Bagpipes

[ccga3359]

I'm probably supposed to hate pipes by virtue of my birth but I don't. Played well, aside from the piano, it's the only instrument that can bring tears to my eyes (in the good sense).

[gseven1]

The pipes drew me to kilts

I'll second this one. I never even paid a kiltie two cents worth of attention until after I began playing the pipes... now you can't get me off the pipes or out of a kilt. Funny how things work out in life.

[mexpiper]

As a wee one I had always hated parades for the marching bands and the drummers... But come bagpipers and their drummers I was like in heaven. I actually liked bagpipers .. and now have become a Kilter. I will never be a bagpiper.. but a kilter forever...

ps. I gave up my bagpipe lesson due to carpal tunnel things...

[Jimmy Carbomb]

As one of the very few Uilleann and Ceilidh pipe players around here, I'll just say that it's a "yes". But like so many others, I'm pretty tired of the large, blaring bands. Perhaps that's just a reaction from playing so many festivals where "Scotland the Brave" and "Amazing Grace" are repeated hundreds of times. With all due respect to the songs and their heritage... there's only so many times that you can hear them done until you're just BEGGING for something "outside the box".

[Coinneach]

I don't know why, but I've always loved the sound of bagpipes. As far as I know, so have my siblings and many of my cousins. Yes, we have the Scots ancestry going on, but it couldn't be that simple.

Even Uillean pipes just connect to something deep inside.

I worked a company trade show many years ago. Found out that at the closing of the show, our company tradition was to blast "Amazing Grace". Sure enough, about 5 minutes to closing our booth got really crowded with people from other booths. I managed to snag a seat right up front. I think it was like being inside the bag. So much for being outside the box.

I think my favorite piece is "Going Home."

I hear Enter the Haggis (another fine Canadian group) also uses bagpipes in their music.

[TheKiltedWonder]

Perhaps that's just a reaction from playing so many festivals where "Scotland the Brave" and "Amazing Grace" are repeated hundreds of times..

I have to agree. Although I'm more tolerant of Amazing Grace. I personally think that Scotland the Brave is so ubiquitous that it just can't be enjoyed. At Celtic festivals each band seems to play it twice an hour. Heaven help you if there are four, five, six or more bands there. I wish there were a moratorium on playing that, then after a set period of time I could listen to it and enjoy it like I once did.

I know it's not that "out of the box" but i've always liked "The Rowan Tree".

[Angus of Stewart]

love the pipes. i had the pleasure of hearing the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band and i gotta say, the album is one of the best ones in recording quality that i've heard.

[McJore]

ok so there not true pipes but what do you guys think of this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jf7FIXmSVos

[beloitpiper]

ok so there not true pipes but what do you guys think of this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jf7FIXmSVos

I think it's great! Sounds like some of the older types of pipes! The only problem is that he tends to lose air pressure when he breathes. He should try making a more solid valve, other wise it's fantastic.

Check out this site. Julian makes some fantastic pipes that people don't even realize exist.

[James MacMillan]

ok so there not true pipes but what do you guys think of this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jf7FIXmSVos

With a little bit more work on his valve, that would be a nice addition to non-traditional music.

Good start.