Hew Morrison Collection > Piobaireachd

1 68 Piobaireachd : its Origin and Construction
of hemp, but it is only supposition, for this is not the case. There are several
varieties of metallic joints used, but after considerable wear they become too open.
The greatest disadvantage is that the upper part of the drone must be tubed with
metal, which interferes with the reeds. The moisture Ues in beads on metal tubing,
and for this reason the sound of the drone reeds is affected. There is no substitute
equal to hemp as a material for filling up the space in the tuning joints, because
it can always be added to, or taken from at a moment's notice. If every piper were
a bagpipe maker and always played in the vicinity of the workshop, then, in the
case of repairing a metal joint, there might be less delay. But, on the other hand,
the individual piper often plays in the festive hall and on the mountain side, where
hemp is his best friend on many an important occasion. Thus the majority of
pipers adopt the hemp-covered slides now as in the olden da3's. Like the sheepskin
bag, the hemp must remain in its old place, having been proved by experience.
The chanter is the most dehcate part of the bagpipe, and great care must be
taken when handling it. In removing the chanter from its place the stock should
be held in the left hand, and the cup of the chanter in the right hand. Never remove
the chanter by taking hold of it at the high holes, because it is so thin that it may
break right across. The chanter should always be as tight in its stock as will prevent
it from falling out when hanging downwards as the piper blows up his pipes. If the
chanter falls on a stone floor, or on the edge of the sole, no matter where, an ivory
sole will smash in pieces.
The chanter and drone reeds are of great importance, and they should be
carefully studied and understood, more especially by young pipers. The chanter
reed is a very dehcate article, and it should be handled as little as possible. Many
pipers spoil a good chanter reed by beginning to scrape and cut at it when it is a httle
hard to blow. This is a great mistake, because very often when a reed is scraped
and cut down in order to make it easy to blow, it is spoiled altogether. If the piper
plays a new reed for about half-an-hour at a time it will soon come in, and have a fine
sohd tone. When the chanter reed is too sharp it must be raised a httlc. If it is
too flat then it should be lowered. Sometimes the bag throws a lot of water on the
chanter reed, and if the water finds its way down the inside of the chanter the sound
of the high notes will be affected, and the reed will be too sharp. The best method
of preventing the bag from becoming too wet is to allow it to dry over night, with all
the stocks open, and also dry the chanter reed.
The drone reeds also require a good deal of attention to see that they produce
a good tone. When the drones are tuning too high up, then raise the bridles of the