Northumbrian Pipers Society
Encyclopedia
The Northumbrian Pipers' Society is a society, founded to promote both types
of Northumbrian bagpipes - the Northumbrian smallpipes
and the half-long pipes, now generally known as the Border pipes
. There had been several attempts to encourage the pipes and their music during the 19th century, but no society was formed with this specific aim until the 'Northumbrian Smallpipes Society' in 1893. However this was short-lived, dissolving around 1899.
The Northumbrian Pipers' Society was founded in 1928 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, under the patronage of the Duke of Northumberland. The first President was G.V.B. Charlton, who had been active in encouraging the playing of the smallpipes, and particularly the revival of the half-long pipes. Its policy aim was to encourage and stimulate 'the younger generation of pipers and beginners in pipe playing'. Billy Pigg
, an influential piper, was a Vice-President from 1930, while Tom Clough
, known as the 'Prince of Pipers', accepted a Vice-Presidency in 1933. At first they met in each other's homes to exchange tunes and to organise the occasional dance. In 1937 they acquired a permanent home in the Morden Tower
in Newcastle. The Society's regular meetings and annual competitions are currently held the Chantry Bagpipe Museum, in Morpeth. It also holds an annual concert in Morpeth. It publishes a quarterly newsletter and an annual magazine, as well as many important collections of pipe music, including, in 2000 'The Clough Family of Newsham',(ISBN 0-902510-20-7, edited by Chris Ormston and Julia Say) a detailed study of the music of Tom Clough
and his family, and, in 1997, 'The Border Minstrel', which included all of Billy Pigg
's known compositions, and some other tunes from his repertoire. Other important recent tunebooks include a new edition of John Peacock
's early tunebook, and a book of James Hill
's hornpipes and other tunes, adapted for the smallpipes, and a tunebook and tutor for the Border pipes
. They also published an important book on pipemaking, by William Alfred Cocks and Jim F. Bryan, 'The Northumbrian Bagpipes', in 1967.
The relative popularity of the instrument today, compared to the small numbers of players in the early 20th century, the wider availability of well-made instruments, and the availability in print of much of the instrument's traditional repertoire, can all be ascribed, directly or indirectly, to the work of the Society.
Types of bagpipes
-France:*Musette de cour: A French open ended smallpipe, believed by some to be an ancestor of the Northumbrian smallpipes, used for classical compositions in 'folk' style in the 18th Century French court...
of Northumbrian bagpipes - the Northumbrian smallpipes
Northumbrian smallpipes
The Northumbrian smallpipes are bellows-blown bagpipes from the North East of England.In a survey of the bagpipes in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford University, the organologist Anthony Baines wrote: It is perhaps the most civilized of the bagpipes, making no attempt to go farther than the...
and the half-long pipes, now generally known as the Border pipes
Border pipes
The border pipes are a type of bagpipe related to the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe. It is perhaps confusable with the Scottish smallpipe, although it is a quite different and much older instrument...
. There had been several attempts to encourage the pipes and their music during the 19th century, but no society was formed with this specific aim until the 'Northumbrian Smallpipes Society' in 1893. However this was short-lived, dissolving around 1899.
The Northumbrian Pipers' Society was founded in 1928 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, under the patronage of the Duke of Northumberland. The first President was G.V.B. Charlton, who had been active in encouraging the playing of the smallpipes, and particularly the revival of the half-long pipes. Its policy aim was to encourage and stimulate 'the younger generation of pipers and beginners in pipe playing'. Billy Pigg
Billy Pigg
Billy Pigg was an English player of Northumbrian smallpipes. He was a Vice-President and an influential member of the Northumbrian Pipers Society from 1930 until his death.-Life and music:...
, an influential piper, was a Vice-President from 1930, while Tom Clough
Tom Clough
Tom Clough , known as 'The Prince of Pipers', was an English player of the Northumbrian pipes, or Northumbrian smallpipes. He had studied the instrument with the noted piper Thomas Todd, and from his own father Henry Clough...
, known as the 'Prince of Pipers', accepted a Vice-Presidency in 1933. At first they met in each other's homes to exchange tunes and to organise the occasional dance. In 1937 they acquired a permanent home in the Morden Tower
Morden Tower
The Morden Tower in Back Stowell Street on the West Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade 1 listed building. For the last 45 years Connie Pickard has been custodian of Morden Tower, and has made it a key fixture of Newcastle's alternative cultural life...
in Newcastle. The Society's regular meetings and annual competitions are currently held the Chantry Bagpipe Museum, in Morpeth. It also holds an annual concert in Morpeth. It publishes a quarterly newsletter and an annual magazine, as well as many important collections of pipe music, including, in 2000 'The Clough Family of Newsham',(ISBN 0-902510-20-7, edited by Chris Ormston and Julia Say) a detailed study of the music of Tom Clough
Tom Clough
Tom Clough , known as 'The Prince of Pipers', was an English player of the Northumbrian pipes, or Northumbrian smallpipes. He had studied the instrument with the noted piper Thomas Todd, and from his own father Henry Clough...
and his family, and, in 1997, 'The Border Minstrel', which included all of Billy Pigg
Billy Pigg
Billy Pigg was an English player of Northumbrian smallpipes. He was a Vice-President and an influential member of the Northumbrian Pipers Society from 1930 until his death.-Life and music:...
's known compositions, and some other tunes from his repertoire. Other important recent tunebooks include a new edition of John Peacock
John Peacock (piper)
John Peacock was one of the finest Northumbrian smallpipers of his age, and probably a fiddler also, and the last of the Newcastle Waits. He was born in Morpeth about 1756, and died in Newcastle, 'in distress'...
's early tunebook, and a book of James Hill
James Hill (folk musician)
James Hill was a British fiddler-composer and publican who lived in Newcastle and Gateshead for most or all of his short life. He is famous as the composer of many fine common-time hornpipes for fiddle, including The High Level Bridge, The Beeswing, The Hawk and The Omnibus...
's hornpipes and other tunes, adapted for the smallpipes, and a tunebook and tutor for the Border pipes
Border pipes
The border pipes are a type of bagpipe related to the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe. It is perhaps confusable with the Scottish smallpipe, although it is a quite different and much older instrument...
. They also published an important book on pipemaking, by William Alfred Cocks and Jim F. Bryan, 'The Northumbrian Bagpipes', in 1967.
The relative popularity of the instrument today, compared to the small numbers of players in the early 20th century, the wider availability of well-made instruments, and the availability in print of much of the instrument's traditional repertoire, can all be ascribed, directly or indirectly, to the work of the Society.