Getting in touch with one's roots with an
earsplitting set of pipes
Read more
here...
"I'm tired of being one of those Heinz-57 Americans with no clear cultural identity. It's just not right when you talk about your kin from the 'Old Country,' and you're referring to people from Wapato. I'm thinking strongly about adopting a national heritage. And you could do a lot worse than being Scottish or Irish."
Just how much worse, of course, is cause for great argument. But I was halfway serious about wanting to learn how to tame the Great Highlands Bagpipe.
I'll state the obvious right up front: Bagpipes, like liver, are a taste some listeners simply never acquire. Thanks to their forced-air nature, the pipes can only be played one way — freight-train loud. And given that even a perfectly tuned, expertly played set of pipes can be painful to some, listening to a newbie huff and screech could be considered cruel and unusual.
As the authors of a bagpipe Web site, hotpipes.com, put it: "There's a certain charm in walking past a house and hearing someone awkwardly running scales on a tuba, but blundering into earshot of a neophyte honking away on [bagpipes] might cause nose-bleeds, shattered eyeglasses and could lead to convulsions and death."
[...]
Q: Why do bagpipers walk as they play?
A: They're trying to get away from the noise.
Or:
Q: How do you get two pipers to play in harmony?
A: Shoot one.
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"I'm tired of being one of those Heinz-57 Americans with no clear cultural identity. It's just not right when you talk about your kin from the 'Old Country,' and you're referring to people from Wapato. I'm thinking strongly about adopting a national heritage. And you could do a lot worse than being Scottish or Irish."
Just how much worse, of course, is cause for great argument. But I was halfway serious about wanting to learn how to tame the Great Highlands Bagpipe.
I'll state the obvious right up front: Bagpipes, like liver, are a taste some listeners simply never acquire. Thanks to their forced-air nature, the pipes can only be played one way — freight-train loud. And given that even a perfectly tuned, expertly played set of pipes can be painful to some, listening to a newbie huff and screech could be considered cruel and unusual.
As the authors of a bagpipe Web site, hotpipes.com, put it: "There's a certain charm in walking past a house and hearing someone awkwardly running scales on a tuba, but blundering into earshot of a neophyte honking away on [bagpipes] might cause nose-bleeds, shattered eyeglasses and could lead to convulsions and death."
[...]
Q: Why do bagpipers walk as they play?
A: They're trying to get away from the noise.
Or:
Q: How do you get two pipers to play in harmony?
A: Shoot one.
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|
Recognition Note From Sean Kennedy - Ride of the
Patriots Weekend
Jun-03-2006 13:38 |
Weekly Update
| Permalink
Steve,
I was intending to get off a note to you yesterday but got hung up at work.
It was terrific to have the NVFESPB in the Parade again. The Pipers got rave reviews. You have a spot in the Parade as long as you want it. You can be sure that I'll be back in touch with you early in 2007. I would tell you I would have a revolt on my hands now if the Band was not a part of the parade. Amazing Grace still gives us all a chill. The Taps played at the end was equally as chilling.
I apologize that we did not recognize from the podium that morning the Fairfax Sheriff’s Deputy Coalition Pipes & Drums. They certainly deserved it, and I’ll make sure that should they join you next year that we give them the proper recognition. It would be great to have them back again next year as well. Their presence just made the entire experience that much richer.
I took a few pictures of the band this year, and I've attached them with this email.
It has been a great pleasure to work with you, and to have the band in the parade. It is, without any doubt, one of the most appreciated aspects of the entire event that morning. I hope the march back to Captain Pell’s was enjoyable. I know the bikers enjoyed it immensely.
Best regards to you,
Sean
===============================================================================
I was intending to get off a note to you yesterday but got hung up at work.
It was terrific to have the NVFESPB in the Parade again. The Pipers got rave reviews. You have a spot in the Parade as long as you want it. You can be sure that I'll be back in touch with you early in 2007. I would tell you I would have a revolt on my hands now if the Band was not a part of the parade. Amazing Grace still gives us all a chill. The Taps played at the end was equally as chilling.
I apologize that we did not recognize from the podium that morning the Fairfax Sheriff’s Deputy Coalition Pipes & Drums. They certainly deserved it, and I’ll make sure that should they join you next year that we give them the proper recognition. It would be great to have them back again next year as well. Their presence just made the entire experience that much richer.
I took a few pictures of the band this year, and I've attached them with this email.
It has been a great pleasure to work with you, and to have the band in the parade. It is, without any doubt, one of the most appreciated aspects of the entire event that morning. I hope the march back to Captain Pell’s was enjoyable. I know the bikers enjoyed it immensely.
Best regards to you,
Sean
===============================================================================
Pipers call a tune at highland gathering
Read more
here.
THE lads and lassies of Townsville's highland band will go head to head with the best pipers and drummers in the North at a competition being held in June.
The RSL Memorial Pipes and Drums Association will represent Townsville at the North Queensland Highland Gathering at the Kirwan Tavern on Monday, June 12.
Association spokesman Denis Airens said the competition would involve solo performances as well as each band playing 45 minutes of a medley of tunes.
There will be five bands competing from Cairns, Innisfail, Mackay and Rockhampton.
Mr Airens said the bagpipes were difficult instruments to master.
He said it took about 12 months to learn to start playing.
"After 40 years I'm still trying to work them out," Mr Airens said.
===============================================================================
THE lads and lassies of Townsville's highland band will go head to head with the best pipers and drummers in the North at a competition being held in June.
The RSL Memorial Pipes and Drums Association will represent Townsville at the North Queensland Highland Gathering at the Kirwan Tavern on Monday, June 12.
Association spokesman Denis Airens said the competition would involve solo performances as well as each band playing 45 minutes of a medley of tunes.
There will be five bands competing from Cairns, Innisfail, Mackay and Rockhampton.
Mr Airens said the bagpipes were difficult instruments to master.
He said it took about 12 months to learn to start playing.
"After 40 years I'm still trying to work them out," Mr Airens said.
===============================================================================
Pipers compete at the 'big one'
Read more
here.
Pipers compete at the 'big one'
By MARK RANZENBERGER
Sun Staff Writer
Piper Ian Donaldson raised his finger, and the piper in the orange tartan played a simple scale.
But McDonald sensed something not quite right in the drone, reached into his sporan and pulled out an electronic tuning meter. With a few tweaks on the pipe, the world-class piper had brought the Atlanta Pipe Band closer to the sound it was seeking.
"That sound is not something that happens by accident," drum major Jim Thompson said.
The Georgia-based group of bagpipers competed this weekend in the U.S. Open championships at the 39th annual Alma Highland Festival. The band won its class in 2005.
"We compete all over the place," Thompson said, "but this is the big one."
===============================================================================
Pipers compete at the 'big one'
By MARK RANZENBERGER
Sun Staff Writer
Piper Ian Donaldson raised his finger, and the piper in the orange tartan played a simple scale.
But McDonald sensed something not quite right in the drone, reached into his sporan and pulled out an electronic tuning meter. With a few tweaks on the pipe, the world-class piper had brought the Atlanta Pipe Band closer to the sound it was seeking.
"That sound is not something that happens by accident," drum major Jim Thompson said.
The Georgia-based group of bagpipers competed this weekend in the U.S. Open championships at the 39th annual Alma Highland Festival. The band won its class in 2005.
"We compete all over the place," Thompson said, "but this is the big one."
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