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Uilleann Pipe Bass Drone Iris Aperture
Uilleann Pipe Bass Drone Iris Aperture
This project began with a seemingly insignificant observation. On bagpipe instruments, there are occasionally hollow box-like resonator chambers placed on the ends of one or more of the drone pipes. This is particularly true of the bass drone of the Irish Uilleann pipes. These cylindrical box resonators (or "pucks" as they are sometimes lovingly referred to by players and makers) typically have an outlet hole bored into one of the flat circular faces to complete the open end of the drone, and allow for airflow.
My observation was that there was no particular craft standard for the size of this outlet hole, and in speaking to a number of pipemakers, no one really had a strong idea why. The hole obviously needed to be large enough to allow for airflow so the reed in the drone would vibrate (if it was too small, the drone would not function as there would not be sufficient air flow), but then not so large as to negate the effect of the hollow resonator and the tone it would impart. But that made me wonder: what is the optimum "tone" for the bass drone? Is there a preferred tone to aim for that pipers seem to feel is optimal or the most sonically pleasing? Do pipemakers consider this seemingly small varriable when making their instruments, or is it not an area of concious design? Could this be an area of additional drone ballance voicing? Does it really matter at all?
Curiosity and a lack of answers lead me to produce this attachment. This drone resonator is a typical cylindrical shape, but the outlet hole is an adjustable iris apperture from an antique camera. The apperture opens up to about 20mm, and closes down to less than 1mm. This gives a great range to play with, and the adjustability of the iris allows for quick and precise adjustment on the fly.
The video below is a brief demonstartion of the attachment, and gives a good idea of the sonic changes that occur as the resonator hole is enlarged or closed down. I will admit, the jury is still out as to what "optimum" tone and "optimum" size are. However, musical tone is so subject to an individual's taste that there will likely never be, nor need there be, one standard design. With that in mind, perhaps this type of resonator would be useful to the pipemaker minutely voicing his instrument, or to the piper playing with the tone and blend of his drones.
This project began with a seemingly insignificant observation. On bagpipe instruments, there are occasionally hollow box-like resonator chambers placed on the ends of one or more of the drone pipes. This is particularly true of the bass drone of the Irish Uilleann pipes. These cylindrical box resonators (or "pucks" as they are sometimes lovingly referred to by players and makers) typically have an outlet hole bored into one of the flat circular faces to complete the open end of the drone, and allow for airflow.
My observation was that there was no particular craft standard for the size of this outlet hole, and in speaking to a number of pipemakers, no one really had a strong idea why. The hole obviously needed to be large enough to allow for airflow so the reed in the drone would vibrate (if it was too small, the drone would not function as there would not be sufficient air flow), but then not so large as to negate the effect of the hollow resonator and the tone it would impart. But that made me wonder: what is the optimum "tone" for the bass drone? Is there a preferred tone to aim for that pipers seem to feel is optimal or the most sonically pleasing? Do pipemakers consider this seemingly small varriable when making their instruments, or is it not an area of concious design? Could this be an area of additional drone ballance voicing? Does it really matter at all?
Curiosity and a lack of answers lead me to produce this attachment. This drone resonator is a typical cylindrical shape, but the outlet hole is an adjustable iris apperture from an antique camera. The apperture opens up to about 20mm, and closes down to less than 1mm. This gives a great range to play with, and the adjustability of the iris allows for quick and precise adjustment on the fly.
The video below is a brief demonstartion of the attachment, and gives a good idea of the sonic changes that occur as the resonator hole is enlarged or closed down. I will admit, the jury is still out as to what "optimum" tone and "optimum" size are. However, musical tone is so subject to an individual's taste that there will likely never be, nor need there be, one standard design. With that in mind, perhaps this type of resonator would be useful to the pipemaker minutely voicing his instrument, or to the piper playing with the tone and blend of his drones.