An introduction to Northumbrian smallpipes

[@vinny142]

You have to rub your belly, pat your head, flip a pancake and hoover the bedroom all at the same time. God how I admire people who can do this stuff, I get confused in a revolving door!

[@robertquinn8210]

Thank you, Vinny142, good response. And thank you, Ms Tickell, good introduction.

[@JohnLeePettimoreIII]

Well said! 😄

[@markharvey7988]

Hahaha! Prior to moving down here to comment I was thinking much the same thing. Makes learning to play any other instrument child's play!

[@awayaymugye]

Me too. When I'm around people who play instruments, make things etc. I feel like my knuckles are scraping the floor.

[@TheWanderfound]

That sort of multitasking seems to be a Northumbrian specialty. I once saw a Northumbrian folkie who was singing one tune, playing a harmonising-but-different tune with the bow on her fiddle, while simultaneously plucking a third contrasting tune on the fiddle strings with her left hand.

[@KowboyUSA]

Learned more about bagpipes in less than 4 minutes than in the rest of my entire life.

[@alfnoakes392]

Wonderful musicianship. . A family of instruments that owes its worldwide existence to the fact that shepherds have had a lot of time, and dead sheep, on their hands over the millennia.

[@backalleycqc4790]

"Billy! Those dead sheep are not going to make a bagpipe themselves overnight, get to it, laddy'"

[@mountainhun]

@@backalleycqc4790 Och, but I dinnae want ta play the pipes, can't I just sew it up and play football?

[@releasekracklin4538]

Wow....lol

[@releasekracklin4538]

Love the history background.

[@1johnnygunn]

And the crusades brought piping to Europe, at least according to some theorists.

[@Bryan-jm4uc]

As soon as she started playing I got goosebumps. Legendary

[@neatchipops3428]

...and if you'd been in the room, you'd have watery eyes too... and not (just) from emotion... possibly other physical distresses as well. ; )

[@laughingbuddha1709]

I have to admit, when I a saw "Northumbrian smallpipes" I thought it was something we should all be vaccinated against. It was a lovely sound, thanks for sharing!

[@jamiegalbraith4874]

I am fucking dead at this comment 😂😂😂

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

Yo don't even joke, my mom got the 'smallpipes and she's never been the same since 😂

[@carolinej3661]

LOLOL!!!

[@Zoidberg227]

@@jamiegalbraith4874 Well, you wouldn't be dead if you'd had your smallpipe vaccination, now would you??

[@WgCdrLuddite]

I imagined Georgie children running mob-handed to pick your pockets.

[@catalogodefantasmas]

I was there in Durham's cathedral when you were playing the Northumbrian smallpipe and the fiddle as well. Was one of the best moments in my life. Thank you, Madame Tickell. You are a magnificent artist.

[@David-qy9vd]

I am from Durham but don’t live there anymore. I wish I could have been there to witness that!

[@professorlegacy]

When she says "One of the things that's fascinating about bagpipes" and she flairs her fingers and smiles, I know she absolutely means it 👍🔥

[@sablatnic8030]

And she is right! I'm always fascinated by things I don't know!

[@FlatlandMando]

The beauty of this kind of pipe is you could sing too. No matter, your pipe- playing is very expressive with or without singing.

[@azmike1956]

I came for the pipes but stayed for her. What a sweet young lady!💕

[@samuelmarlow1969]

Oh she is rather lovely I must agree!! 😁🥰

[@Labroidas]

This sounds absolutely lovey. Bagpipes need to come more into focus again in the international music scene in my opinion, they absolutely have the potential. Such a strong, clear, honest, humble though self-confident sound, and at the same time mellow and sweet, like a lyrical baritone or dark tenor. Really nice.

[@Kaiser_Murphy]

This is absolutely beautiful in every way.

[@anonagain]

My cats normally despise bagpipes and act very disturbed when they hear them, but they love the Northumbrian pipes and seem very soothed by the sound. Thanks.

[@RobMacKendrick]

Most cats are English. Little-known fact.

[@goodun2974]

I had a huge Shrpherd mix who would howl like the Hound of the Baskervilles whenever he heard bagpipes, harmonica, or saxophone. It was like some kind of canine Tuvan throat singing, like he was channeling his wolf ancestors.

[@patrickcannady2066]

bagpipes are no more inherently loud and shrill than they are a military instrument. stop thinking Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes = BAGPIPES, period, because it just isn't so.

[@bigl6322]

RobMacKendrick..... oh shit, I thought they were all Egyptian with the cleopatra attitudes...lol

[@michaelemory552]

Domestic cats, domestic smallpipes. Below is mention of Tuvan throat singing. I taught myself styles of singing and as I lay singing on the floor my cat would settle on my chest purring. We also napped together in a tree.

[@aaronag7876]

Wow amazing instrument. When you did the scales at the start, it sounded electronic but then the bellos playing the bass line tone, was such an amazing vibration in my headphones. Thank you for sharing how this works and the terminology for each part.

[@macsen55LoneWolf]

Beautiful Kathryn, the best Northumbrian piper!

[@eliofistarol8479]

Hey Kathryn I really love your bagpipe playing. After hearing the thing you played at 1:50, I thought that the bagpipe timber and sound would really fit modern fusion jazz. The sound would really be great for those roaring synth solos (compare to Cory Henry's solo on Snarky Puppy's Song Lingus). I think you could come up with some amazing stuff and introduce your wonderful instrument to the rich and wonderful world of contemporary Fusion. It might not be your repertoire but i think it is most definitely worth a try!!

[@LearnRunes]

Thanks for teaching the world about this little known instrument.

[@intelligenthomeonline2834]

Something reaches into your soul when you listen to the pipes. Love it, and thanks for introducing me to the Northumbrian ones.

[@PhilKelley]

What a brilliant idea - pipes that allow you to accompany yourself while singing. Strange that other folks did not catch on. Blowing up the bag by blowing into it makes no sense, once you have seen this. Thanks for a very illuminating video.

[@woodywoods5373]

Beautiful instrument,beautiful woman, I can watch you play for hours, your also very talented. Thank you for sharing your instrument I've never heard or seen one. Thanks again.:-)

[@lifeinlimbo2186]

I wish you could have played forever. Lovely and beautiful sound. Lovely and beautiful musicianship. And,yes,a lovely and beautiful piper.

[@rickb9238]

I really like the tone of those pipes. I’ve never seen or heard those pipes before, thank you.👍👍

[@ethanpiersonjohn]

Oh my - it is such a sweet sounding instrument! I love pipes.

[@lesleyd41]

Seen Kathryn tickell a few times....always excellent.

[@raycope2086]

Grand Kathryn. I've enjoyed listening to you over the years and I still do. It blows my tiny wee mind when you explain the mechanics of it all though. You look just as lovely as ever pet. I wish you rainbows.

[@philspinner4638]

I'm a soft Southern you know what but have always loved Johnny Handle and the High Level Ranters. My late brother and I bought everything they ever released. Now I can't get enough of Kathryn Tickell. Seen both live and love the pipes. Who wouldn't.

[@robbiekipping1124]

What magic you weave. Thank you for the love you find and give in your music. Dr. K

[@mseifried5]

Oh yes she taught me a lot about the pipes. I've always wanted to learn to play them. Ms. Tickell, you are absoulutley gorgeous! Thanks

[@marcillioficino4663]

What a fascinating instrument.

[@rrss5497]

Don't know which I love more, Lovely Kathryn and her touch on the pipes, or the sound of the pipes themselves....sure, its Kathryn, then. Cheers, then!

[@Zauberbratsche]

As a string player (violin/viola) I was quite impressed that you have a way to effectively do vibrato on your pipes!

[@Phil-ww1dv]

Thank you for teaching me how these Northumbrian - smallpipes operate.

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Excellent overview of the instrument. Very interesting.

[@eddierayvanlynch6133]

Excellent!!! I and yon neighbors found this bonnie lass thoroughly enchanting. 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@leoburns9674]

What a lovely talent, with soft, efficient hands and a great ear… effortless execution and comfort on a great set of pipes! 😊👍

[@jonstarbird8484]

The Northumbrian pipes sound much cleaner and melodic than any other pipes I have heard.

[@boboala1]

No they don't! Not true!

[@jonstarbird8484]

@@boboala1 Of course it true what the fek are you on?

[@jimksa67]

Very touching to hear a woman of depth Cheers from Canada

[@TheEleventeen]

Thank you Ms. Kathryn Tickell for this wonderful video ! It made my day.

[@stlev99]

Reminds of uileann pipes but has an even sweeter sound. First time I've heard it. Fantastic. Thank you

[@andrewwigglesworth3030]

@Urien Rheged No. The Northumbrian Smallpipes were developed from the early modern period, reaching their modern setup (with keys) in the early 19th century. They developed from earlier bagpipes with the influence of French bagpipes (not so unusual) as parlour pipes. Bagpipes were common all over Britain.

[@SONGSTICKS]

I mc'd for Kathryn and Lynn Tocker many moons ago at the Chelmsford YMCA Folk club. Bloody marvelous then and still Bloody marvelous !! Love the Northumbrian pipes.

[@larry-naylor]

The elbow pipes have a sound all of their own. They're mellow and moving and incredibly beautiful.

[@petermoore8811]

was looking for uilleann pipes but glad i seen this. Never knew about these pipes. Reminds me of Tudor music. Wonderful sound.

[@kevinmatthews9469]

You are so beautiful when you play those pipes. I loved it.

[@tony5535]

Thank you for making me cry and miss home.

[@seaghanobuadhaigh8240]

I remember this lady being on TV when she was a schoolgirl. It was some kind of programme about people with unusual hobbies. The only other one I remember was Geoff Capes - an exhibition budgie breeder.

[@wulfocrow5549]

exhibition budgie breeder, what a hobby.

[@pegjames188]

Budgie breeder and Olympic shot putter.

[@hoilst]

@@pegjames188 Seaghan kinda buried the lede with that one...or did he?

[@mrbassman7184]

Wow. I just heard this sound in a song that I recognized from Sting’s fantastic record The Soul Cages, and as I had that one on my CD shelf right next to me, I decided to look in the credits to figure out what the name of that instrument could be. I thought it could be this one, so I went here to youtube to find out. This video was the first one that came up. And sure, it was correct. Even the name of the musician was the same. 🤩 Amazing playing on that record! 👏

[@kevinhendryx665]

Kathryn's recordings are never far from our stereo! A great musician and person and the veritable Queen of Pipers!

[@patrickcannady2066]

she is a fantastic piper, no doubt. I've always liked her music.

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Lovely, simply lovely...and the pipes were nice too!

[@rileybeach3984]

I'm currently learning the Great Highland Bagpipes on an indoor practice set. I quite adore the Northumbrian smallpipes and hope to get a set of them someday. I really appreciate you giving a demonstration with the fingers, as I've never been able to find a finger chart for the Northumbrian smallpipes. It doesn't look that complex for people who've played other woodwinds, which I have.

[@pdavide1]

Kathryn thanks for sharing this. I've often wondered what makes Northumbrian's different from other small pipes. I have "Debateable Lands" and it's one of my favorite's.

[@davidgoodwin7269]

Thanks Kathryn. Great to see you spreading the word, and the music.

[@TheRick8866]

Beautiful music and a beautiful lady

[@OrdinaryDude]

Very cool. I never knew those existed. Beautiful!

[@lastup4170]

Your lovely voice is music to my ears.

[@Haramyst]

Very informative and appreciate your talent. But i had to watch it twice, distracted as I was by your charm and stiking beauty. Give us fellows a moment to catch up!

[@kevingrime5772]

Excellent!! One of the main feature of this type of pipe is the player can also SING!! essential in small community gatherings passing on what is " local history" to those descendants who could not write or read.

[@NoWayOut55]

Really Amazing! I play, not particularly well, a number of instruments. I'd love a chance to play the pipes, unique,(to us Americans) stringed instruments and the like. Incredible at what our humans have put together through the ages. And not even a handful has any clue of today. Thank You for a great morning wake up!❤

[@steveforster9764]

Kathryn a lovely Northumbrian lass

[@allanwells4886]

Love the sound. A mate of mine, here in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains of NSW, makes (and plays) the Irish elbow pipes; they sound amazing as well. Ian's mate Dicky Deegan works magic on the things.

[@stuartburgess2409]

A haunting melody on an unusual instrument ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@carlmildner859]

wonderful intro to the small pipes . Thank you Kathryn

[@jacklucas2428]

when you actually started playing it made my eyes well up

[@georgemorley1029]

That’s because they are.

[@davidharrison6615]

they are such a gentle sound . wonderful . thank god I trace my roots back 700 years in this amazing part of the world . thank you .

[@brianobrien595]

It's a lovely sound and thanks for explaining how the instrument works. Georgious mellow sound.

[@mixolydian2010]

I dont think i have heard these before and they are the prettiest sounding ones i have heard and a lovely little tune too. Cheers

[@mariaclark9751]

I’m from the north east of England and these pipes are so of the north. Celtic monastic hardship wild country side. I’m proud of the north and its history and these pipes reflect the north. Thank you 😊👏🙏

[@ÆthelwulfOfNordHymbraLand2333]

They reflect Scottish/Gaelic incursion. These instruments have no place in England.

[@TheIanoTube]

Came here from the opening song in The Wicker Man (1973). Great sound

[@DarrenSangita]

Thank you for sharing such a succinct introduction to this mysterious instrument, at least to those of us that don’t know about it. Enjoyed one of your compositions on Radio 3 this morning and having such a marvellous time enjoying your works online. Thank you for your dedication to music and the instrument and being such an incredible player. ❤️🙏🏾🌏

[@tombarnes7846]

Grand artistry through a superb medium--your heart comes through the instrument so well.

[@rayfarrell9444]

There’s a lovely tone to that particular brand of N pipes as we’d call them. Very hard to replicate with Scottish haggis pipes. There a different class.

[@patrickcannady2066]

Vastly different instruments made for vastly different purposes. It's like comparing a rustic, medieval shawm to modern oboe. Superficially similar, yes, but...you get the idea.

[@Marialla.]

Very interesting! Excellent demonstration.

[@ruwn561]

Love from newcastle, love the Northumbrian pipes.

[@robertjohnson161]

Utterly charming. Thank you.

[@finolaomurchu8217]

Beautiful, very very nice.☘🧚‍♂️🇮🇪

[@TrailTrek]

Very informative, thank you very much for taking the time to upload. Great watch, keep playing.

[@katieMarie2022]

Just beautiful. Well done!

[@feiseldad]

I tip my cap to you, Kathryn. Very well done! and beautiful sound.

[@cholulahotsauce6166]

What a wonderful clear sound.

[@carausiuscaesar5672]

Simply splendid music lassie-from a Scottish fan.

[@enzedbrit]

why aye! Scots and Geordies are the same, marra!

[@Treeman196]

Saw this lady over 20 years ago in Winchester she captivated me then as well beautiful northern lass

[@jerryarcher6916]

I love hearing the pipes play...my favorite song is Molly Ban.

[@timallen6025]

Fabulous sound(s) and walk through of just how what and when.. thank you

[@LokiDWolf]

Beautiful visual. Beautiful voice. Beautiful sound. Thank you for such loveliness and daydream. Felt like flying over a field of green. :)

[@ironpirate8]

Brilliant, love the haunting sound. No tubes full of spittle, that's a bonus!

[@AnTiThesis-HaT-HoT]

Enchanting, dreamy, evocative and spectacular all at once!

[@bengrillet]

Still looking gorgeous, pet. Saw you perform quite a few years ago at the Canterbury festival, not long after you recorded that absolutely beautiful accompaniment with Sting

[@Khamomil]

Lovely instrument. The lady played a beautiful vibrato I didn't know could be achieved.

[@jamesbond4633]

Thats great. Didn't realize how the drone worked and you have to tune it on the fly. Lovely sound!!!

[@susandoerr3896]

thank you for sharing your beautiful small pipes which sure gave a wonderful sound. I would buy all the instuments if I could and give them to someone else to play. lovely all these beautiful sounds and the talent that made it partly possible.

[@BinkyTheElf1]

So evocative. It’s like the music of souls made audible.

[@jonnyroxx7172]

Binks Webelf Interesting that you should say that. Check out the song “Island of Souls” by Sting.

[@ssmith954]

Fascinating -- and what an absolutely beautiful sound! Thanks for sharing!

[@rogerbrooks8275]

Glad I came across this. I’ve always liked listening to the pipes, but never knew what the pipes I now know to be drones were doing. Brilliant!

[@eezyclsmooth9035]

Wonderful video ! You are very talented not only in music but speaking as well. Very enlightening video , thank you.

[@neilfoddering921]

Fascinating and charmingly presented.

a lovely display by a lovely lass thanx for that ..quite wonderful actually ...:)

[@guloguloguy]

WOW!!!!!!!! THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE SOUNDING INSTRUMENT!!! THANKS FOR THAT DEMONSTRATION, AND EXPLANATION!!! ;D

[@flatbedhaulingwithscottn6111]

I’m going to Scotland this summer to look at some land to purchase. Me and my wife and retiring there. She Scottish and I’ve feel in love with the culture. Home sweet home!!.

[@enzedbrit]

That's great, but this is Geordie, Northumbrian, i.e. the north east of England.

[@garynarborough]

I really enjoyed this. Thanks for the detailed explanation and the tune. I've really become interested in the different types of pipes and their evocative music. Thanks again Kathryn.

[@jimgamble2429]

Beautiful tune played by a beautiful woman.... simple.

[@MaevynStone]

So beautiful! Thank you for sharing how these work!!!

[@felixreali7101]

Thanks for sharing this. So nice to get the details on these lovely instruments.