The arrival of the Queen of Sheba / Padraig McGovern

The arrival of the Queen of Sheba, instrumental piece / Padraig McGovern, uilleann pipes.
Recorded in Armagh Cathedral, 14 November 2015.
CID: 232054
ITMA field recordings of the William Kennedy Piping Festival, November 2015.
For more see www.itma.ie/dig...

[@bobpegritz555]

What some people may not know is that you can play this piece on the organ. Padraig is playing the PEDAL part of the tune with the REGULATORS. This isn't difficult. This is impossible. Somewhere, Liam O'Flynn is smiling.

[@Happyheart146]

Exactly! It's pure joy!

[@pgm3]

For the uninitiated, that is a definitive performance of a difficult piece. Mr. McGovern rocks.

[@Happyheart146]

Just pure JOY! Now if you know a piper (who's played for 62 years) and he tells you, that's the best bit of piping he's heard, you can pretty much confirm, it's the best bit of piping you'll ever hear. Thank you to Larry x

[@jobaxiao]

Mindblowing! Not only: - a) adapting a melody with a range that spans nearly 3 octaves for a chanter that is only 2 octaves; - b) playing in 3 keys, G, D & C with lots of accidental notes to contend with in each key; - c) providing flawless note perfect harmonically accurate accompaniment in said 3 keys with the regulators; - d) doing all the above at breathtaking speed, accuracy and apparent ease !! Phenomenal and Inspiring !

[@brendanmckenna8007]

Absolutely stunning! I'd love to hear this live!

[@paulflute]

you said it.. saved me writing it out.. best regulator action i've ever seen

[@HaraldFinster]

Can't agree more. I (attempt to) play the pipes myself and would have thought that this beautiful piece is impossible to play on them.

[@Happyheart146]

Just phenomenal. The most amazing thing I've ever seen or heard! And your explanation just explained what I knew was the impossible. Yip, mind blown! Edit: the Devil's piper.

[@josephofaolain1192]

It's a hard tune to play on any instrument. Thanks for your expert explanation because I'd have thought, also, that the pipes wouldn't have had the range for it. That man really did his homework.

[@johngrier9823]

Utmost respect to Padraig for performing this,......absolutely superb !!!

[@mikiesmyth]

Well done Padraig, I'm delighted this has been posted, I've been trying to describe your performance to people who were not lucky enough to be there in person, words simply aren't sufficient! pure genius!

[@alexbarrass4252]

Surely one of the most innovative adaptations and perfomances in musical history. Simply astounding. There should be a Nobel prize for musical genius, and he should get it!

[@luxlucis01]

Absolutely amazing. Awesome. Beautiful.

[@piperbob2]

Who needs a whole orchestra ? Just ask for Padraig !

[@peterholsters5640]

OMG! That's a most stunning performance, what a talent! Haendel is dancing on his grave!

[@larrydonlon113]

That's great playing Padraig

[@dcartier1692]

As per usual - Padraig has got a Handel on it!

[@jkjThys]

The most amazing piece of music I had the good fortune of witnessing in person last year. The most talked about concert of the 2015 William Kennedy Piping Festival. Absolutely fabulous.

[@HornForHire]

Incredible! Padraig is one of the best pipers ever! Hup!

[@mikiesmyth]

Just can not get enough of this!

[@PeterLyons]

Brilliant playing of this well known classical piece, complete mastery of the pipes. Very well done.

[@seamuscharles9028]

WOW Padraig Nuclear Fusion of the Queen into Sheba HAPPY NEW 2022 hope to listen to you in Person must send this on to a few trad heads

[@paulanderson8143]

Utter magic. Handel would be proud....

[@yorganyog]

Gezzzzz man.... I was stressed just too look!!!!!! How hard!!!!! So complex!!!! But.... so beautiful!!!! I identify my self more with irish culture than portuguese, musically speaking. This is so powerfull!!!

[@PDarcy]

Monster!

[@eoinoriabhaigh8186]

Bizarre. Well done Padraig

[@larryprivett3917]

AWESOME piping Padraig!!

[@QueerOkie]

Quite honestly the last piece I would’ve thought about playing on the pipes! How wonderfully imaginative and how absolutely beautiful!

[@aliceharding1]

That is absolutely Fabulous..

[@ITMAVideos]

Hi Jim, thanks so much for letting us know you enjoyed the performance. We'd really love if you would subscribe to the ITMA Channel for more great videos to come. Thanks!

[@esenaboxaki]

Wow! Bravo 👏👏👏

[@jpfarrell66]

Stumbled across this but all I can say is fantastic 👏

[@petermerbeth1067]

just brilliant piping, thank you Padraig !

[@cm4099]

AMazing - wonderful!

[@cwilde]

Talk about "in all their glory" .... the instrument, fully realized here. Fabulous. Just perfect!

[@eoinduignan1019]

Brilliant piping. What a treat ?/////////

[@ceoliamusic]

Wow! This is magic!

[@BLOLite]

Beautiful, what a lot of subtle harmonies weaving in and out.

[@brendan8233]

Unbelievable. Another level of piping . I have never heard any other piper attempt this, truly groundbreaking.

[@BOLLOKYBIL]

Absolutely fantastic outstanding altogether

[@runeulriksen]

This is uilleann-piping at it's very best! Padraig McGovern, you are the best piper, I've ever heard!!

[@javiceltandes8318]

Thank U for this Brave step in opening the possibilities for this Amazing instrument!!! All the Best from a Southern Galician and Asturian Bagpiper! Q;oD.

[@sionrouse]

lovely regs, sir!

[@flanum]

wow, beautiful, the pipes sound class in the cathedral. brilliant.

[@patrickmcsweeney1536]

Outstanding. You'd think it was composed for the pipes.

[@paulr6127]

I am amazed at the intricacy, range and beautiful coordination of this piece on this instrument! Absolutely gorgeous! Bravo!

[@MrVirgo54]

Oh Gosh! A Miracle! Absolutely Beautiful!

[@dencar777]

Absolutely Amazing Padraig

[@Uaigneach78]

Mighty Thumb McGovern... lol... He's a machine. Superb.

[@tonymfahy]

Wonderful Padraig!

[@jdgrahamo]

Magnificent!

[@tarahowleymusic]

simply amazing !! lost for words !!

[@jacquelinemccarthy1149]

A this is absolutely brilliant j xx

[@garybrindle6715]

He certainly has a good Handle on this.....

[@richgouette]

omg.. what mighty pipering!! I was wondering if anythign would rival that bit of regulator work from the Mikey Smythe clip of Downfall of Paris(for me anyway) This is truly amazing musicianship. and like most Uilleann pieces I see online, that are mind-blowingly awesome, the player simply smiles, (usually wiping the brow), then picks up the pipes, and walks offstage.. so, so cool

[@jacquesbrouyer8687]

Awesome…congratulations from Normandy

[@GERRYFIDDLER]

Absolutely Amazing. Thank you

[@geraldward5318]

Brilliant stuff

[@seamusomallie]

my God is that beautiful

[@sathurxy49]

Beautiful recording. The stereo imaging is superb. Are they C414 mics?

[@stephencomer2952]

take a listen folks this is fantastic

[@olivertenbroeke7592]

Fantastic!

[@Dan.Parker]

Very skilled player right here.

[@MrFgibbons]

Padraig McGovern does it again, pushing the envelope on the pipes. Unbelievable!

[@biniou24]

Stunning!

[@milesnagopaleen]

A bravura performance and great regulator work!

[@luchinobagpipes]

the best...

[@jytou]

Amazing!

[@faderthurfjell]

Awesome, just brilliant. O’Dowd chanter?

[@ITMAVideos]

Glad you enjoyed it. Unfortunately I can''t confirm the chanter maker - can try though. Leave it with me ....

[@JohnMaschinot]

It's all in the wrist... or is it the thumb? Either way, hat's off to you Mr. McGovern!

[@cornelis1950]

brilliant !

[@Heath75032]

Technically, this is impossible. Yet it happened! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

[@seamusnolan4083]

Bravo

[@thomasmccauley414]

Beyond words! Maybe you could play Vivaldi's "four seasons"?

[@tomgreene6579]

Whoa!! Handel would have loved this phenomenal to think of it and then do it...this deserves a Ph D...much more than some other efforts...I think this fellow must have some musical training ?? He didn't learn this at the fireside!

[@handeyecoordinationskills]

Where was this ?

[@ITMAVideos]

Hi, it was recorded in Armagh Cathedral, 14 November 2015 as part of the annual William Kennedy Piping Festival.

[@handeyecoordinationskills]

@@ITMAVideos thanks very much for letting me know

[@eoin474]

1:48

[@eoin474]

2:08

[@eoin474]

2:24

[@eoin474]

2:36

[@eoin474]

2:45

[@eoin474]

1:00

[@petermerbeth1067]

Would really like to learn to play this beautiful piece. I am very much into baroque music. Padraig did you write down your arrangement for the pipes (chanter & regulator parts) ? Would you send it to me ? I would be very pleased and thankfull.

[@JohnMcKLV]

That looks a LOT like a Benedict Koehler chanter. Can anyone confirm?

[@wudangboy]

pearls before swine there - totally fooking awesome

[@geraldneary1948]

One of the best.

[@herveg08]

woaow !!!

[@Kend_sweet_like]

Wow

[@Daisy-ct3nh]

Fingers of flames

[@briancrehan9757]

anyone know what set he's playing?

[@lorcanb7]

Seth Gallagher w Koehler Quinn chanter I think

[@briancrehan9757]

ohhhh benidict what a maker

[@LinuxGuyInVa]

Excellent! Haven't heard this variant on the pipes before. Virtuoso performance. Original of this variant (including the Galway reference in the title) is De Dannan on their 1983 album "Song for Ireland": kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3Obf5uOqcx6laM

[@Odran4837]

Yeah lad whoo

[@mickelund2797]

Jesus

[@eowenspa2]

Not bad!

[@yas2802]

Classical music with irish Style? Pls...

[@patrickcannady2066]

Handel spent a lot of time in Dublin...Dublin was very a very different, relatively prosperous city from 1700-1799...there was ample employment for a man of Handel's talents in Dublin as a music teacher and performer.

[@eowenspa2]

Not bad ......anyone fancy a pint....?

[@jacksongilder]

Mic drop...

[@Piobagusfidil]

Savage

[@Heath75032]

Technically and humanly impossible!!!!

[@thewindthatshakesbar]

O_O

[@pipos5445]

what is that man in the audience doing at 20seconds in? Surely not texting. Why bother to go to the concert and how disrespectful to the performer.

[@mjcigar]

Very skilled but I have never been on to enjoy music that is meant for other instruments to be played on an instrument that is meant for music written for it. There is just something missing or to much perhaps. LOVE LOVE the pipes and the music that goes with them though.

[@frayg.6193]

Amazing!

[@patrickcannady2066]

Savage