Bagpipes - a worldwide perspective

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DEL

DEL

A Fixture
Joined
Aug 9, 2004
Messages
7,618
Location
Glasgow 'no mean city'
Some of you may have noticed through the Friends of Planetfigure that Jason Whitman posted a link to a video on his blog showing pipers playing Scotland the Brave.
Whilst most of us (quite rightly :smug:) think of the Great Highland pipes when thinking about bagpipes the reality is that they have a worldwide history going back at least to 1000 BC. The earliest recorded images are on Hittite stones from the ancient Middle East.
Earlier this month Scottish Musician Phil Cunningham presented two TV programmes exploring the history of the pipes mainly in Europe but also has some really interesting stuff about their use in the Americas from Jazz to the magnificent Simon Fraser University summer school in British Columbia, Canada...... fascinating to me at least.
Here's a link to BBC iPlayer ...... well worth watching.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p02j98r5/phil-cunninghams-pipe-dream-episode-1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b055nchq/phil-cunninghams-pipe-dream-episode-2
Cheers
Derek
 
Do you realise that bagpipes are an irish joke, it's just that the Scots haven't got it yet. :whistle:
(Based on evidence they came via Ireland,I read that somewhere)
My apologies for any offense caused...


Regards Chris

Off with his head.
 
Ralph you have gone some way in confirming what I have always thought. That is other than to another piper, you can be absolutely shit, within reason, and nobody can tell. Especially in a display like the Edinburgh Tatoo, the really good pipers overwhelm all the cat squealing rubbish, and it's the spectacle that everyone loves rather than the music quality.
 
What's the difference between the bagpipes and a bag of onions?.................no one cries when someone chops up a bagpipe.

Only kidding of course this is one of my favourite pieces of music~






And not a tartan to be seen, but we did get a thistle in just before it all finished.
 
Waterman said:
Ralph you have gone some way in confirming what I have always thought. That is other than to another piper, you can be absolutely shit, within reason, and nobody can tell. Especially in a display like the Edinburgh Tatoo, the really good pipers overwhelm all the cat squealing rubbish, and it's the spectacle that everyone loves rather than the music quality.
Click to expand...
Completely disagree with your first point, as for your second point most pipe bands displaying or competing at the highest levels have amongst the most rigorous and competitive entry requirements. A poor piper throws good pipers off, good pipers can't cover up a poor piper in the mix.

Mind you I think I'd rather march along to an Average Pipe Band (geddit) than to a bunch of clarinets.
 
swralph said:
I like to play the Bagpipes in the garden in summertime.I'm absolutely shit but no one can tell.:p.
Thanks for the links.
Ralph.
Click to expand...


Ralph, you are so wrong.
I'm sorry to have to tell you it's actually just that we are far too polite to say anything, and why I moved to Liverpool.
Take care
Pee McDee.

Go on Dell you tell 'em
Heathens they are.
 
peedee said:
Ralph, you are so wrong.
I'm sorry to have to tell you it's actually just that we are far too polite to say anything, and why I moved to Liverpool.
Take care
Pee McDee.
:):DI guess it's one of those day's for me.I really am having a good laugh.Thank you.
The really funny thing is the fact you moved from Scotland to Liverpool :ROFLMAO:.
Seriously no offence(while laughing it's putting me off typing:ROFLMAO:) .
All the best.
Ralph.:ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...
 
As a member of a minority culture yourself Ralph,
you are the only one I would tolerate such casual racism from!

Two back stabs in one sentence from a plastic welshman.
Ouch.
Now I wish I had emoticons to add for a giggle too !
Ya rascal.
Paul
 
Mark S said:
What's the difference between the bagpipes and a bag of onions?.................no one cries when someone chops up a bagpipe.

Only kidding of course this is one of my favourite pieces of music~






And not a tartan to be seen, but we did get a thistle in just before it all finished.
Click to expand...

Here's another one, which would you rather chop up, a bagpipe or alec Salmon? Think carefully before answering:LOL:
 
I always liked Johnny Cope even it is about some damn unsporting Highland types not playing fair and cheating their rightful masters the English :shifty:
 
I played in a pipe band for 9years when i was in Australia and i was taught by an Aussie to play the bagpipes.It's a fact that the pipes were played by past cultures ,including the Northumberland Pipes and the Irish pipes.I also believe there's definite places where they can be heard at their best.A lone piper when the sound gets caught on the wind, and a massed pipe band, 100 strong marching up Pitt street in Sydney on Anzac day.Makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
Where the Scottish bagpipes wins hands down, is the fact that a lot of their music is of a martial sound ,commonly called 2/4 time,unlike the other types,which are nice,but they don't get your blood flowing.
Brian
 

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