Only one Bagpipe (Key D)?

• Mar 22, 2017 - 09:25

Hello,
I'm a piper.
Why is there only selection for the soundfont and key D (the highland pipe?) ?

I play the Flemish pipe (possible keys Bb, F, C, G, D) and Gaita Gallega (almost any key). Each with a completely unique sound.

Therefor I always have to make adjustments in the staves, due to the fixed key now. And play it with an incorrect sound.

Would it be a solution to make subdivisions for the most common types of bagpipes (Highland, Gaita, Flemish pipe... uillean pipe) or subdivision by different type of keynote (A, C, G, D,...) or the choice of bagpipenotation without a (specific) fixed key choice (such as today)?

Same question/possible solution for the soundfont, cause every type of bagpipe has his ownership of a specific sound.

Greetings,
Johan


Comments

In reply to by mike320

the Two types of bagpipes I know already with A4=440Hz
+Uillean pipes:
- Possible Keys: D, C#, C, B, Bb
- Range: (Reference to D, transposed to the selected other Keys)
+ D4 to B5
+ Tenor drone = lowest note on chanter (D4), Bariton drone=one octave below tenor drone (D3), Bass drone=two octaves below tenor drone (D2)
+Flemish pipes and French versions:
- Possible Keys: D, G, C, F, Bb
- Range: (Reference to G, transposed to the selected other Keys)
- E4 (some), F4 (most) to A5
- Bariton drone=one octave below G4 of chanter (So G3), Bass Drone 2 octaves below G4 of chanter (So now G2)

Gaita Galega will follow

In reply to by mike320

Thanks to seek an appropriate solution to my question.

Because drones (except the uilleann pipe) always maintain the same tone, a separate line is not necessary for me. But maybe there are other pipers who will want a separate line (for fair presentation of the sound).

As I wrote earlier the Uilleann pipe is something special, this type of bagpipe is even able to produce chords on the drones. So they would possibly appreciate a separate drone line.

And of course, if there is a separate line for the drone(s) given (preferable Treble) and you don't want/need it, you can allways remove it yourself at the start of a new score.

In reply to by mike320

Gaita Gallega / Gaita Asturiana: (A4=440Hz)
- Possible Keys: A, Bb, C, D
- Range: (Reference to C, transposed to the selected other Keys): B5 to F6#
- Bariton drone=one octave below C5 of chanter (So C4), Bass Drone 2 octaves below C5 of chanter (So now C3)
_ Some versions can set the drones in two different keynotes. Possible combinations Bariton drone/Bass drone: C+C, C+G, C+F, D+D

When I discover information for other types of bagpipes, I'll inform you.
You may be surprised, but there are even bagpipes with double chanters (FI: the Italian Zampogna).

In reply to by Johan Van der Elst

I read a little about bagpipes and read that there are pipes with two chanters. I do have a question. On pipes with with a drone octaves below the minimum chanter note, which is most of them, what should I do about the range of notes below the chanter to the drone note? There is no way to define a gap in the notes, so I either have to use the chanter for the minimum note, or or the drone note as the minimum in the range. If I use the chanter as the minimum, the drone will be red. If I use the drone as the minimum, then all the notes between the chanter and drone will be black. I'm thinking the red drone note is preferable to black invalid notes. What do you think?

In reply to by mike320

I think there are two possible solutions.

Only chanter(s):
A single stave (treble) for the chanter and a double treble stave for the bagpipes with two chanters. Per type of bagpipe the range can be prefixed.(?) And presentable in the menu Edit Stave/Part properties. Where you can read (change if necessary) the pitch range.

Drones and chanter(s):
Maybe a separate type of template for drone instruments (bagpipes ànd hurdy gurdy) with mulitple staves. In Menu: Create new score.
1 (or 2) treble staves for chanter(s) (bagpipe) / 1 melody and 1 trumpet string (Hurdy Gurdy).
1 bass stave for the drones (bagpipe)/ drone strings (Hurdy Gurdy). With one note for each drone on the stem (double dots on 1 stem). The pitch range can be prefixed per type of bagpipe / Hurdy Gurdy.(?)

Can this be a solution to the red note-dots?
By the way the keynote (mimimum note on the keybox) for Hurdy Gurdy is or C, D, G or A.

Attachment Size
bagpipe template.JPG 29.68 KB
Hurdy Gurdy template.JPG 102.78 KB

In reply to by Johan Van der Elst

I think using a template is probably a better idea than creating new instruments. That is what you suggested in the Create New Score comment. I could make only valid notes black that way and the process will ultimately be less time consuming for me, though I still won't finish this before next week.

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