Quote Originally Posted by ohiopiper View Post
...

To be honest, I was a little disappointed that the heat affected my pipes as badly as it did, but every comment I heard was good. I think I'm overly critical of my tuning because most people claim to not like bagpipes based on having heard poorly tuned pipes. I try to have them as perfect as I can, but playing, tuning and then standing in the sun for an hour can wreak havoc on an instrument....
Firstly, well done!

Secondly, I wouldn't worry too much about the tuning- it happens, especially with the extremes of temperature... and waiting, that playing the bagpipes (outdoors) almost always encounters.

Nevertheless, people nearly always well up at the sound of the pipes at such occasions- and as many times as I hear "oh, I don't like bagpipes, they are never in tune" I hear at least 3 times as many: "Oh, I love the pipes, I always get chills when they start up".

For some reason, they just seem to be the ultimate cathartic instrument. Plus, I guess there's all the images conjured of "our boys and girls" marching off to defend peace in the world... and there's always a pipe-band, or lone-piper there somewhere. (I even have the comments here in Holland from older people about how they love the pipes, and can remember the allied forces liberating them... and having pipers marching in the streets!)

I'm sure people really appreciated, whether you heard it or not.


Cheers!

Michael