THE ROUGH GUIDE TO IRISH MUSIC SUPPLEMENT
Pat McNulty
Born in Glasgow to Irish parents, Pat McNulty’s maternal grandfather and
great-grandfather from Co. Monaghan had both been uilleann pipers, though Pat
himself began playing tin whistle, fiddle and piano before taking up the pipes
in the 1950s. In the following decade he dominated the All-Ireland pipes
championship, winning the title on six occasions. Naturally, he was an original
member of the NPU and was the first person to be recorded by Brendan Breathnach
who had set himself the task of taping all pipers present. Back in Britain,
Pat founded a similar, if smaller group, SOUP (the Society of Uilleann Pipers)
and continued to play at folk clubs and festivals, while also broadcasting on
radio and TV. His most noteworthy appearance, however, was as the first piper to
appear in a British concert hall with a full orchestra when he featured in
John Tavener’s A Celtic Requiem. His own first album appeared in
1976, but the only one currently available is Autumn Apples where, in part
he uses a full set of Egan flat pipes from the mid-19th century. McNulty exhibits
striking employment of drones and regulators throughout and the reels Music of
the Forge/Stoney Steps, learned from Séamus Ennis and Leo
Rowsome respectively, are glorious piped dance music. Other pieces include the
grand lament from Co. Limerick, Slan Le Maighe, and several of
McNulty’s own, such as the air Doohamlet Church, celebrating his
forbears’ village.
Cass Autumn Apples (1992, Ossian). Mature as a prime vintage,
McNulty’s music makes splendid savouring.
PIOBAIRE A’ CHEIDIGH, AN
PIPER'S DREAM, THE.
Irish, Set Dance (6/8 time). D Major. Standard. AABB. A modern composition by
Glasgow piper Pat McNulty. McNulty (Dance Music of Ireland, 1965; pg. 29.)
Pat McNulty's Fancy - feature article in the Living Tradition magazine
Collection of the Dance Music of Ireland: Pat Mcnulty: 9780946005420: Amazon.com: Books
DANCE MUSIC OF IRELAND compiled by Pat
McNulty. This is the fourth edition of this book first published in 1965. A classic
collection of reels, jigs, hornpipes, slip jigs and set dances. In Pat McNulty's
introduction he comments on the problems of playing Irish tunes too fast. In the 1988
comments Rutherglen says that the tempos used today are excessive, and individual
expression and interpretation had waned. What would they say today?
See Albums: Autumn Apples
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