Grandfather Nicholas Patrick Heade performs for 1924 Ancient Order of Hibernians St Pat’s Celebration, Portland OR Dateline Seattle, approaching St Pat’s 2021 – While planning for my own brief AOH related performance in 5 days…. didn’t expect to receive this 97 year old notice of my Grandfather doing the same in Portland 97 years ago from my Southern Oregon cousins.  The ‘Irish bagpipes’ mentioned here were actually referred to — in my family’s native Ardee Cty Louth Ireland — as Irish War Pipes back then.  This set of 1900 R.G.Lawrie Highland pipes that referred to as War Pipes th ..read more

  Tyrone performs with Skagit Symphony, Oct 19 2019 – Peter Maxwell Davies, “An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise” – with Grandfather’s ca 1900 Lawrie Great Highland Pipe, A440; drones are extended in length to achieve Concert Pitch. Photo – Dave Prinzhorn   As with other musical traditions, the Tonal Character of the Great Highland Bagpipe has changed to suit tastes over time. As audiences want ‘more’, pitch has become ‘brighter’ – and we’ve had a sharpening of standard from strings, percussion and other classical instruments. It’s a case of creating options for audience preferences and expectat ..read more