Introduction to uilleann pipes by Peter Browne

CCI’s current musician in residence, master piper Peter Browne invites us to discover one of Ireland’s most emblematic instruments, the uilleann pipes.

Born in Dublin, Peter was introduced to traditional music at the age of 6 by three great uilleann pipe players: Séamus Ennis, Leo Rowsome, and Willie Clancy. In the 1970s, he performed for a time with The Bothy Band and went on to play with big names in trad and innovative trad such as Paul Brady, Mary Black, The Chieftains, The Dubliners, Philip King and Scullion, Bill Whelan, Roger Doyle, and many others. Peter has also been a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. He has hosted several music programmes on Irish radio – notably The Rolling Wave on RTÉ Radio One – teaches at events and festivals, and has been collecting old traditional recordings for many years. Tonight Peter discusses the origins and contemporary resonances of this majestic instrument and treats us to a few traditional tunes!