It's called Uilleann pipes Uilleann pipes.... The word uilleann comes from the Irish (Gaelic) word uille with genitive of "uilleann", meaning elbow, emphasizing the use of the elbow when playing the uilleann pipes. >From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cushioned bellows The uilleann pipes, originally known as the Union pipes, are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland. The uilleann pipes bag is inflated by means of a small set of bellows strapped around the waist and the right arm. The bellows not only relieves the player from the effort needed to blow into a bag to maintain pressure, they also allow relatively dry air to power the reeds, reducing the adverse effects of moisture on tuning and longevity. Some pipers can converse or sing while playing as well. The uilleann pipes are distinguished from many other forms of bagpipes by their sweet tone and wide range of notes - the chanter has a range of two full octaves, including sharps and flats - together with the unique blend of chanter, drones, and "regulators." The regulators are equipped with closed keys which can be opened by the piper's wrist action enabling the piper to play simple chords, giving a rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment as needed. There are also many ornaments based on multiple or single grace notes. The chanter can also be played staccato by resting the bottom of the chanter on the piper's thigh to close off the bottom hole and then open and close only the tone holes required. If one tone hole is closed before the next one is opened, a staccato effect can be created because the sound stops completely when no air can escape at all. The uilleann pipes have a different harmonic structure, sounding sweeter and quieter than many other bagpipes, such as the Great Irish Warpipes, Great Highland Bagpipes or the Italian Zampognas. The uilleann pipes are often played indoors, and are almost always played sitting down. Regards, Pat McDonough Slan go foill Pat  McDonough NY E-mail <[email protected]> "Where there's a will there's a way!" "Embrace the journey" "And the truth shall set you free" "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do" Goethe -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cliff. Johnston Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 8:55 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [S-I] SCOTCH-IRISH Digest, Vol 5, Issue 13--musical instrument It's a bellows operated bagpipe. Cliff. Johnston "May the best you've ever seen, Be the worst you'll ever see;" from A Scots Toast by Allan Ramsay ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 7:19 PM Subject: Re: [S-I] SCOTCH-IRISH Digest, Vol 5, Issue 13--musical instrument >I hope this is an ok question. > We are watching a group called Celtic Thunder on PBS. > > One of the musicians is playing an instrument that looks like a > bagpipe(Scottish connection) but he does blow into it. It is controlled by > his arm > pumping and fingering on a a long reed with airholes.(He is Irish) > > Is my description enough for anybody to identify? > > Douglas Burnett > Satellite Beach > FL > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message