM

Concertinas while expensive usually don't cost £2000 and are not bespoke! :-)

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 08:43 PM

Mine's valued at £3,000 since you asked.

A new Wheatstone Anglo or English concertina would cost somewhere between £3,500 and £5,000, with Duets costing far more. And I do know several people who have had or are having concertinas made to special order (very long waiting list!)

In fact you'll not get a new concertina at all for much less than £2,000.

Sorry John!

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: smallpiper
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 09:43 AM

Like I said Concertinas don't cost £2000 - and generally their reeds can't be knackered by inappropriate preasure. Suffice it to say that they are a lot less delicate than cane reeds in pipes.

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Raggytash
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 10:30 AM

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo Wait for the handbags.

Les nothing personal at all, you might be a throughly good chap, however pipes are best played so that nobody else has to listen to them, ask Piedpiper about the time he fired his up in my dining room at 1 in the morning, the cat didn't come home for 3 days

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: kitchen piper
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 10:53 AM

This all sounds great!
I want to be there already. Smallpiper is right though, I have a guard dog watching my pipes at all times! It seems a shame in a way, but pipers generally have enough problems with the reads with only themselves playing and the humidity to contend with. Letting someone elses play them is a risk I'm not willing take.

Raggytash, you've obviously not heard me or smallpiper play!...
....
      ........Your cat would never have come home!
lol
:-))
Vix
(just kidding!)

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Pied Piper
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 11:47 AM

Strange as it may seem I've never attended a Pipers gathering either Noreen.
My idea is that we all go to the Pub drink and play or play and drink which ever takes our fancy.
Most of the time I'd like there to be lots of people playing together, but it is not ruled out that someone might play on their own and conversation will be allowed.
Other instrumentalists and singers are welcome as long as they don't mind joining in or being joined in with, where appropriate.

Any one making jokes about Cats will be shot (obviously)

PP

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 11:53 AM

Thanks to you all, that's much clearer.

I went to Pudsey Folk Club once and cadged a lift home with a man who had just played Highland pipes in the club.

Another bloke cadged a lift and invited the piper and me in for a lemonade. Much to my surprise he talked the piper into playing.

I shall never forget the atmosphere generated by the appearance of his wife, whom I guess and gone to bed for an early and peaceful nights sleep, only to find a stranger playing said pipes in her front room.

Pipes clearly bring out the best in people, but not always.

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: smallpiper
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 12:18 PM

Hey Pied Piper that sounds just like my idea of a pipers gathering.

I understand the lovely Kitchen Piper is running a smallpipes workshop at Otley festival on saturday - anyone apart from me going?

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: John Routledge
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 01:42 PM

8 Pints and myself will attend KP's workshop assuming that there is no clash of schedules :0)

Presumably the "smallpipes" dealt with will be North of the Border in which case I will be happy to listen and learn.

Perhaps a date for a Gathering can be agreed at Otley?

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: kitchen piper
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 03:07 PM

Hi!

I don't know much about the workshop yet, but I do know that it is at 1pm on Saturday. I play the Scottish Smallpipes, so I prefer it when Scottish Smallpipers come along, but I any kind of pipe is welcome! Maybe I'll bring my border pipes just incase!
If there are going to be a few of us there from mudcat, let me know what breed you play, what key your pipes are in, what kind of standard you are and I'll try to prepare some material that suits all!
I'm kinda really into trying to do harmonies and groups at the moment, so knowing who'll be there will be useful!
:-))
Vix

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: smallpiper
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 05:11 PM

I'll fetch me border monsters as well then Vix. Erm where is it by the way?

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: John Routledge
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 06:24 PM

8 Pints and I have F +20c NSP's which I can back offto F. Also have a concert G chanter - prefer traditional pitch however :0)

I am into intermediate-just and 8 Pints is intermediate but a lot more.

Don't yet know when our singing spots are but will post our availability soonest. Please don't try to stand the world on it's head in any event :0)

Looking forward to a first class weekend.

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: John Routledge
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 07:19 PM

Vix - Looks like 8pints and I are free to attend. Looking forward to it.

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Pied Piper
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 11:25 AM

One small fly in the ointment; vexed question of Keys.
I think to be as inclusive as possible to non-pipers I think we should play in concert G most of the time.
This doesn't mean that we can't do some sets in F, F#, or even Bb.
I don't want to discourage non-concert players but I don't want 'em getting pissed off either.
I'm certainly not going to crack any whips on the night, once you're in the Pub my job is done, and I'll be enjoying myself in what ever key (useful things Bodhrans and Capos).

All the best PP

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: kitchen piper
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 04:39 AM

G would be ok, not wonderful as smallpiper and myself can only really play in A or D. But it's way better than For Bb. There are very few SSP's that play in Bb any more. Some, granted, and these would be ex GHB players. F and Bb, fiddlers would hate that!!! lol
:-))
Vix

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Pied Piper
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 05:07 AM

When I said G, I meant it to refer to NSP G chanters, as opposed to F or F#.
Most of the stuff will be in the modes of 1 or 2 sharps so there'll be lots of tunes you play that others can join in with and visa versa.
Do you play Paddy's Leather Britches?
You can play it in A and modulate to B (as it's pentatonic). One or two other tunes will do this, and it comes as quit a surprise to non-pipers. Mrs McLeod Of Raasay can be played in G on an A Chanter though it sounds a little odd against the Drones.

TTFN
PP

Subject: RE: Manchester Pipers Gathering UK
From: Pied Piper
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 11:47 AM

refresh