There’s something about the sound of bagpipes that really kicks in for me. I understand how the sound might not move and may even grate on many people. It’s not a subtle sound and it either connects with you or it doesn’t. For me, it instantly has the hair on the back of my neck up and alert. There’s a real visceral impact.
One of my favorite pipe moments came in Alexandria several years back. We were at Pat Troy’s, a popular tavern drinking a pint or two. As the night turned into morning, the musician who had been playing, a real troubadour who could play anything you yelled out, said he was taking a break and turning the joint over to some players from the City of Alexandria Pipe Band. Several fellows on the other side of the room shuffled around a bit and six pipers and four drummers appeared.
If you’ve ever heard such a sound in a small space, you’ll understand the sonic impact I’m talking about. It just swelled and filled every crack and crevice, a huge powerful drone accompanied by the drummers’ rat-a-tats that banged off your sternum. For me, it was heaven. I didn’t want it to stop. I think my sister wanted the agony to end as soon as possible. That’s how the pipes are.
Here’s a neat video of a large pipe band performing Queen‘s We Will Rock You at the Edinburgh Tattoo. There’s something pretty cool in that sound and the pageantry of it all. Enjoy (or not)…
Redtree Times 