Who were the Taylor Brothers?
The Taylor brothers, William (Willie or Billy) and Charles (Charlie), were both innovative uilleann pipemakers and were actively making pipes from around 1872 to 1891. Willie was an incredible musician as well. Together they transformed the sound of the Irish pipes by redesigning them, giving them a powerful sound and tone.
Click above to access Nick Whitmer's "The Lives of Pipers" website and learn about the men. Willie and Charles were half-brothers and were sons of the James Taylor who was a piper, pipemaker, and organ maker.
Photo is also from "Lives of the Pipers" of the O'Donnell set (all cleaned up!)
In the video you see here, explore the journey and discovery of where the Taylor brothers are buried in Philadelphia with Richie Piggott, Irish music historian.
Learn about them and their roots in Drogheda, Ireland
In the video you see here, watch as Drogheda, Ireland community historian, Brendan Matthews gives a talk for the Notes and Narratives Series at Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU) headquarters in Dublin, Ireland on 16 May 2013. He tells the story of the Taylor brothers and their life in Ireland, and emigration to America.
Take a Deep Look at a Taylor's Set
Watch as Jason Rouse "Unboxing a TAYLOR SET of Uilleann Pipes"
From Jason:
"Share my excitement with unboxing a famous set of Uilleann Pipes made by the Taylor Brothers in the 1880s. The set has mostly been associated with Prof. John J. Cummings (1828-1919), and passed through a few hands, most recently Ted Anderson, my good friend Rick Lines, and now to me!
"A short experience of the changed conditions prevailing in the United States convinced them that the mild tones of the ordinary Irish pipes were too puny to meet the requirements of the American stage or dance hall, being a note or more below concert pitch. Genius that he was, “Billy” Taylor experimented, remodeled and developed a compact, substantial instrument of powerful tone, which blends agreeably with violin and piano. So successful was it in meeting the popular demand that the Taylor type of Irish bagpipe has superseded the old parlor instrument almost altogether." - Francis O'Neill from Irish Minstrels and Musicians; (from Bill Haneman's Website)... the chapter on Famous Bagpipe Makers
