Na Píobairí Uilleann

Chairman, NPU

An Píobaire

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7 2 22 20110510 22 few play a range of other instruments, and may only have added the pipes to their professional armoury for their exotic value. The pipers ap- pear often in the context of (non-Irish) musi- cal or theatrical performances by others. Some of the pipers are identified in the news- papers as being from Ireland, and some indi- cation of their performances are given. Examples are: • ‘Previous to the ball, Mr. Curran, a cele- brated performer, lately from Ireland, will play several national airs on the union pipes.’ (City Hotel, Broadway, New York, 1808) 44 [This is the earliest nineteenth- century reference to an Irish piper in Amer- ica found in the database searched.] • ‘Mr. E. Reynolds has just arrived in town, late from Ireland, and has brought with him an improved instrument of music; much celebrated for its soft and pleasing tones, called the Irish union pipes… the novelty of the instrument, and the masterly style of Mr. R.’s performance, cannot fail to please. This is the only instrument of the kind ever in this town …’ (Museum, Boylston Hall, Boston, 1812); 45 ‘Mr. Edward Raynolds [recte Reynolds], late from Dublin… per- forming on the Irish union pipes… would be happy to attend any party or private fam- ily, if requested... Mr. R. (who is esteemed the most celebrated performer on said in- strument in America) can at any time be en- gaged…’ (Boston, 1812) 46 • ‘A Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music… Carolan’s celebrated ancient Irish melody, of Honora, My Thousand Treas- ures; and Kitty of Colerain, performed on the union pipes and violin, by Mess. O’Hara and Curphew…’ (Union Hotel, William St, New York, 1813) 47 [Charles P.F. O’Hara, a composer, music teacher and multi-instrumentalist, who had ‘resided many years in the west of Ireland’, published in New York in 1813 The Gen- tleman’s Musical Repository; being a sel- ection from the ancient and modern music of Erin, and several original pieces by the compiler; adapted to the violin, flute, flag- eolet, hautboy and union pipes. 48 He had canvassed for subscriptions for this publi- cation in New York newspapers in 1812.] • ‘Mr. Hanys, lately arrived in this city from Cork, will perform at the Museum this evening on the improved Irish pipe. The novelty of this instrument, and being the only one ever in this city, it is presumed will give general satisfaction. He will per- form a great variety of the most popular airs, of the latest European publications.’ (American Museum, New York Institution, New York, 1817) 49 Other named performers on the union etc. pipes are not explicitly identified as Irish, al- though they seem likely to be: • ‘Mr. Clarke will perform on the violin and union pipes, and by particular desire will play the favorite air of Grand Mama…’ (Green Cottage, Providence, Rhode Island, 1821). 50 [An Irish piper Patrick Clarke, noted by Francis O’Neill as being in Bal- larat, Victoria, Australia, in 1865, may have been a connection.] 51 • ‘Mr. Denny, the celebrated performer on the patent union pipes and violin, will per- form during the races… Mr. Denny will The New England Palladium, Boston, 6 Mar. 1812

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2011-04-24T00:00:00

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