blonde poker forum

do you actually like the sound of bagpipes?

Played properly yes

In moderation.

Everyone likes Scotland the brave right?

it sounded quite good just now before the curling but generally I've thought it sounds bloody awful

is it just a case of there not being many people who are any good at playing?

I think you need the right acoustic set up for it too. ie, live and out fkin side

No!  They are hideous and they should be banned! What a truly awful instrument!

cant fuckin stand them.

Yes, definitely an outdoor sport though.

I wouldnt go out of my way to listen

pretty much this, or in a large arena.

Pipes and Drums combined with Military Bands can be an amazing sound.

One of the greatest combined Pipes/Mil Band tunes is Highland Cathedral, played well and in the right environment it is simply stunning.

Played as Pipes only it doesn't take to the ear as much

Check youtube under Highland Cathedral and there should be a few there.

Am at work so can't access to link a good one for you all

Geo

in the correct environment they can be good.
problem is they are usually played by someone who has all the finesse of a cow humping a hamster.

An example of the pipes being played well in the correct environment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xgwRitTgU4&feature=related

Highland Cathedral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8FnzSSQGrI&feature=related

can't seem to get the embed to work

Geo

yeah, they sound decent in those examples

shame most of the time when you hear them it's awful, they should have tests before they let people play them in public

TBH there are far more bad players than good. it really is a skill to master to play at a good level.

There used to be a guy who would play on Princes Street here in Edinburgh (just opp Waverley station) to raise money for charity and he was truly awful.

What made it worse, as more people passed without donating, he would stop playing and start shouting at folk as to how mean they were and that he was wasting his time!!

Nah mate, you're just bursting our eardrums.

Geo

Yeah,he was truly,truly awful.

I've been playing for around 14 years now.

Was taught by ex Inverness  gold medal winner Wilson Brown at the Piping Centre in Glasgow. Played in grade 3 band for a few years.

Me leading 10,000 scots from the centre of Prague to the stadium in 1998.

(http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab276/ThrowOnD/march1.jpg)

No better instrument when tuned and played correctly.

Dougie,

You really are a dark horse, nice one.

How's things, not met up in a while.

geo

sorry, still cannae stand them :)

there are a lot of amazing (mental?) stories about troops being led into battle by guys playing the bagpipes during WW2, i think the battle of the bulge was one. i just find the sound an automatic turnoff...

I love some scottish music, mainly fiddle and accordian.

Surely gotta love a bit of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers Laz,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rcMHGUr7Vs&feature=related

Geo

aye, somebody bought me that cd for christmas one year.....it makes an excellent coaster :)

Hi Geo, been busy lately, I'm sure I'll catch up in CinCin's soon.

Prague was an excellent trip. Scotland are back there in October this Year.

A Friday night. I highly recommend the Atlas Club for any Prague vistors. Amazing venue.

Cheers,

Dougie.

This guy has put in a lot of practice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMLuB-GxqrQ&feature=related

Geo

Good find Geo !

Amazing fingerwork there ....

I can hardly imagine what thousands of hairy-arsed geezers wearing skirts and blowing into a squealing octopus must have looked like to the enemy as they marched into battle. Probably rather unsettling.

Most people don't realise the bagpipes only have nine notes,  Doe ray me fa so la te doe - in  one octave. ( a normal piano has 7 octaves). + pipes have high g

The gracenotes, birl's, tarlouths, doublings etc - use all these manouvers in very quick succession.

Geo's spot is a truly top class piper.


Was never thousands, only one usually. (outdoors the sound of the pipes can easily carry for 2 miles depending on wind etc).

The german troops hated it, knew the Scot's were coming.

I have a new hero...how awesome is that!!!

I think its a cultural thing but it brought a tear to my eye...bagpipes and mince pie suppers...sigh.

I will be in Aberdeen for the APAT game and hope to meet you there Ecosse x

My father was Scottish, and we had a piper play at his funeral. There's a very haunting quality to the pipes that make them strangely fitting at a funeral, at least.

It was what he wanted, at any rate, and I am glad we had one play. Just have to get someone who can actually play them and play them well.

Cheers Suzanne, LOL

I'll dig out and scan in a piccy of the 10,00 behind me. An amazingly straight road all the way from the centre of Prague, great photo.

Walk past Atlas and on to the one on the same side further up the road.

Oh




Hi




Der

I concur. Doesn't look good from outside but once you're in there it's incred.