1 kilt 10 looks: John Burgess

[Jock Scot]

Yes indeed. And Gordon Walker is the present-day equivalent.

These men, one could say, earned the right to dress as they please, with their musical accomplishments. If a mediocre piper were to show up dressed in tartan from head to toe, with dirk and powder-horn, "the piping community" would have a different view of their dress!

I am the last person to deny anyone the right to dress as they please, I might venture an opinion to myself, or if asked, I might or might not, choose to voice that opinion.

You know who PM Burgess and PM Walker was/are, many in the piping world will, I even know who these gentlemen were/are and I have no interest in the piping scene, but I venture to suggest that most in the kilt world don't, particularly the newcomers. Therefore showing pictures of exquisitely attired pipers do need to come with explanations, so that those who do not know the circumstance of the subject in the picture and reasons for dressing the way that they are is misleading and more often than not, unhelpful.

[Father Bill]

If I may coat-tail on Jock's comment, my sense is that top-class Pipe Majors are in many ways the small-"g" gods of the kilted world.

What is expected of a mere mortal is to be humble in the presence of a god and to neither out-do, nor even attempt to match him. If one gets too close to the sun, one will burn and fall.

[Ordway]

Those who dress in the style of John Burgess or Gordon Walker are few and far between in the piping world also. With few exceptions, wandering too far toward the theatrical, as Jock has called it, will result in looks and comments of a cynical nature. Even a fine tweed jacket and a balmoral in a colour other than black raises eyebrows if you are anything other than a very accomplished piper. I have read articles in piping magazines chiding the Mr. dress ups whose piping skill does not match their sartorial splendor. Glen Brown, a Highland Society of London Gold Medal winner, has been mocked for wearing a Jacobite blue bonnet and trews on different occasions. It remains, in these times, a conservative fraternity.

[Profane James]

[OC Richard]

Here is the Gordon Walker of which we speak



As I've said, these "superstar" pipers have earned their right to wear their fancy dress, but of course most top pipers dress in the same manner as most pipers of any level do, in the modern standard piper's kilt of black Argyll jacket etc.

Here's a thread I posted a while back taking a look at solo pipers' outfits from the 1980s to recently.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...s-today-72017/

[OC Richard]

Another thread just now linked to this photo of PM Burgess, which I've included in the OP as he's wearing the same doublet, kilt, plaid, and Glengarry in other photos and it goes to show how the same elements can be combined in various ways. I'd like to be able to see the whole sporran.



Note the wonderful posture and deportment of these ex-Army pipers: shoulders square, head straight, blowpipe centered in the mouth.

Also note the relaxation of the hands, so important to fluid playing.

It detracts so much from the look of a piper to see distorted postures.

[Mezzosop]

.....

I was looking over the various threads about the distinctive attire of Pipe Major John Burgess, and I couldn't help notice that he was usually wearing a Ross Hunting kilt (either Modern, or Ancient).

.......


In relatively restrained Evening dress, with matching tartan waistcoat, another amazing sporran, fantastic hose, red laces, and whisky!

Hi,

Two wee things .... Dad didn't drink from the time I was two so that's not whisky in that glass, it's ginger beer and lime and he wore Ross tartan for my Mam (Sheila MacRae Ross Burgess) and Willie Ross.


Apols for the new user name - completely forgot my previous details .....

[Steve Ashton]

Messosop,

If you could give me any hints about your former registration, perhaps I could find it and then merge the two. That way you would not lose your previous posts.

[Padraicog]

I am reminded of the story about Elizabeth Taylor which appeared in a book review in the Sunday Times. Princess Margaret was looking at Taylor's most impressive diamond which had been gifted by her husband Richard Burton. "How very vulgar" said the Princess. "Yeah" replied Taylor "Ain't it great"

[MacLowlife]

I notice Burgess looks a bit younger in the tartan doublet. Casting aside the idea that more tartan makes you look younger, I wonder if we might credit youthful exuberance for his flamboyant outfit. I'm not sure restraint is exactly the cause, but maybe we grow into a general tendency towards simplicity- just not wanting to bother with all of the extra steps when less is just fine.

I love seeing tartan doublets. I have noticed that one North American "designer" clothing line recently showed a large sett version of a Royal Stewart jacket- in a trendy shorter cut that is still too long for a kilt, but maybe adaptable. What say the rabble? For the dressier class of goat-ropings, dog fights, etc?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nwt-Ralph-La...4ZizlNZzmuqD-w