Electronic bagpipes
Encyclopedia
The electronic bagpipes are an electronic instrument emulating the tone and/or playing style of the bagpipes
. Most electronic bagpipe emulators feature a simulated chanter
, which is used to play the melody. Some models also produce a harmonizing drone
(s). Some variants employ a simulated bag, wherein the player's pressure on the bag activates a switch maintaining a constant tone.
Electronic bagpipes are produced to replicate various types of bagpipes from around the world, including the Scottish Great Highland bagpipe
, Spanish gaita
, French cornemuse, Italian zampogna
and Swedish sackpipa.
Around the same time when Hevia invented an electronic bagpipe emulator for his personal use some providers offered their own designs of practice chanters. The best-known products are the Electronic Bagpipe Chanter from Degerpipes and the Fagerstrom Technopipes.
In 2005 the German Rolf Jost invented an electronic bagpipe including a pressure-sensitive "bag", which has since been produced under the brand-name redpipes, in varieties emulating various bagpipes.
, Gaelic Storm
, Red Hot Chili Pipers, Furunkulus, The Dangleberries, Seer
, Peter Purvis, Hevia
, and Konan.
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
. Most electronic bagpipe emulators feature a simulated chanter
Chanter
The chanter is the part of the bagpipe upon which the player creates the melody. It consists of a number of finger-holes, and in its simpler forms looks similar to a recorder...
, which is used to play the melody. Some models also produce a harmonizing drone
Drone (music)
In music, a drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece. The word drone is also used to refer to any part of a musical instrument that is just used to produce such an effect.-A musical effect:A drone...
(s). Some variants employ a simulated bag, wherein the player's pressure on the bag activates a switch maintaining a constant tone.
Electronic bagpipes are produced to replicate various types of bagpipes from around the world, including the Scottish Great Highland bagpipe
Great Highland Bagpipe
The Great Highland Bagpipe is a type of bagpipe native to Scotland. It has achieved widespread recognition through its usage in the British military and in pipe bands throughout the world. It is closely related to the Great Irish Warpipes....
, Spanish gaita
Gaita
Gaita may refer to:Musical instruments*Various types of bagpipes common to Spain and Portugal such as:** Gaita asturiana, a bagpipe used in the Spanish provinces of Asturias, northern León and western Cantabria...
, French cornemuse, Italian zampogna
Zampogna
Zampogna is a generic term for a number of Italian double chantered pipes that can be found as far north as the southern part of the Marche, throughout areas in Abruzzo, Latium, Molise, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, and Sicily...
and Swedish sackpipa.
History
The history of electronic bagpipes began around the year 2000 with the electronic bagpipe emulator invented by the Spanish bagpipe player José Ángel Hevia Velasco, the software engineer Alberto Arias and the technician Miguel Dopico.Around the same time when Hevia invented an electronic bagpipe emulator for his personal use some providers offered their own designs of practice chanters. The best-known products are the Electronic Bagpipe Chanter from Degerpipes and the Fagerstrom Technopipes.
In 2005 the German Rolf Jost invented an electronic bagpipe including a pressure-sensitive "bag", which has since been produced under the brand-name redpipes, in varieties emulating various bagpipes.
Artists using electronic bagpipes
Since electronic bagpipes have got their own designs or often do resemble the original instruments very much they can be seen on stages increasingly often. Bands and musicians playing electronic bagpipes include EluveitieEluveitie
Eluveitie is a folk metal band from Winterthur, Switzerland. The band formed in 2002 and their first EP, Vên came out in 2003. The band then released a full-length album, Spirit in June 2006. In November 2007, Eluveitie was signed by Nuclear Blast....
, Gaelic Storm
Gaelic Storm
Gaelic Storm is a Celtic band. Their music includes traditional Irish music, Scottish music, and original tunes in both the Celtic and Celtic rock genres...
, Red Hot Chili Pipers, Furunkulus, The Dangleberries, Seer
Seer
Seer or Seers or SEER may refer to:Predicting the future* A clairvoyant, prophet, oracle, or diviner* The Seer , a fictional character on the television series Charmed...
, Peter Purvis, Hevia
Hevia
José Ángel Hevia Velasco, known professionally as Hevia , is a Spaniard bagpiper – specifically, an Asturian gaita player. He commonly performs with his sister, Maria José, on drums...
, and Konan.