I stopped www.pipetunesearch.org in 2022. See below link for more info
But i’m getting emails and forum mentions, that people are missing this site ..
So .. it’s back
Tag Archives: bagpipes
Automating the h*ll out of windows applications using linux
I’m using a windows program for typesetting bagpipe music.
Luckily this runs on Linux using wine.
Sometimes i just want a PDF version of a tune, for example for my tunebook compiler. (Other post)
Or i want to batch convert a lot of bww files.
A long time ago i used a virtual machine with automation software for this.
Why not automate the process on my Laptop?
So i made this script, with a workaround for the xdotool wine problem.
(wine window needs to be active to accept key strokes, other linux xwindows you can use the ID of the window)
#!/bin/bash # use c for close at the end, without c bgplayer wont be shut down # bww2pdf path/to/music.bww c # make tmp file cat "$1" > /tmp/deze.bww # start bgplayer if not started .. if not started wait 3 secs slp=0 pgrep BGPlayer.exe >/dev/null || slp=3 pgrep BGPlayer.exe >/dev/null|| ( nohup wine ~/.wine/dosdevices/c\:/Program\ Files\ \(x86\)/Bagpipe\ Player/BGPlayer.exe & ) sleep $slp # get program id pid=$(pgrep BGPlayer.exe) # get xwindow id using pid winid=$(xdotool search --limit 1 --all --pid $pid) # activate window xdotool search --desktop 0 --class "BGPlayer.exe" windowactivate # open file menu and Open file xdotool key --window $winid "alt+f" xdotool key --window $winid "o" # give program time to execute sleep 1 # open our tmp file xdotool type '\tmp\deze.bww' xdotool key KP_Enter sleep 2 # open file menu select Print and PDF as output xdotool key "alt+f" xdotool key "p" xdotool key "P" sleep 2 # execute xdotool key KP_Enter sleep 1 # File close xdotool key "alt+f" xdotool key "c" sleep 2 # close program when c was added to commandline mv ~/PDF/deze* "$1.pdf" if [ "$2" == "c" ] ; then xdotool key "alt+f" xdotool key "x" fi
Music notation programs
I play several instruments, and know a lot of tunes by heart. But for some instruments i’d like to have a music sheet in front of me.
When playing new tunes or from my old stash, i need it on paper also.
And when i do, I’d like my music nicely printed and in the same style.
So i’ve been using multiple programs and tools to get a result i can live with.
I’ve got a huge collection of pipe and folk tunes, but whenever i decide that i’m going to play it more often then i’m going to re-create the music sheet.
The musicsheet will be printed and put in a folder. But also as PDF wil be placed in my calibre server, with i use to provide my tablets and phones with a digital version.
For automatically generating a PDF musicbook i’ve written some scripts.
These PDF’s i can use with my DIY bluetooth page turner.
For my bagpipe tunes i started a long time ago with a dos version of Bagpipe Music Writer. Getting a decent result from your printer was a b*tch. But it was do-able.
Several other programs i’ve tried but few stuck.
CelticPipes, Ceol Mor, Bagpipe (French), MusicTex, Lilypond for example.
I don’t like to click a symbol and place it on the bars, i like typing .. so i’m a little biased.
For midi and printing multi bar/staff music i also used Cakewalk Pro.
So i’ve been using the following software:
ABC Music notation :
X: 1 T:After the Battle of Aughrim R:Polka M:2/4 K:ADor E2A2 ABcd | e2d2 c3A | B2G2 GFGA | B2AG E2D2 | E2A2 ABcd | e2d2 e2ag | e2d2 BedB | A4 A4 :| |:\ a2e2 e2fg | abag e2fg | abaf g3e | dedB G4 | a2e2 e2fg | abag e2d2 | B2e2 d2B2 | A4 A4 :|
- I use this mainly for Whistle and skeletal melody lines for Uilleann pipes (no ornaments)
- Bagpipe IS possible but hard and ugly.
- Multiple voices (harmony) is possible.
- Chord names can be places above bars, as well as vocals.
- I’ve made scripts with headers and footers to get the same output result.
- Creating the music is typing the notes and ornaments in a text file.
- Little chords for guitar mandoline are also possible.
# Edit/createing a abc music file
vi musicpiece.abc ; edit with plain editor
abcm2ps musicpiece.abc ; convert to ps
ps2pdf14 Out.ps musicpiece.pdf ; ps convert to pdf
Also EasyABC i use occasionally
Bagpipe music:
I still use Bagpipe Music Writer, but the free Player, which is a full version also. (Long story)
Using wine on linux it is usable.
In the past i made a virtual machine which could be controlled by a web form and some CGI scripts.
I could paste a “bmw” score in a webform which would be send to the virtual machine, a BMW program would be started, printed the tune as a PDF that was send to the website again.
For a long time i also had a abc music to PDF convertor on my website.
I like the way of writing the tunes .. just type abbreviations of ornaments to print.
When you know these you are faster than using a mouse!
& sharpf sharpc I! hdbe Er_8 'e LAl_16 gbr LA_4 dbe Er_8 'e LAl_16 gg Fr_16 El_16 Dl_8 ! dbe Er_8 'e LAl_16 gbr LA_4 dbhg HG_4 tg Fr_16 HAl_8 'ha ! hdbe Er_8 'e LAl_16 gbr LA_4 dbe Er_8 'e LAl_16 gg Fr_16 El_16 Dl_8 ! dbb Br_8 'b LAl_16 gg LGr_8 'lg dg Bl_16 dbhg HG_4 tg Fr_16 HAl_8 'ha !t
There is no way to write harmonies.
In the past i’ve been using a pdf editor to merge music bars and align those by hand.
I’ve stopped doing that. I just print 2 versions.
Sometimes i use MuseScore for harmonies and multiinstrumental sheets
I wil post my MusicBook compiler here, when i’ve cleaned up the code.
UPDATE: https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/12/09/generating-pdfs-from-abc-files-to-include-in-tunebooks/
Bought some tunebooks in Scotland
While visiting the Ardbeg dristiller on Isle of Islay, i notished a tunebook with CD in the whiskyshop. Tunes for multiple instruments and pipe settings .. interesting! Fraser Shaw, didn’t know who he was. The tunes in the book looked interesting. I bought both .. we will see.
While reading more about him, i learned he was a driving force on the islands when it comes to folk music. Sadly he died by a illness .. far to soon. While on holiday we drove by some places he was know to play.
Tunes for whistle with guitar chords and pipe settings. Some tunes are in a complex time measure. I lost the CD but it is on spotify .. favourites: £50 Cashback and Air Chall
While visiting the Kildonan Museum in South Uist, i found a tunebook which was compiled of tunes from a piper named: Calum Campbell.
This oldskool piper wrote some amazing tunes. The book was made after he, his daughter and her two children lost their lives in a heavy storm in 2005.
2005 Was a bad year .. we lost John D Burgess, Martyn Bennett and Gordon Duncan the same year.
On our way home we visited the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum.
Most of the pipes here where Northumbrian bagpipes and some borderpipes ( even a shuttlepipe )
In the touristy shop i found these books, amoung others.
Last two are Duets/Trios also for different instruments .. nice!
3D printed double chanter proof of concept
We both got a smallpipe, so there are 2 chanters in the house.
I designed a 3D adaptor for two chanters, and 3D printed this.
Taping the bottom part of one of the chanters and a part of the other, gave me the possibillity to play harmony’s.
There are only a few tunes which are suitable for playing like this.
Blender model
Folk band instruments 2021
o whistles
Today newest addition Concertina
Bert Visscher and Herman Finkers
8MM film restored, me 8yr seeing a pipeband
Started to play in a pipeband myself when i was 14, so it made some impression alright!
(Short version)
Stupid bagpipe tricks
Playing two chanters at the same time.
Made a bagpipe octopus
I think it was Burns Night 2005. We took one pipebag, took the drones out. And added one blowpipe and three chanters.
We were struggling to play the damn beast with 4 people.
A picture should exist somewhere, add it when found.
Smallpipe adaptor for two chanters.
Xmas tree lights in the drones
I’ve seen some do this, but never with xmas balls also.
Playing the THX sound
Alternative playing
Above in the movie with two chanter you can see tape.
You can tape other notes, for accidentals.
I’ve started a set with our folkband with my hands reversed.
(Left on the bottom part of the chanter, right hand toppart)
After playing amazing grace, I switched hands every few bars.
Playing high A gracenote with tophand index finger.
Play a tune and slide bottomhand over your top hand down.
Tape or block the bottom sound holes.
Playing with the holes on the inside
Playing Uilleann pipes in Ireland
Joe Mooney Summer School
UPDATE: 20230426 – Book with info
While on holiday in Ireland, Coline, Monique and i went to the Joe Mooney Summer School of Traditional Irish Music, Song & Dance.
Every July Drumshanbo plays host to the award winning Joe Mooney Summer School, a week long festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance named after the man who did so much to promote the cause of Leitrim and his beloved town. The committee continue to emulate his high ideals, endeavouring to promote Leitrim’s heritage of traditional music while handing on the best traditions of the past to future generations.
While being in Ireland from 9-27 Juli, we drove around and visited many places.
One week was reserved for attending the Summer School in Drumshanbo, Leitrim.
Coline followed the Flute Course, Monique Bodhran and I Uilleann Pipes.
I was being taught by Brain McNamara.
Internationally respected as a performer and tutor, Brian McNamara hails from a musically rich rural region (County Leitrim) of Ireland which has produced notable musicians past and present and which has been prominently associated with the preservation and performance of Irish Traditional Music.
During daytime there were lessons, and concerts in the evening.
We learned a lot!
Tunes i’ve learned from Brian are:
- Gander at the Pratie Hole
- Honeymoon
- Kitty goes a milking
- O’Sullivans March
UPDATE: 20230426 – Book with info
While flipping through some books i own about piping i found this little book: “The Man & his Music” An Anthology of the writings of Breandan Breathnach. ISBN: 09509743
