Our Pipes are Amazing.
We've made each one ourselves.
What are bamboo pipes?
The bamboo pipe is a hand-made wind instrument, similar to the recorder, but with a gentler tone. They’re made in all sizes, from tiny, 15cm sopraninos to 2m great basses.
tell me more.
A bit of history.
When
The first bamboo pipes were made in 1926.
WHERE
Inspired by a simple shepherd's pipe from Sicily, they were first developed at Sapperton CoE school in the Cotwolds of England.
WHO
Margaret James, teacher at the village school, was looking for an instrument that could be made and played by her pupils, using readily available materials.
What do you do?
Our focus.
The Guild's three main aims are to:
Make
Bamboo pipes and to teach others to make their own
Play
Bamboo pipes and share their beautiful sound
Decorate
Bamboo pipes to enhance their natural beauty, or leave them plain to highlight the material
what do they sound like?
The Sound of the Pipes
Intrada
from Suite for Pipes by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Many composers have written for pipes. Perhaps the best known is Ralph Vaughn Williams, who wrote his Suite for Pipes in 1939.
Intrada
Finale
from Suite for Pipes by Ralph Vaughan Williams
In 1949, Vaughan Williams wrote to the editor of BBC Music Magazine:
“It seems to me they [the Pipers’ Guild] are doing splendid work in teaching the elements of musical performance and instrument construction to children; also making them acquainted with delightful tunes in a delightful manner.
It seems to me a very important part of musical education in this country and the results in the hands of expert performers are really delightful.”
Finale
Prelude
from Music for Pipes by W Lloyd Webber
W S Lloyd Webber, a student of Vaughan Williams at the Royal College of Music, wrote Music for Pipes c1950. He is probably best known today for being the father of both composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber.
Prelude
Folksong
from Suite for Pipes by Michael Head
Both a composer and performer, Head taught at the Royal Academy of Music for nearly 50 years, and was an Examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. He wrote mostly songs and choral works, and few larger-scale pieces.
Folksong
Chase
from Suite for Pipes by Edwin Roxburgh
Roxburgh studied composition with Herbert Howells and oboe with Terence MacDonagh at the Royal College of Music. Further studies were with Nadia Boulanger in Paris and Luigi Dallapicolla in Florence. He later taught composing and conducting at the Royal College of Music.
Chase
what are you doing now?
The only Local Group currently active is in Crawley. Please see the ‘Groups‘ page for information.
Links to Guilds in other countries, but not yet the moon.
News
Britten Pears Arts, in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, holds the papers of Imogen Holst in their archive. Closely involved with The Pipers’ Guild from its earliest days, the papers give a glimpse of what the early Guild was like. Judith Ratcliffe, Archivist at BPA, has written this article on their website.