Terry Hartzell
Uilleann Pipe, Irish Flute, and Whistle
Traditional Irish Music
Christmas Carols with an Irish bent
Instruction for beginner level tin whistle and uilleann pipe
Based in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Contact MeUilleann Pipe, Irish Flute, and Whistle
Traditional Irish Music
Christmas Carols with an Irish bent
Instruction for beginner level tin whistle and uilleann pipe
Based in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Contact MeSession co-host with Fred Gilmartin and Rick Weaver.
Visit my calendar for dates and times.
Terry Hartzell is one of that rare breed: an uilleann (the Irish bagpipes) piper. How he came to be born to Pennsylvania Dutch parents in Nazareth, PA, is one of life's great mysteries!
There was music in the house when he was a child. His mother played piano and often played for social functions. His grandfather, played a number of instruments and played in a number bands throughout his life in what we today would call Early Country and Old-Timey music. When he was twelve, Granddad gave the gift of a harmonica. "We would often sit together. Granddad would play a tune while I tried to work out the melody. But later in High School, after grandfather passed away, and because rock-and-roll was the 'cool' thing, the harmonica got left behind."
Beginning in his late twenties he studied the guitar for ten years, but could never really find the sound he wanted. In the mid-1990s during a visit home for summer break, he heard the sound he had searched for his entire life. Earlier that spring, WDIY the local public radio station went on-air and launched it's weekly "Celtic Faire" program. He was hooked. He tried to reproduce the sounds and rhythms with guitar, but was not satisfied. It took years of listening to realize that what he most loved woven through the music was the uilleann pipes, an instrument he had never even seen and certainly never imagined playing.
The path to becoming an Irish musician began as a dare. While attending a Chicago Irish music festival in 2005, he picked up a tin whistle and fell in love. "The céilí band, the music the band played for the dancers, that was exciting stuff. The band played a number of stages, including the céilí. We followed them around all weekend." With that, he dedicated himself to learning the dance music of Ireland. His heart was set on eventually mastering the Irish bagpipes and playing for dancers.
With the passion and sensitivity of an artist, the clear-sighted precision of an engineer, and the self-discipline of a master-craftsman, Terry is now living his dream of learning, sharing, and preserving the magical music that brings him and so many others so much joy.
Lehigh Valley Celtic.com - Celtic music events within roughly a 2-hour drive from downtown Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh Valley Celtic.com - Guide for celtic music, musicians, dance, calendars, radio,... in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas, within a 2-hour drive of Hill-to-Hill Bridge, Bethlehem, PA
Chiff and Fipple web forum - Forum for Folk music community including focus groups for banjo, fiddle, flute, mandolin, uilleann pipes, whistle, Irish Trad, and American Folk
Comhaltas - Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music.
Matt and Shannon Heaton - Irish traditional and Heaton originals.
The Reverend's ABC Tune Search - ABC Tune Search for Irish traditional music, by Reverend Pete.
Shannon Heaton - Learn Irish Tunes
The Groton Session - tunes and workshops.
NPU - Na Píobairí Uilleann - Video tutors for beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Requires registration.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann - Irish Trad tunes posted on the website and the Foinn Seisiún Books with collection of Irish Trad music
Traditional Tune Archive - North American, British and Irish traditional instrumental music with annotations
Cumann na bPíobairí – Uilleann Pipers Club – Seattle - Collection of Pipe Friendly Tunes by John B. Walsh. Email IrishPipersClub(at)gmail(dot)com for current price and more information.
Chiff and Fipple - All about tin-whistles: Introduction, History, Hints, Forums, Purchasing Guide, Links, and plenty more.
NPU - Na Píobairí Uilleann - Nexus for all things uilleann pipe. Resources include parts, tools, tutors, reed making, event calendar, online video tutor, media archive. Annual membership gives access to all features.
East Coast Pipers - Home of the Northeast Tionól
Uilleann Obsession - Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask.