Swedish bagpipes: Ljugaren

Ljugaren, on Swedish bagpipes.
Ljugaren is a tune with a connected story about a woman playing this tune on a spilåpipa (a traditional fipple flute) as a lament for her husband whom she has just seen go through the ice and drown on lake Ljugaren in Dalarna, Sweden. The tragedy occured on November 17, 1888.
More info on Swedish bagpipes at olle.gallmo.se/sackpipa

[@jordimla]

Such Haunting and beautiful musical piece. I have never known a bagpipe to resonate such mournful and dolorous tones. Greets from the Philippines. Dead Can Dance, Garmarna, Hedningarna and Susanne Rosenberg led me here!

[@AlexP-jz9sg]

Thank you for carrying on this rare tradition.

[@Elektrakosh]

A Swedish friend sent me here. Was not disappointed. These bagpipes are more easier on the ears compared to Scottish variety and the music is sublime! Thank you from the UK.

[@ogallmo]

Thanks! There are Swedish bagpipe players in the UK too, but not that many.

[@MariaPalmer-xo8eb]

​@@ogallmo. Hi Olle, do you know anyone in the UK who can tune these lovely instruments. ? Tak

[@ogallmo]

@@MariaPalmer-xo8eb There are several, but I think the easiest to contact is @NicholasKonradsen

[@MariaPalmer-xo8eb]

@@ogallmo thank you so much. Regards

[@wehrewulf]

Check out Scottish Small Pipes, Noethumbrian, and border pipes.

[@ProjeKtWEREWOLF]

This is the most amazing sound I have ever heard........I am in love with this instrument!

[@Nillerus]

Svensk sækkepibe er fantastisk smuk. Jeg takker for oplevelsen.

[@charlesbradshaw205]

I love Swedish culture in fact I’m Swedish myself

[@allisonforfornsed]

that was one of the most amazing things I have ever heard. Sets my heart on fire for my Swedish heritage.

[@RealHunterVR]

Same. It’s so beautiful

[@sensemannel]

Great to see Ljugaren played on youtube. It's my favourite piece for Säckpipa since 2003. And you play it really great! Thank you!

[@ogallmo]

The room is very big, a former church in fact, so I'm helped by the accoustics.

[@RoyceLerwick]

What a cheerful tune.

[@Hopfolk]

One of the first pieces I learned to play on my Djurapipa. From you. Thanks.

[@temiruya]

what a beautiful!

[@ColRAPR]

Outstanding !!

[@misspatty5612]

beautiful. thank you for sharing.

[@danielthompson6207]

The sound, the story behind the piece...my heart is but a poor helpless wretch at their feet

[@maxbrumbergflutes]

Beautiful and touching.. looking forward to learn that one :-) ...and thanks for your reed making guide on your website, I was forced to make my own reeds since I am in Quebec at the moment, luckily brought some reed material ;-)

[@avzarathustra6164]

nice

[@dimaolnov84]

Прекрасно.

[@xdemon669]

Hermosa melodía.

[@aikidragonpiper71]

Beautiful sound, they look different than but they sound similar to the Irish Uilleann bagpipes.

[@ogallmo]

I don't know for sure what kind of wood it is. Some hard fruit wood, would be my guess. Plum perhaps. The black rings are grenadillo. The grey end of the mouth piece is reindeer horn. The bag is sewn (calf hide). As far as I know, all known historical instrument bags were sewn. Goats never were as common in Sweden as in eastern Europe, and calfs are too big. :-)

[@IAMJORDI0117]

90% of my ancestors are from Sweden. I really want to learn to play the Swedish bagpipe and honor my ancestors.

[@ogallmo]

I think playing bagpipes were always a bit controversial. They were considered the Devil's instrument, and some people simply didn't like them (or still don't). Maybe you actually honor your ancestors by *not* playing them ... 🙂

[@androswolf]

Careful with that or you might actually meet your ancestors sooner then you anticipated when a frothing mob with bleeding ears busts down your door during one of your practice-sessions to toss you in the nearest body of water :p

[@dmarker21]

Sounds really good! What kind of wood is that pipe made from and what material are the black rings around the chanter and drone? Also were the bags traditionally sewn, or where they made from a goat body like the eastern European and Italian bags??

[@FjolnirSyverson]

You inspire me to no end brother! I just started playing E/A or A/E pipes but my finger movements kill my sound I read your site but my fingers were shot off and re attached so I can’t lift each finger good enough but I will never give up!!!!!!!

[@ogallmo]

Sorry to hear about your disability, but Swedish pipes should be better than most then. I like to think that they were made for being played by hard working farmers with big bulky hands. That would explain the scallops around each finger hole, which make the holes very hard to miss even if you cant feel your fingers. Also useful when playing outdoors in very cold weather. Another reason is that, on Swedish pipes, it does not matter much if you play open or closed - if you lift all fingers below the hole, or just the one finger for that hole. Try different fingerings.

[@texasbagpiper]

Awsome Olle. How do you get your pipes to sound so loud? They sound great. Cheers, Seth aka (Texasbagpiper)

[@Robinom]

Who made your bagpipes? And were they expensive?..lovely playing

[@ogallmo]

Robinom The pipes I play in this video were made by Alban Faust. There are links to bagpipe makers, inluding Alban, on my Swedish bagpipe site (olle.gallmo.se/sackpipa)

[@michaelmorris1865]

What key are these pipes in, I'm looking at buying a set of Swedish pipes

[@ogallmo]

E/A, which is the most common key.

[@michaelmorris1865]

Olle Gällmo Thank you, I saw a few keys listed as options and was curious.

[@piotrnowotnik]

Hi Olle. Does this tune has anything to do with Ljugarn on Gotland?

[@ogallmo]

No, Ljugaren is a lake in Dalarna (mainland). Literally, it would translate to "the liar", but I'm not sure if that's where the lake name really comes from. Ljugarn on Gotland was originally named "Lougards hamn" or "Långgarns hamn". "Garn" is an old word for cape ("hamn" is harbour).

[@nowotnik]

thanks!! :) BTW regards from Visby!

[@Keelsman]

0:09

[@marvinthemaniac7698]

It's slightly louder than the uilleann pipes.

[@ogallmo]

The other way around actually. At least if compared to concert pitch Uilleann pipes (wide bore D sets).

[@frankiselby1234]

Olle, you remind me of Gustaf Skarsgård

[@ogallmo]

I don't think he plays the pipes, but it's never too late to start. :-)

[@robabnawaz]

Tuned in D# ?????????

[@ogallmo]

In A, as most Swedish bagpipe (the tonic is the 3-finger note, not the 6-finger note). For this recording it was a bit flat, yes. I had played a lot in the preceeding days. Doesn't matter when you play solo.

[@robabnawaz]

@@ogallmo Ah, I understand. Now it gives sense. Thank you very much for the explanation. I love the sound. Very close to serbian gajda.

[@ogallmo]

@@robabnawaz Yes, the basic construction is the same. Gajdas usually have a wider bore, though, so they tend to be stronger (and a bit more steady).

[@robabnawaz]

@@ogallmo I mosdtly play just the gajdunica, the jajda-flute withour sack as it is easier to control the air and high preasure is needed, but I must say your säckpipa sounds "sweeter"or let's say less aggressive.