Alan at the recent
Dave Williams memorial weekend
Piping Nirvana is a difficult place to reach and maintain.!
The Reeds! At the slightest breath they will argue with you, they will sulk, they can make day become night!
Or is it really like that? Maybe they are pure science or just a rude construction, obeying the laws of the Universe? A working part?
Whatever the answer, it is a hard fact, that there are few people who have the real knack to make a chanter sing with a bit of grass,
an old immersion tank and string.
About Alan
Alan was born in the wilds of West Penwith in Cornwall. He has been playing Uilleann Pipes and making reeds for nearly 20 years. With an evergrowing reputation as one of the few Reedmakers who can just about breath life into any old stick, his skills are recognised globally and many pipers all over the world can be found happily playing away with their 'Burton' reed.
Having learnt his Reedmaking from many great makers, but cites Cillian O'Briain, Dave Hegarty, and Peter Hunter as the most influential, he continually returns to the source for guidance or updates. He combines techniques absorbed from many styles and recipes. It is this wide base of knowledge that so often gives his reeds that edge.
He has taught alongside Dave Hegarty at the Willie Clancy Summer School and has been resident reedmaking tutor for many years at SWAUPs Tionols. He taught (both Pipes and Reedmaking) at the London Pipers Club in the 90's and was Reedmaker of choice for the newly resurrected Birmingham Pipers Club Weekend in '04. Most recently, Alan demonstrated and taught 'The Reeds' at the recent Dave Williams Memorial Weekend.
Alan is no slouch when it comes to Piping either, having been in demand for many years on the UK Folk and Traditional music circuit in many guises,
particularly the popular world fusion band Fianna. He is at home mixing it with African musicians in the band Baka Beyond as he is playing with a full orchestra performing 'The Passion' in Salisbury Cathedral, or just having a few tunes.
Amongst all this, Alan is also a tutor of Multimedia Technology, teaching Music Technology and Film Making (amongst other things) to young people with life-skills support needs.
He has appeared on many CD recordings, Radio and Television programmes
(who could forget his appearance alongside Doc Shiels summoning Sea Monsters off the Coast of Cornwall??).
Alan plays a concert pitch set of pipes made by Cillian O'Briain of Dingle, County Kerry, Eire.
For full details of Reedmaking Services, please Email