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This interesting instrument of unknown antiquity probably consisted at first of the pipes without the bag. It is
mentioned in scripture (i Sam. x. 5 ; Isa. v. 12 ; Jer. xlviii. jO)
and was used by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Nero (A.D. 60)
played on the instrument, and Suetonius speaks of a promise made by
the Emperor shortly before his death that he would appear before the
people as a bagpiper (urtricularis), while the Bagpipe is
represented on a coin of that reign see Montfancon’s antiquities).
Chaucer represents the Miller as being skilled in playing the
Bagpipes, and Shakespeare s allusion to " the drone of a
Lincolnshire Bagpipe " is sufficient to disprove the common
notion that the Bagpipe has always been peculiar to Scotland. Many
crude forms of the instrument have existed in ancient and modern
times, but it has been reserved to Mr. Henry Starck, the well known
Bagpipe Maker, to produce what might justly be called a "
perfect Bagpipe." Modeled somewhat in form from an ancient
Irish instrument, he designates it the " Brian
Boru." The special features of it are that the three drones
form a complete chord in A, and the chanter having keys attached to
it gives a compass of nearly two octaves. The scale being chromatic,
most of the beautiful melodies of Great Britain and Ireland, as well
as the principal melodies of the operas, can be produced on it - an
achievement never before obtained on any other Bagpipe. Both
professionals and amateurs are enthusiastic about its capabilities,
and Mr. Henry Starck’s ‘‘Brian Boru" must be Pronounced
an undoubted success.
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In this little booklet, I beg to bring to the
notice Of Bagpipe players, and all who are interested in music, the
advantages which my patent Brian Boru Bagpipe possesses over all
other Bagpipes.
The Brian Boru Bagpipe is the only marching
Bagpipe in existence which has a chanter possessing a Complete
chromatic scale ranging from E natural to C sharp, or a third above
and a third below the Scotch chanter. It is, therefore, able to play
almost any music, as most music can he arranged for the compass. in
which the Brian Boru chanter is set.
It has three drones : Bass A, Tenor A, and
Baritone E which harmonise perfectly with each other and with the
chanter. The drones being in fifths, the tone produced is equal in
depth and mellowness, to the tone of an organ.
The players on these Pipes will have, in addition
to their beautiful, ringing, silver tone, another great advantage
over the performers on the Scotch Pipes, in being able to Play
duets, trios, and quartettes. They can also play in combination with
other instruments.
This Bagpipe should appeal to all Irishmen, as the
tone, though very powerful , is equal in sweetness to that of the
Union Pipes ; and on it they will be able to play most of the
exquisite music of their native land, and be able to render it with
a depth of feeling not possible on any other Bagpipe of the same
kind.
The scale, on account of its simplicity, can
easily be learned in a few hours, and the manipulation of the keys
will come quite naturally after a little experience. If an hour each
day be devoted to practice, the performer should , at the end of six
months, be qualified to play operatic and other selections with
comparative ease.
The user of this instrument will he able to give
much pleasure to himself and to his friends, for on it he can play
music to suit every taste. He can play selections from the operas,
waltzes, sentimental or comic songs, rousing marches, or jigs,
reels, and hornpipes.
Since its inception, it has met with nothing but
the highest praise from all the leading musicians. Doctor Grattan
Flood, M.R.I A., one of the foremost authorities on Irish music,
warmly advocates its adoption by the Irish people, in preference to
the Scotch Pipes, as, a great number of the musical compositions of
Ireland and Scotland being ill the minor key, it is impossible to
play them correctly on the Scotch Pipes; but the Brian Boru Bagpipe,
being fully chromatic, is Capable of playing all these melodies
correctly.
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