Bagmasonry - Further Evidence - The Bagpipe Society

Bagmasonry - Further Evidence

This edition is from our archives, so it is presented as scanned pages rather than text.

REFERENCES

Brierley B. “Abc of ‘Yates Dictionary” Craven Pioneer, 12th September 1884
Dixon, J. H. “Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England." London, 1846.
Also quoted is Forshaw C. F. (ed.) “Holroyd’s Collection of Yorkshire Ballads," London, 1892.
Craven Pioneer, 18th December, 1880.
Cannon, R. D. “The Bagpipe in Northern England,” Folk Music Journal, London, 1971.

of The Folk Music Journal, is in The Castle Museum, York,* and the other is displayed at Cliffe Castle, Keighley. The York pipes were made by M. Egan of Liverpool in about 1850, but nothing— whatsoever is known of the Keighley set, except that they date from the nineteenth century and appear to be of a later manufacture than those in York Records to where either set were acquired are also missing, but since both museums have generally collected local material, I would guess that both have been played in Yorkshire. The possibility that the players were Irish, or that they were donated by local collectors of instruments, is an great, however, that their origin can be no more than conjecture.

Whoever else owned them, I do not think that they belonged to Billy Bolton. “While minor repairs have been done there is nothing to suggest that either set has been *” repaired, tourist and surely polished." Also when the York pipes were made Billy was over 50 years of age, an old man for these days Where the are Billy’s pipes today? Probably in some Wharfedale attic or hanging on a Dales’ pub wall. Much more research (especially in Dales’ pubs) is necessary before an answer can be given to this and other intriguing questions about ringing in Yorlksire during the last hundred years.

FOR SALE

Mibsa (North Italian bagpipes) by Julian Goodacre. Almost new, perfect condition. Single drone, high D pitch. Only £100. Ian Smith

Flemish pipes in D by Jon Swayne (formerly belongings to Paul James). Overhauled by Jon only last year. £370. Jack Humphreys.

Set of Dill Headworth Northumbrian Smallpipes about 15 years old (one of his best sets). £195. Julie Bell.

Chris Daley says he has now sold most of his stock of ready-made pipes (though is still taking orders of course) but has a few secondhand sets in the process of restoration, mostly a set of Irish pipes and a set of smallpipes if anyone is interested.

Calfskin Bodhran and beater. As new. £20. Duncan Ross.

Still for Sale: Dulcibro (Dollcimer/Dulcifo) by Homer Ledford of Kentucky. As there are no takers yet for this superb example of rug Dulcimer maker’s art, I am forced to drop the price to a final £1000. Includes lined case, books, tutors, plectrums, notes. steel etc. all cost over £300. Julian Watson.

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

By the time you read this we should have a new Membership Secretary as I am hanging up that particular hat to concentrate on doing the Newsletter. Your new Membership Sec. will be Val Woollott and all enquiries regarding membership, new membership applications and changes to Membership List details should be addressed to her at

As will be help a new start on typesetting, I am extremely grateful to Val for her help and well with the job (you may still notify changes directly to the keeper of the Society’s bits, Don Ward, if you prefer, for loan to put straight onto his tame computer).

BAGPIPE SOCIETY CASSETTE

Chi has had quite a good response for his plea for material/performers for a Society cassette. He has asked me to tell everyone who has replied and to ask you all to be patient with him for a little while yet. As no tasd earlier, he is in the throes of moving house

page 8 page 9

ed lifestyle. As soon as he has settled in, he will be giving his every attention to the project. The other problem, at the moment is funds. As always, the Society is operating from hand to mouth with leaves little or no project work at this. Any philanthropists among you? In the meantime, he would still love to hear from anyone who would like to purchase material.

MEMBERSHIP RATES & ALL THAT JAZZ

As you’ve probably gathered from the above, we could always do with a bit more cash. We feel we have managed your money well (well we would, wouldn’t we?), our main aim being to provide lots of good quality publications (recently, 1 of net always printing wise). Small print runs are expensive as is postage; so “the bulk of your subscription money goes on just this. Now, hands up all those who thought I was going to announce an increase in subs! Well no, you’re wrong – at least I hope so. . . one more. At the time of writing this, the proposal for the AGM is that the subs should remain the same for the coming year. Things would be a trifle out of present for us though – if everyone paid up promptly! If 15/- then old news about careful . . Even as I write I’m not sure we can afford the paper and mail, but this newsletter – because so many of you haven’t renewed who should have done so in the summer (with apologies to those who have paid up promptly).

We hate having to moan like this, particularly when so many of you of the offenders have done so much good work for the Society in other ways, but we simply can’t go on without money. So what have you of objects have you magic piece, please take note of this typed little behind-the-block “notices” at the time they’re printed (aren’t these the same corner?), first the once per used magazine Society.

Unfortunately, although we hope to keep going static, minimal hope got to go by. We just didn’t anticipate the rise in publications being so strict and heavy when we put the rate and aimed is almost expensive! The good news (for some) is that it would appear that surface mail from everywhere but the Far East and Oz/ NZ is pretty well as quiet as air mail I think: at all goes by plane anyway; anyone know for sure?), so those of you in North America might like to try surface mail when you renew. You can always bring us a few quid more later to go over to Airmail.

The Highland Gathering
London’s Centre for Everything Scottish

Highland Outfitting, Dance Wear, Pipe Band Uniform, Bagpipes, Baggage Repairs, Drums, Band Accessories, Shortbread, Concert tickets, Trophies, etc, Books, Jewellery Gifts.

The other big problem at this moment, is the date of renewals. Like all bodies, we tried to make it so that everyone renewed at the same after joining: it was ain’t that easy! Everyone we’ve got to was due a subs for every period of renewal. This means that subs will be shortchanged while others get out a bit of that for nothing. These just doesn’t show to be any other way. The present proposal (for the AGM) at the time of writing, though it could change by then) is that everyone should renew in April 1988 and every April thereafter. We haven’t hammered out the details yet but it probably means that those of you who joined within the six months prior to April 87 will not be asked to renew until 1989. If we do adopt this policy and you think this is unfair or will cause you undue hardship, just write when you get your renewal notice for April and we’ll see if we can’t come to some sort of agreement.

That’s about all on the boring side of Bagpipe Society matters. (except to remind you that you each have a vote and can make proposals at the AGM even if you can’t be there in person. If you don’t like any of the above, make sure your voice is heard! It’s your Society members.

MEET YOUR MAKER

People often ask me where they can get French pipes. Well this issue features a maker of all sorts of fine French bagpipes, Dominique Butruille of Montpellier in France. As well as French pipes, Dominique also offers Uilleann pipes ranging from a practice set at 2500F to a full set at 11900F; a Bulgarian Kaba Gajda (that’s the deep one!) at 3500F in blackwood or 3700F in blackwood; Swedish pipes in fruitwood at 2500F; and Southdown student pipes (14 or 16 pouces) in fruitwood at 2700F.

But he is best known (for his traditional French pipes, the southdowns Bourdonnais/Berrichann pipes come in two sizes 14 pouces (A/D/E) and 16 pouces (Sol/Do; G/C) in fruitwood or blackwood with mounts of pewter or bone with prices ranging from 4900F to 8000F depending on size and material.

It occurs to me at this point that a brief explanation of the French system of designation for pipes facts, the centre of the tone would not go amiss; while we’re all sadly going metric, the French cling invented it all, still use the inch (le pouce) to describe their pipes! So a 14 pouces bagpipe has a 14 inch chanter. This is obviously just convention and I’m not sure whose thumb they used to arrive at the inch – it probably doesn’t correspond exactly to our imperial inch anyway. In convention, the 14 pouces pipes are pitched in B-Upper D – Three finger giving the proper keynote for French pipes – but they usually quote it C-G-finger notes as well (firsts). To make matters more difficult – the usually quote the pitch using the Tonic Sol-fa, which is being Sol. So, you can see that the smaller of Dominique’s Bourdonnais/Berrichon pipes has a 14 inch chanter (approximately), the third finger (3-finger/3-finger), otherwise known as A/D. Drones are always tuned to the 6-finger note and/or small pipes (Setti). To continue:

In addition to the smaller southdowns Bourdonnais pipes Dominique also makes the Grande Correnoise and Nivernais & Bourbonnais – all with the smaller pipes from the region. They have two drones but are only available only in fruitwood with mounts of pewter or horn. They come in three sizes: 20 pouces (Re/Sol; D#G); 22 pouces, (Do/Fa; C/F); and 24 pouces (Re/ Mi/ BVF) – to complicate matters further, this latter …