The practice set worked properly (if you were not talking about sound quality or intonation), but the reed didn't hold up as Beijing was too dry and reed tweaking was quite hard for a newbie. I started with a chanter using David Daye’s brass tubing kit - bellows and bag were self-made with some very simple tools. So, it was quite a surprise when we got to know each other in 2017 to realize that we had met 9 years earlier!Īfter gathering enough info from the internet, I started my pipe-making journey. At the time I didn’t know his name or who he was. On that day I saw the real uilleann pipes or the first time as Ciarán Somers was invited for a live show and then a session. Irish Traditional Music Session with Uilleann Piper Ciarán Somers Patrick's Day March in Beijing.Ĭiarán Somers playing Uilleann Pipes at Ireland Week in Beijing, China Great Highland Bagpiper John Loiacono at First St. Patrick’s Day activity in China was held in Beijing, and John was the lead piper (and the only piper) of the marching. We talked a lot about pipe making and I was planning on my future path of uilleann pipes. John had learned GHB making and made himself a set of pipes.
I began work with a company that produces radio station devices / hi-fi music players 'till today.ĭuring this time I got to know a New Jersey GHB piper named John Loiacono who was teaching English in Beijing. But still, I couldn't find any uilleann pipe albums what I could find were albums like Celtic twilight, etc.Īs the director of the university radio station, I used my platform to play lots of Celtic music through the campus loudspeakers. I found some albums of GHB marching band but finally realized that was not the type I was looking for. As the internet became popular, I was able to find more info about the two types of pipes. I moved to Beijing, to attend university and major in Applied Physics. Like so many people, I could not distinguish between Great Highland Bagpipes (GHB) and the uilleann pipes at that time.īesides Secret Garden, I also like albums like Greenwoods: Upon a Celtic Path by Paul Machlis. These were classified as “Celtic New Age” as there were no trad Irish music albums in China at all. In middle/high school, I was attracted by the Norwegian band Secret Garden, especially by one magical instrument which is so expressive - the uilleann pipes. I was born in Wu Han, China (well, it’s hard to believe the city got world-wide-well-known in such way). He happily obliged and sent back a wonderful timeline of his Irish trad and instrument making journey!
Intrigued by his excellent flutes & whistles that we've now been carrying for a couple years now, I asked Andy if he'd be willing to share his story with us. Xu Hang (Or "Andy" as he likes to be called of Galeon Flutes & Whistles) from Beijing, China started instrument making back in 2008 - inspired by John Loiacono, a Great Highland Bagpipe player who was teaching English in Beijing at the time. With that, it should be no surprise that some of the best makers of musical instruments used in Irish trad are found not only in Ireland but in such countries as North America, Germany and yes, even China. I suppose other than American pop music and western "classical" music, Irish traditional music is peerless in its wide spread adoption by musicians around the world. And plays well again.I challenge you to name one traditional "folk" music that has been adopted worldwide as enthusiastically as Irish trad. I was hoping these two non-invasive procedures would lead to a favourable prognosis, and that seems to have been the case, ie I believe no damage done and the whistle is now…well, as clean as a whistle. The next day, to clean out the windway I thought of a few things, but the best I could come up with was using a fine grade interdental brush, then threading through some dental floss. I gave it a clean out after the set, but it still wasn’t 100%.
Their intention was benign, I have to add. Doubly embarrassing as someone filmed it on their mobile then sent it to me. A bit embarrassing as I had to blow harder which made it squeak occasionally. I had to struggle a fair bit as me whistle was giving me gip. 2nd time round one of the lads came to my rescue and helped me out on the bits he recognised. The third one of the set I began by leading solo, as not many of the other players were too familiar with the tune. The other night at the BHT sesh I led a few reels on the whistle. ….and use some teeth cleaning bits to clean out the windway of yer fipple.
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