Quote Originally Posted by ANP3 View Post

I don't expect to be playing for 3 hours non stop, I don't even think I could, when I timed myself last I had about 13ish min., of music memorized perfectly and that was at more or less full tempo on all the tunes, and I was beat. So, how as a Piper do I make a few tunes last a long time, I can play a huge number of tunes from sheet music, but that feels like cheating. Is it? Also, how do pipers usually play at gigs, all tunes non stop, or due to the relative informality if the gig would it be tune, socialize, tune and socialize etc.?
I suppose you'll have to play it by ear and go with the flow, playing when it seems right to play and taking breaks when you need to.

It's funny with the GHB, some clients will by analogy with other instruments hire you to play for multiple hours... but most of the public prefers the pipes in small doses. It's why so many gigs, wisely, use the pipes sparingly, say for a tune to end a service, or a dramatic beginning to some event.

I did, though, many years ago (around 1980) play for three straight hours at a wedding reception. I was placed on a staircase so that my playing could be heard thoughout both floors of the restaurant, but not blasting directly at anybody. I wouldn't have the lip to play that much now! Or probably the repertoire. I played 45min then took a 15min break, typical Musician's Union stuff.

My repertoire was pretty big at that point: I didn't have to repeat any tunes until into the third hour. And no sheet music.

But don't hesitate to use sheet music! If it's cheating, then every professional orchestral musician and studio musician on Earth is a cheater.

Like most "legit" musician, I have my "book". Every time a client asks for a tune I don't know, I write out a pipe arrangement and stick the music in my book. After over 30 years of giggin my book has all sorts of stuff in it: Andrews Sisters songs, Disney songs, anthems from various nations, hymns, Catholic music, Jewish music, plus a vast number of Irish tunes. Many's the gig where I sit and play the uilleann pipes for hours, reading through that book.