Carols on Bagpipes recordings?

[johnsog]

A few months ago our band was approached by someone asking if we have any recordings of Christmas carols on bagpipes. She said that she always sends her kids' families a new Christmas carol CD each year and, as she loves the pipes, was wondering about finding such a CD to send them. While the idea of creating such a recording has its appeal, I'm pretty sure it would be more of a project than our group would want to take on. Do any of you know of recordings already made that I might recommend to this person?

[Pablopicasso420]

The Fort Worth Pipe Band plays 4 carols that have been mangled,,uh i mean,,,arranged for pipes. God rest ye merry, gentlemen, Hark the herald angels, We three kings.

I think and entire album of just pipes would be hard.

[Kevin]

It was a while ago, but Rob Crabtree recorded a CD called A Piper's Christmas. Not sure if it's still available as a CD, but you should be able to find it on Spotify or YouTube Music

Hope this helps,
Kevin

[johnsog]

Aha!! According to Amazon, it is still available. Thanks, all, for your help. Any more recording ideas are also welcome. It is surprising, I think, how many Christmas carols do fit the pipes well. Some are less common but still wonderful tunes.

[Klondike Waldo]

There are a lot more Christmas tunes that work IF the piper knows how (and is willing to) pinch a high B and finger a high G#.
Here are some of the ones I play: Il Est Né, Tu Scende Dallle Stelle, The Sussex Carol, The Coventry Carol, 3 versions of Away In A Manger, Infant lowly, Infant Holy/ W Globe Lezy (Polish), El Noi De la Mare (Catalan), the Holly And The Ivy ( two versions) Adeste Fidelis, Taladh Chriosda( Gaelic) I saw Three Ships, The Joys Of Mary, Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming; Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabel; In Dulce Jubilo ( Good Christian Men Rejoice), In The Bleak Midwinter, Es flog ein kleine Waldvögelein, Rendez a Dieu, The Snow Lay On The Ground, Christmas Day in The Morning, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, The Wassail Song

[johnsog]

What a great list!! Several of these are those are ones I play on my smallpipes without needing the higher notes. Several years ago my instructor challenged me to work up something I could sing while playing. Il Est Ne is my favorite carol so I chose that one, skirting the issue of the high notes by working up a harmony for the verses. I thought it went pretty well and my instructor agreed, though she commented that it would have been better if one could have heard my voice above that of the pipes... That was rather deflating so I will leave singing while playing to my betters!! Thanks for the grand carol ideas, all!!

[Tervs and Tunes]

Check out Tim Cummings’ excellent collection of printed seasonal tunes for the pipes: On This Day The Earth Shall Ring. Don’t know if there is a companion recording.