Eric Olson, a Black Forest resident, has been playing the Uilleann bagpipes for more than 20 years.When people think about bagpipes, the Scottish War Pipes are probably what comes to mind, but the Uilleann pipes are different.Smaller, quieter and meant to be played indoors, the Uilleann pipes are used for Irish folk music, and that is just how Olson began playing this niche instrument.ìI started with listening to American folk music and bluegrass, and then I listened to fiddle tunes,î Olson said. ìThen, I found that I really liked the Irish tunes Ö I just really wanted to play that instrument.îOlson said he has a great fondness for the community that playing the Irish folk tunes has brought him.ìFor me, playing any kind of music is social. I get to join with other people, and we get to play music among ourselves and we get to have that interaction that musicians have,î Olson said,ìThen thereís the other part of playing for other people.îOlson said, ìThe piper has a responsibility every morning of filling the bag with as many good tunes as it will hold, and spending the rest of the day squeezing it out.îOlson acquired his set of pipes from a maker in Berthoud, Colorado, and said a good set can cost about $1,400.ìItís a craft. Itís a trade. Itís what people used to do, instead of these giant factories making stuff,î Olson said. ìSo I really respect the craftsmanship people have to make something by hand.îCurrently, Olson is also rebuilding his home after losing it in the 2013 Black Forest fire.ìIn the intervening years, Iíve been doing fire restoration,î he said. ìThat includes building greenhouses. Iíve planted over 700 trees and shrubs, pathways, terraces, garden beds. Just all kinds of things, just to make this place pretty again.îHe said there is plenty of work that still needs to be done.ìI just love doing it. Iíve made a lot of progress, but youíre just always in the middle.î Olson said. ìThereís always the things youíve done and at least as many things as you have yet to do.î
