Uilleann Bagpipes
Uilleann Bagpipes have bellows that are carried under, and are pumped by the arm. The bellows keeps the bag full of air. They have tenor, baritone and bass drones and "regulators" on the chanters, which play harmonies. Bagpipes are classified as aerophones - reed instruments that utilize an air reservoir. The Uilleann pipes differ from Traditional Bagpipes in the method by which the reservoir is filled with air. In the traditional bagpipe the player blows directly into the bag through the mouthpiece. The bag reservoir of the Uilleann pipes is inflated by pumping a bellows. It is believed that the bellows was introduced sometime around the end of the 17th or beginning of the 18th century. The term "Uilleann" translates as elbow; which refers to the player pumping the bellows with his/her elbow. Today Uilleann Pipes are also known as Irish Pipes.
