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Uilleann pipe(s) (plurale tantum)

➺ remark(s) below

Bagpipe, bellows-blown: 2 stocks (a: single chanter / b: 6 drones in 1 stock)

Identical types: 2

From "uille" [elbow]; Encountered pronunciations of Uilleann: "illen" (rhyming with "villain" [sic]) and "ill-yin"; Incorrectly spelt "Uillean pipe(s)" in Baines (Bagpipes/Woodwind), Leydi, Sachs (Handbuch), and too many other sources to include a complete list; The instrument is known since the 18th century; Its name, today universally used, was first applied in the early 20th century; According to Manson, "Both the Irish and the Northumbrian pipes have […] been elaborated until they have almost ceased to be bagpipes"; NB¹ (plurale tantum): The term is also used when referring to 1 instrument only. There appears to be little consensus of opinion, however, whether the name should be written in the singular or plurale tantum form; NB²: ➺ Set (of pipes) [types]; NB³: ➺ Electronic pipes.

A great variety in pitches can be found, most of them Flat sets (i.e. below Concert pitch; ➺ Types); All measures, &c. given here (➺ Parts) refer to an instrument in D; NB: The bottom or fundamental note of the chanter is called ‘D’, irrespective of its actual pitch (This custom is also common among flute and whistle players).

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Sources

Sachs, Curt: Real-Lexikon der Musikinstrumente: zugleich ein Polyglossar für das gesamte Instrumentengebiet [Berlin, 1913]. Hildesheim, 1964 [facsimile] (Uilleann [only]).

Baines, Anthony: Bagpipes [1960]. Oxford, 1973 (revised), p.120 (Uillean*).

Leydi, Roberto: La zampogna in Europa. Como, 1979, p.83 (Uillean*).

Širola, Božidar: Sviraljke s udarnim jezičkom [Aerophones with a beating tongue]. Zagreb, 1937, p.354, 370 (Uillean*).

Sachs, Curt: Handbuch der Musikinstrumentenkunde [1920]. Leipzig, 1930 (2), p.353.

Baines, Anthony: Woodwind instruments and their history [1957]. With a foreword by Sir Adrian Boult. London, 1962 (2), p.350 (Uillean*).

Breathnach, Breandán: The Irish pipes. In: The bagpipes in Europe, 1 (1976), p.4.

O’Neill, Francis: Irish minstrels and musicians: the story of Irish music [Chicago, 1913]. Cork, 1987 [facsimile], p.29 & passim.

Manson, W.L. [William Laird]: The Highland bagpipe: its history, literature and music, with some account of the traditions, superstitions, and anecdotes relating to the instrument and its tunes (Paisley & London, 1901). Wakefield, 1977 [facsimile], p.68.

Marcuse, Sibyl: Musical instruments: a comprehensive dictionary. New York, 1975 (Uillean*).

Podnos, Theodor H.: Bagpipes and tunings. Detroit, 1974, p.24 (»various), 48.

♫ Ceırníní Cladaıġ CC11 (The drones and the chanters: Irish pipering [1971; Sleeve text: Anthony Baines]).

Ricros, André: La contrainte des murs. In: Ricros (et al.): La cabrette… (2017), p.292.

ws (pronunciations & remark on incorrect spelling)

Web

Archive.org (Manson).
Mick O'Brien, &c. (A short introduction to Uilleann Piping ["illen"]).
Na Píobairí Uilleann (History of the Uilleann Pipes ["ill-yin"]).