There is just something I love about bagpipe music. When my Mum passed away last October, I had a lone piper play this song at the end of the funeral and I always come back and listen to it.
Bagpiper The Skye Boat Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6N-bdAN26E&feature=related#normal)
Not the best video and pretty short but it brings a tear to my eye. :'(
Being of Scottish descent, Dad was born in the Shetland Isles, it must be in my blood.
Gives me shivers.
<giggle giggle>
bagpiper.....
It's definitely something. Not like I'm going to listen to it for 8 hours at the office but it's got it's place.
Few years back I was at some Highland games and near the end of the day it started to pour. The rain was brief but intense. It cleared out to broken sun after a short duration and all this mist rose up from the ground and you could see the rays of sun coming down through it. A few of the pipe bands struck up with Amazing Grace... and wow.
They make the hair on the back of my neck stand up... in a good way. I'm a sucker for the sound.
I don't believe that I have any ancestral links to Scotland, but the only request for my funeral is bagpipes.
There. I wrote in on the internet. It has to happen now, right?
I love me some pipes man! Check out a group called Tartanic. And Clan An Druma.
Here's some bagpipes AND belly dancing!
Tartanic with Lee Perrone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe2vHS2U0f4&feature=related#normal)
Clan An Druma
Clann An Drumma - She Moves Through the Fair (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1px5QK7MwM&feature=related#normal)
Clann An Drumma ~Culloden (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrIUwo_GgmE#normal)
Clanadonia - The Gael (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuxmEkSVquE&feature=related#normal)
I once was banned from the snack bar at the PX at the Presidio of Monterey for playing the bagpipe version of Amazing Grace on the jukebox 5 times in a row. ;D
Maybe it was six.
AC/DC - It&#39;s a Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N&#39; Roll) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9iOk8PqkKs#normal)
Yes, I want Amazing Grace, played by a stony-faced Scot at my funeral.
Back when I attended UT, I had a late class that wrapped up about 8:00 - I had to walk all the way across campus to make it back to my co-op, around dusk. It was a nice walk, sometimes made much better when the guy would show up and stand at the top of the West mall, and play his bagpipe. There was something really nice about an empty campus, sunset and a doleful bagpipe. It made me want to invade England.
Quote from: il d00d on March 09, 2011, 11:14:50 AM
... the guy would show up and stand at the top of the West mall, and play his bagpipe. There was something really nice about an empty campus, sunset and a doleful bagpipe. It made me want to invade England.
I take it he liked to play Scotland the Brave? :)
I'm not in any way Scottish, but I do love bagpipes, listening to the Regimental Band of the Scots now, Kelsey's Wee Reel
+1 to all the above.
Definitely an instrument that goes right to the core and stirres the soul.
Quote from: Monsterlover on March 09, 2011, 01:00:01 PM
+1 to all the above.
Definitely an instrument that goes right to the core and stirres the soul.
my sentiments EXACTLY :)
One of my things to see before I die would be the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
I propose a new category for the Grammys.
Best use of Bagpipes in a Rock Song.
First winner will posthumously be given to Bon Scott for this:
Quote from: spolic on March 09, 2011, 08:45:36 AM
AC/DC - It&#39;s a Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N&#39; Roll) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9iOk8PqkKs#normal)
[thumbsup]
Dropkick Murphys - Amazing Grace (LIVE) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd_oBTVd9Y#normal)
Best appreciated live...
Guy up the street from me is a firefighter, likes to practice outside with them in the summertime. I've never complained once.
High school mascot was the Highlander and we had a bagpipe team. Nice to listen to when they know what they're doing but practices were rough at the beginning of the year. Then again that can probably be said about any instrument. I think bagpipes are one of the worst instruments when played poorly but are awesome when played well.
Back in the 70's my uncle really got into our Scottish ancestry. My grandmother emigrated from Scotland on my moms side and my dads side goes way back in Scotland ancestry. Anyway said uncle decided to start learning the pipes, both the highland pipes and lowland pipes. He started the Border Highlanders here in Moscow Idaho. I learned to play as a teenager.
It's tough to learn but once you get it and move from a chanter to actual pipes it's so amazing to hear a dozen of us playing together. Even when playing as a group the hair on my neck stands up. We all played for my Uncles funeral in full dress. it was pretty amazing.
I've always dug bagpipes, but having recently discovered my Scottish heritage, I'm really tempted to give 'em a whirl. They can be had pretty cheap, but I imagine the quality can be somewhat suspect. I wonder how hard they would be on a smoker's lungs?
^ uh no, they arn't cheap.
You can do it on a smokers lungs, I did while I smoke and my uncle did too. Hmm wonder what he died from
at 40? Lung cancer?
Quote from: VisceralReaction on March 11, 2011, 10:58:28 AM
^ uh no, they arn't cheap.
You can do it on a smokers lungs, I did while I smoke and my uncle did too. Hmm wonder what he died from
at 40? Lung cancer?
I've found some for under $200, but like I said, I'm sure they're a waste of $$. What's a decent set to look for and what can one expect to pay? Also, I assume it's best to start off with a chanter?
Personally, don't even look at pipes yet, get a chanter and learn to read the music and practice the oddities of
grace notes. Oh and build up your lip muscles! it's funny when you haven't played for a while and
you realize how weak your lips get.
Then when you get to the point of dropping some change on a set of highland pipes.
I would go here http://www.mccallumbagpipes.com/ (http://www.mccallumbagpipes.com/)
Pipes will run at a minimum of around $1200 up to around $6000.
the cheap stuff you are looking at is probably plastic, plastic reeds etc, crap sound.
Kinda like a plywood guitar, dead dull sound.
We had a piper at Folkmoot USA a couple years back. They had a pipe & piano version of "Dark Island" that was just incredible.
JM
Last summer I was a pallbearer for a close friend who died at 35 from lung cancer, and he was a firefighter from a firefighter family. They did the full firefighter ceremony and had a bagpiper in full dress and the 4-5's ceremony. It was a hard funeral to attend for everyone there and the music and bells made an impression.
love me some pipes. ther's something to be said for the traditional songs, but i prefer things more like this
The Real McKenzies - Pour Decisions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_gTDBzhQkQ#normal)
and this
Dropkick Murphys - The Spicy McHaggis Jig (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZN3weW1udE#normal)
and a few of these
Enter the Haggis - The Mexican Scotsman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CLdePXv1pc#normal)
and this one jsut because it's hilarious
Enter the Haggis - Ride My Monster (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkKblSUq2Aw#normal)
Quote from: VisceralReaction on March 11, 2011, 10:58:28 AM
^ uh no, they arn't cheap.
You can do it on a smokers lungs, I did while I smoke and my uncle did too. Hmm wonder what he died from
at 40? Lung cancer?
+1. You can get chanters for $80+ and they are a must have to start playing. You can expect to be on a chanter for a while to build stamina and learn music. Mccallums are great. You'd want pipes made of African Black wood, but since this is apparently becoming endangered, I think some makers are trying ebony. As far as smoking, my instructor has emphysema and is a world class piper.
For those who like bagpipes and are not of Scottish decent--don't fret. Several countries have bagpipes and are pretty unique. Spain has a huge Celtic area with some great Spanish bagpipers.
All of The Real McKenzies are pretty good. I sing Loch Lomond to my kids to put them to sleep.