Northumbrian Pipes

"'The Northumbrian Pipes' is a term covering three different types of bagpipe played in the region. These are The Northumbrian Smallpipes, The Border Pipes and The Half-Longs. The Northumbrian Smallpipes are a melodious, bellows blown bagpipe. They are rather quiet by comparison with other bagpipes and are normally played indoors. The chanter has a closed end and is played with closed fingering, giving a unique staccato character. Three drones are normally used as accompaniment – a bass and tenor tuned an octave apart, and a baritone tuned a fifth above the bass. The sound of the chanter has been likened to the singing of a lark over the drones sounding like the buzzing of bees...Border or Half-long pipes (also known in Scotland as the Lowland pipes or - rather unfavourably - the Cauld wind pipes). These are also bellows-blown but have an open-ended, conical-bored chanter and are somewhat louder than the Smallpipes...." (Northumbrian Pipers' Society)