In essentially unplayed condition, purchased from Henderson Bagpipes in 2023 and barely touched since acquisition.
The D chanter produces a characteristically sweet tone, as Fred Morrison describes it: "very sweet, with a lovely harmony to the drone." The drone configuration mirrors the layout of Highland pipes with a tenor and bass, but adds a middle harmony drone that creates a chordal effect unique to these smallpipes. The D chanter is considerably smaller than an A chanter, which is roughly the same size as a Highland pipe chanter; players coming from Highland pipes will need time to adjust to the tighter sizing and closer hole spacing. As Morrison notes, the low note on the D chanter is D rather than low A, so the tonal relationships with accompanying instruments shift accordingly. These pipes are well suited to home playing or ensemble use with instruments such as guitar, provided the player keeps the key orientation in mind.
The instrument is constructed in blackwood, bellows-blown, and fitted with a handmade leather bellows, a Bannatyne synthetic bag with velvet cover, Ezeedrone drone reeds, and a cane chanter reed. The synthetic bag, fitted on Fred Morrison's recommendation, helps the drones sit up across the chest comfortably.
About the Maker
McCallum Bagpipes was founded in 1998 by Stuart McCallum and Kenny MacLeod, after MacLeod suggested McCallum create a practice chanter, a collaboration that eventually expanded into a full range of bagpipes. Director Stuart McCallum brings a background in precision engineering, with specialist knowledge in CNC machinery programming and operation, a foundation that has directly shaped the consistency and tolerances of the instruments the company produces. McCallum has grown to become the highest-volume bagpipe manufacturer in the world, producing approximately 40 sets of bagpipes per week.
The Fred Morrison Smallpipes are manufactured by McCallum Bagpipes in Kilmarnock, with Fred Morrison involved in discussing both the A and D instruments on video. The smallpipes and reelpipes were designed in partnership with Morrison, one of Scotland's most respected multi-instrumentalists and a leading voice in the development of contemporary Scottish smallpipe repertoire.
Condition: Used - Excellent
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