If your reeds are well set up and you have the pressure high enough - you should be able to touch the top of the drone, covering the opening for a second and they will stop. This stops the tongue moving on the reed and as long as the pressure does not drop they will stay off. To bring them back on, I drop the pressure for a short time!
Hey Cameron, do you know where I could find sheet music for the “my dream valley” hornpipe? With the harmonies too. Thanks. If you have a link to some if it does exist, would you post it here?
It actually makes sense, although maybe it's not on purpose. The tune isn't instantly recognizable as an arrangement of The Dream Valley of Glendaruel until the second harmony player kicks in, and then there is a sudden "aha" moment as you realize what the arranger has been up to this whole time! Prior to that, the hornpipe version stands on its own, and is clearly audible. If I was setting this in a band, I would have quite a few folks on that second harmony to make sure it comes through. I'm sure there are a few other tricks you could add if it were medley-bound. Would be a sweet closer.