Thomas Todd (piper)

Thomas Todd (c.1827 - 1903) was a noted player of the Northumbrian smallpipes, considered by William Cocks to be 'of highest rank'.

He was a miner, from Choppington, Northumberland, and taught the pipers Richard Mowat and Tom Clough to play .^[1] William Cocks noted that he was a favourite piper of Dr J. Collingwood Bruce, one of the editors of The Northumbrian Minstrelsy, and played at Bruce’s lectures. He also played at the Crystal Palace, in London, and, late in his life, at the Riding of the Bounds, in Morpeth, in 1889; two photographs, one taken on this occasion, are in the Cocks Collection, and may be viewed at the Woodhorn Museum website,^[2] and.^[3] He played quite far afield in Northumberland; Cocks records a story that 'Todd once was to play a concert at Allendale and lost his way on the fells. He played his pipes “for company”, was heard by a shepherd and rescued.'

He entered the competitions organised by the Newcastle Society of Antiquaries from 1877 onwards, which were won for three years by 'Old' Thomas Clough (II), the father of Henry Clough - Todd was placed second in 1877 and the next two years. He also composed - The Barrington Hornpipe, using the full range and the agility of a 7-keyed chanter, is his, and remains popular today.

Forster Charlton, who knew Tom Clough, wrote that when learning from Todd, Tom had the ambition to play The Barrington Hornpipe, but at first was forbidden to try it, instead being given exercises to practice on. After mastering these, he was allowed to tackle the hornpipe, and found 'he could play'd straight away'. Clough wrote that when he was a youngster, an old piper ... and splendid performer, presumably Todd, his teacher, gave him the advice If you want to be a good piper, listen to a linnet, and make your chanter as clear and as distinct. A linnet never choytes, and neither should a good piper. Choyting refers to open-fingered ornamentation as in Highland piping. In Tom Clough's manuscripts, the last two variations to Corn Rigs, moving in triplets, are attributed to Thomas Todd, and the setting of The Suttors of Selkirk is described as the favourite tune of Thomas Todd. A setting in E minor of the jig The Laird of Cockpen, suitable for smallpipes, is believed to be by Todd.^[4]

He died July 1903 aged 76, buried at Choppington. His pipes, a fine silver-mounted set in ivory, are in the Cocks Collection, and may also be seen at the Woodhorn museum website,.^[5]

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