Question for any pipeband drummer...

[Angus of Stewart]

I was trying to find out information on the use of the old rope tension style drums with bagpipes (most today use modern high-tension snares). I currently own a Cooperman Liberty Model 16"x16" w/ Civil War style ear tabs. Is there a particular resource where i can find old snare music and pipe tunes? I think an old-style, deep military sounding snare would sound awesome in a pipeband.

thanks,
angus

[Peter C.]

Hi Angus, I am a piper but I learnt the pipes in a British Military Pipe band a long long time ago. Our drummers had the rope tensioned drums. they had leather loops around the ropes which were pushed down to increase the tension (poor description, but I know you didn't need a description). There were recordings on vinal in those days, so you will probably have to find recordings from the 50's or 60's that have been redone on cd's. I think, when a recording has been reformatted in digital, they tell you the date of the original recording. I had a few LP's of pipe bands from that era, but they were stolen out of storage in the UK when I came over here. It was a nice sound. Not nearly so sharp as modern drums.

Hope you find some.

Peter

[PiobBear]

I took the wife to see Bonnie Rideout at Christmas a while back, she had a rope-tensioned snare with her; very nice sound. Would love to try piping a duet with one some time; I think it'd be very cool.