Jack Armstrong (piper)
Encyclopedia
Jack Armstrong was an influential performer on the Northumbrian smallpipes
.
Born in Wideopen
, North Tyneside
, five miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne
, in 1904. He and his father, both coal miners, worked at Dinnington
colliery, but Jack managed to get a job as a chauffeur shortly after World War I
. In 1926 Jack married, and he was living at Skipton
in North Yorkshire when he taught himself to play the pipes. His style, influenced by his father's playing, was steady and controlled; he favoured slow airs, which he played on a set of pipes with a rich, resonant tone. This style was in contrast to the faster, more obviously 'clever' playing of Tom Clough
and his followers, exemplified by Jack's friend and contemporary, Billy Pigg
.
In 1948 Jack was made official piper to the Duke of Northumberland
. He held the post for many years. During the 1950s Jack made many recordings, with his band The Barnstormers, and solo, as well as many broadcasts for the BBC.
He taught himself to make pipes, and the reeds he made brought him a degree of international fame: they were used by Burl Ives
, who occasionally accompanied himself on Northumbrian pipes. Ives invited Armstrong to Hollywood, where they made an LP of music composed by Leonard Bernstein
. Jack passed on his pipe making skills to the next generation of instrument makers.
Northumbrian smallpipes
The Northumbrian smallpipes are bellows-blown bagpipes from the North East of England.In a survey of the bagpipes in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford University, the organologist Anthony Baines wrote: It is perhaps the most civilized of the bagpipes, making no attempt to go farther than the...
.
Born in Wideopen
Wideopen
Wideopen is a village located in the administrative Borough of North Tyneside, north of Gosforth and six miles from Newcastle upon Tyne city centre. The village name written as one word is in widespread local use and appears on signage at either end of the village, but the alternative form of Wide...
, North Tyneside
North Tyneside
The Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England and is part of the Tyneside conurbation. Its seat is Wallsend Town Hall....
, five miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, in 1904. He and his father, both coal miners, worked at Dinnington
Dinnington, Tyne and Wear
Dinnington is a village and civil parish in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. It is about north of the city centre, near Newcastle International Airport...
colliery, but Jack managed to get a job as a chauffeur shortly after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1926 Jack married, and he was living at Skipton
Skipton
Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
in North Yorkshire when he taught himself to play the pipes. His style, influenced by his father's playing, was steady and controlled; he favoured slow airs, which he played on a set of pipes with a rich, resonant tone. This style was in contrast to the faster, more obviously 'clever' playing of Tom Clough
Tom Clough
Tom Clough , known as 'The Prince of Pipers', was an English player of the Northumbrian pipes, or Northumbrian smallpipes. He had studied the instrument with the noted piper Thomas Todd, and from his own father Henry Clough...
and his followers, exemplified by Jack's friend and contemporary, Billy Pigg
Billy Pigg
Billy Pigg was an English player of Northumbrian smallpipes. He was a Vice-President and an influential member of the Northumbrian Pipers Society from 1930 until his death.-Life and music:...
.
In 1948 Jack was made official piper to the Duke of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland
The Duke of Northumberland is a title in the peerage of Great Britain that has been created several times. Since the third creation in 1766, the title has belonged to the House of Percy , which held the title of Earl of Northumberland from 1377....
. He held the post for many years. During the 1950s Jack made many recordings, with his band The Barnstormers, and solo, as well as many broadcasts for the BBC.
He taught himself to make pipes, and the reeds he made brought him a degree of international fame: they were used by Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
, who occasionally accompanied himself on Northumbrian pipes. Ives invited Armstrong to Hollywood, where they made an LP of music composed by Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
. Jack passed on his pipe making skills to the next generation of instrument makers.
Recordings
- FARNE (Folk Archive Resource North East) website includes several recordings featuring Jack Armstrong's playing