Anistratov Higland Bagpipes

 Alexander manufacture Great Highland Bagpipes in two pitches, first is the main and traditional for Highland B flat 446 Hz (pipeband high pitch) and a concert pitch for solo or band playing B flat 440 Hz also the pipes and chanters in A 440 Hz are can be build by request.
 
The design of the set can be Standard, Premium or Deluxe class. Great Highland Bagpipes are made of three types of wood: Blackwood, Cocobolo and Mopani. The basic set has three drones, two tenor drones, bass and plastic chanter. All the instruments of Premium and Deluxe Class are equipped with wooden chanter by default which is made of a same timber thrugout the set.

Development of Anistratov Great Highland Bagpipes chanters took 7 years. During this time we conducted a large number of experiments with the acoustics, processed many drawings and examined many chanter reeds of different manufacturers. Now Alexander proud to present the chanters for Great Highland Bagpipes in three different pitches.

• Solo chanter in Bb-475Hz
• Pipeband chanter in Bb-480Hz
• Highland chanter in A-440Hz

 These chanters are have a balanced tone across the scale, powerful sound and precise tuning. Gives clean Pibroch G and clear high A. Also, besides the common fingering on the chanters player can get two semitones with an alternative "fork" fingering. Alexander recommends for his chanters proven chanter reeds from Frazer Warnock and Jamie Troy workshops-high quality manufacturers of the Highland cane reeds.

 The second pattern is the bore design which was based on drawings of Henry Starck, one of the great maker of bagpipes of the first half of 20th century. Drones Henry Starck Pattern produce clear, rich and very clean sound, quieter and more elegant than McDougall. The sound has less variation in frequencies and create a very solid and strong "sound wall" that supporting sound of the Chanter, but do not mix with it. They are very good in combination with wooden chanters. Alexander would say it`s ideal for solo playing.

 The third one is David Glen Pattern- classical drone bores design. This design was developed by Alexander after measuring and testing several sets of David Glen & sons of Edinburgh-greatest pipe makers of the 19th century. The drones sounds robust but not booming, very steady, and with a sonorous bass sound. The tone is rich and refined: the more ‘mellow’ that will setisfy the taste of a true connoiseur and gourmet of Highland Pipes. . 

 As you can see on this page Aexander has develope several drone designs. Different designs have various proportions, lines and decorative elements.  An important role is played by materials from which drones are made in this or that design. The choosen elements are effects directly to the timbre.The design of drones does not end with their exterior-the main is hidden inside. Alexander use three types of internal bore patterns in his drones for Great Highland Bagpipes.

Anistratov drones can be build in classical Bb pitch or also in "flat" A pitch to suit for A chanter, and also in C-to play Breton music in minor.