Celtic Woman Forum

Everything Else => Celtic Culture => Topic started by: Penny on March 05, 2020, 09:02:49 AM

Title: Uilliean pipe or hurdy-gurdy?
Post by: Penny on March 05, 2020, 09:02:49 AM
Does anyone have any tips in telling an uillean pipe and a hurdy-gurdy apart from each other? I’m studying Afro-Celt Sound System’s “Release” as part of my set work for GCSE music and none of my friends can tell the difference.
Title: Re: Uilliean pipe or hurdy-gurdy?
Post by: GlenS on March 05, 2020, 03:35:52 PM
Hi Penny i had never heard of a hurdy gurdy till today and when i went and looked it up i noticed that yes it sounds alot like the pipes but i did notice the clunking sound in the back ground of them changing notes and also the Pipe is much louder I guess thats because it's a wind Instrument vers a string Instrument and with the Pipe you can make a note flutter plus you can hear the big difference when they lift the pipe off there leg where thats not able with the Hurdy hope this helps. Hope your enjoying your time here
Title: Re: Uilliean pipe or hurdy-gurdy?
Post by: PiperBoy on March 09, 2020, 02:06:47 PM
Hi Penny,

For me, the hurdy-gurdy evokes a cello or fiddle more (though a rather percussive one). I like to listen for the sound of the buttons especially around the embellishments. I'm terribly not familiar with "Release" and it's arrangement so I don't know if it would be possible to hear something that specific.

There's probably a technical term for it, but there's something about the sound quality of some of the notes of the pipes that makes them stand out for me. Also they have some rather specific embellishments like the pop that Glen was talking about.

I'd say if you're struggling to tell the difference, the best way of getting to know the difference is just to listen to both a lot and get a sense of how your own ear distinguishes them.