Highland Hornpipe

**beowulf67** · 26th February 07, 08:55 AM

Has anyone seen this before? I was thinking it might be an interesting intrument to pick up.
I've been thinking about getting a chanter and trying to learn the pipes, and was wondering if this would be worth looking into.

**Dreadbelly** · 26th February 07, 09:28 AM

Yes, I've been wanting one for a long time. I made a post about these a long time ago.

I still want one.

**Piper** · 26th February 07, 09:35 AM

I've read about this on a bagpipe forum, seems like an interesting instrument. I'd think of it more as one to play in addition to the pipes, rather than as a tool to learn the music on. I think you'd be better served with a practice chanter and a good instructor, then move on to something like the hornpipe a bit later. I nearly ordered one myself just now, but the "Sessioneer" is out of stock at the moment. I really like the lower tone of the A instrument.

**Dreadbelly** · 26th February 07, 09:41 AM

All it really is is a practice chanter, slightly modified, with a saxaphone reed.

And all you need to learn to play it is any guide to playing a practice chanter. And vise versa. It is a good way to learn period.

I like the in tune with the bagpipes in B flat. It sounds like a single angry bumblebee.

**beloitpiper** · 26th February 07, 10:16 AM

Check out the French bombarde also. It is used along with binioù bras (Great Highland Bagpipe) in bagads (Breton pipe bands).

**wgority** · 27th February 07, 05:24 AM

Nope.....this is not for me. If I'm going to play a session I'll play my borderpipes or scottish smallpipes in A, or SSP in D, or my uilleann pipes in D (or flute or whistles or low whistle in D). The thing about a B-flat instrument like GHB is great to play with other GHBs, but doesn't play well with other instruments in sessions.

If you are thinking of using the Highland Hornpipe to practice for highland pipes, your time is better spent with a practice chanter as it better simulates the pressures needed to properly operate GHB.

Beloitpiper raised an interesting idea in mentioning the bombarde, but that isn't really an indoor instrument.......just too darn loud unless you're in a *huge* room. Also, the bombarde fingers differently from the pipes, has an extended range (octave and a half) with chromatics and has no thumb hole. He mentions the bagad and to get an idea of how they sound check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra3EY0yOEgY Also used in bagads are breton clarinets (trejeunn gaol) which have only 9 keys.

**beowulf67** · 27th February 07, 06:28 AM

Thanks for all the input.
I was interested in this because I love the music and think this would be a pretty cool way to get into it. I would like to learn the pipes as well, but honestly don't ever plan on being in a pipe band or anything like that. More of a personal thing. Plus I have a sax and this sort of looks like an extension of that type of playing, in a way.

I was thinking the hornpipe would be cool to learn and maybe sit in with some local bands or something at some point. Right now I'm working on learning some songs on my guitar for the same reason.

**beloitpiper** · 27th February 07, 08:31 AM

If you're thinking of sitting in with some local bands, the hornpipe may not be the best fit. As wgority pointed it, it's probably better to just get a chanter instead.

**beowulf67** · 27th February 07, 11:18 AM

Well they are celtic/ Irish bands not pipe bands if that makes a difference. Thanks for the input though, I'm considering all my options.

**MadBagpiper** · 3rd March 07, 07:42 PM

I have seen the highland hornpipe at a couple highland games and online. It's baisically just a practice chanter in many different pitches that uses a saxaphone mouthpiece and reed. It is played the exact same as a GHB but the volume can be controlled and it has a jazzy style sound to it so it's an intresting instrument all together.