The Bagpipe Society

In the Bag - Kathryn Tickell

Kathryn Tickell is the foremost exponent of the Northumbrian pipes; a composer, performer, educator and successful recording artist with many releases to her name, whose work is deeply rooted in the landscape and people of Northumbria.

Kathryn’s extraordinary career began with learning tunes from old shepherd friends and family, and evolved to traverse genres from jazz and global music to large-scale orchestral works. Exploring and cultivating her bountiful native heritage of Northumberland have been a constant throughout. From her first album, released at the age of 16, Kathryn has carried the voices of her family and her Northumbrian traditions in her pipe and fiddle playing. Long-admired by musicians and collaborators such as Jacob Collier, Sting and The Penguin Café Orchestra, Kathryn works across many genres, creating material that is contemporary and exciting.

Kathryn has been awarded the OBE, and also the Queen’s Medal for Music for her outstanding contribution to British music; the first non-classical recipient of this award. She has twice won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Musician of the Year. She is also a regular presenter for BBC Radio 3’s ‘Music Planet’.

What bagpipes do you play?

I play the Northumbrian smallpipes – they are bellows-blown not mouth-blown and are a lot quieter than the Scottish Highland pipes.

Do you play any other instruments?

Yes – I started off taking piano lessons aged 5, but I never play the piano in public (it’s really useful for working out musical ideas and arrangements at home though) Then I started playing the tin whistle, then the pipes and fiddle, which I started when I was around 10 years old.

What led you to take up piping?

I had always been aware of the pipes – some of my older relatives played them, but I had never thought about playing them myself…until I had a go on someone else’s pipes, and was gleefully making ridiculous noises when my dad walked in and told me to stop, and to concentrate on the fiddle and piano. Us Tickells are a stubborn lot, so as soon as I was told not to play the pipes it immediately became the thing I was most determined to do!

Which pipers do you most admire?

Tom Clough and Billy Pigg – both before my time, but I listen to their recordings and am still inspired by their (very different) style of playing.

Penguin Café Orchestra, L Shankar & Jan Gabarek’s ‘Song For Everyone’ album and Shetland fiddle music (I played at the Shetland Folk Festival when I was 13 years old and fell in love with the place and its musical traditions)

What three albums are top of your playlist right now?

Oooh – this is always such a difficult question – it changes so much. I do a bit of presenting for Radio 3 so I’m often listening to music I need to talk about for that. Hmmm…a quick look at my ‘recently listened to’ tracks tells me that at the moment it’s:

Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine
Arooj Aftab – Vulture Prince
And Scottish fiddle player Lauren MacColl’s new album Haar.

If you had your life again, what instrument would you play?

I’d definitely stick with the pipes, but I’d also really love to play electric bass – nothing too tricky or technical, just really thumping bass lines!

Name your favourite music festival.

Shetland Folk Festival will always have a place in my heart, but I’ve been lucky enough to play at some fantastic festivals around the world. Last year we played in Moaña, in Galicia and the whole experience was so amazing that I wrote a tune ‘One Night in Moaña’ about it, which is on the new album!

What are the most memorable gigs you’ve been to (involving pipes or

not)?

I once played at a Rainforest Benefit concert in Carnegie Hall in NYC and shared a stage with Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Nile Rodgers and Elton John…that was pretty amazing! I also particularly remember seeing Irish fiddler Martin Hayes playing at the Tyneside Irish Centre with guitarist Dennis Cahill – I was absolutely transfixed.

What three words describe your piping style?

It’s probably changed over the years – technique and speed are no longer top of my priorities. What I would love people to hear in my playing would be: emotion/musicality/communication

Bellows or mouth-blown?

My pipes are bellows-blown

Cats or dogs?

Cats.

Are there any bagpipes you dislike?

Nope, although I prefer hearing some types in certain settings/contexts.

Do you prefer playing, dancing or both?

Playing, without a doubt.

Cane or plastic reeds?

I never look at my reeds – I’m too scared that I might inadvertently damage them. I think they’re all cane.

What’s your greatest musical achievement?

That depends who you speak to – for my Grandad it was definitely when I won the Open Piping Competition at Bellingham Show (a local shepherds show in Northumberland).

For myself, I think it’s probably just the fact that I have managed to make piping my career and have supported myself and my family by doing that without compromising on the type of music I want to play.

What’s your most embarrassing bagpiping moment?

Ah, sorry, I’m not telling…!

What’s the most annoying question you get asked about the bagpipes?

“Is it not hard playing such a limited instrument?” (answer: No! It’s inspiring, because it pushes you further to explore what’s possible).

What advice would you give a novice?

Get your bellows/bag air pressure steady – time spent on this at the beginning will really, really help you. Also – choose tunes you love and try to find another musician to play them with.

I love bagpipes because…

I love the drone…it’s so fundamental to the whole playing experience, so satisfying feeling the tension/release of every note working against that constant sound. When I play the fiddle I always want to play with other instruments, but the pipes give you all that you need – tune and accompaniment.

As told to Andy Letcher