Na Píobairí Uilleann

Chairman, NPU

An Píobaire

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8 5 26 20121206 26 ~ Obituary ~ LANFRANCO PIERACCINI O N SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, 2011 we lost our dear friend and piper, Lanfranco Pieraccini, to cancer. Born and raised in Italy, he was not only a great lover of Celtic music, but a fine, kindhearted man of infinite talent and curiosity. A gifted musician, he was also a jack of all trades, with an incredible storehouse of knowl- edge, a creative and versatile mind and a sense of humour all of his own. His last will and testament was found shortly after his death and in it he bequeathed his splendid, full set of Uilleann Pipes, built by Charles Roberts, to Na Píobairí Uilleann in the hopes that this cher- ished instrument will be played by someone in the future. He also left Na Píobairí Uilleann an etch- ing of a piper by Dürer. As a very young man, Lanfranco was given a guitar by his sister and, from this moment on, a great passion for music was born in his heart. Since his widowed mother could not afford music lessons for him, he taught him- self to play a great number of instruments. Somehow it came naturally and easily to him to play whatever fell into his hands. At the time of his passing, he had more than 100 dif- ferent musical instruments, many of them typical to traditional Irish music, in his small home in Barberino di Mugello, north of Flo- rence. Thanks to Agnese, a dear friend, these instruments have now nearly all found a home where they will continue to be played. Knowing that the instruments which he treas- ured will continue to live and make music is a great source of comfort to those he left be- hind. From when he was quite young, Lanfranco loved Celtic music and Irish music in particular. His great wish was to learn to play the uilleann pipes and he would listen to the music of the great Celtic pipers as he travelled through Europe in the Re- nault Estafette van which he himself had turned into a beautiful little camper. Together with his best friend, Marco, also a lover of all things Irish, he learned to make his own reeds and to play his first pieces on a half set he managed to purchase. In 1995, he fulfilled his great dream of owning and playing upon a finely crafted full set of pipes. Lanfranco was known for his kindness, his help- ful and generous nature and his keen mind. He is sorely missed by all those who knew and loved him. Sabra Vidali Lanfranco Pieraccini December 24, 1953 - November 12, 2011 Lanfranco Pieraccini Sabra Vidali

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