Posted on 11/08/2004 5:00:50 PM PST by SJackson
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 06, 2004) -- Amid the thunder of artillery and weapons fire, pipers are heard around Camp Fallujah blaring melodies from their age-old Celtic instruments.
Every day Lt. Col. Paul Sweeney, judge advocate lawyer, and Sgt. Steven Ammer, motor transportation specialist, hone their piping skills, unknowingly raising spirits as their tunes float on the wind to fellow Marines throughout the base.
For me playing the bagpipes is just relaxing, said Ammer. Since Ill be out here for seven months I figured Id get some practice, so I had my wife mail my bagpipes to me. I feel renewed when I head back to work after each session.
While Ammer and Sweeney perform songs like the Marines Hymn, service members who pass by stop in their tracks, pausing to listen to the notes that have played for almost 200 years.
Im Scottish so when I heard them playing, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, said Staff Sgt. Grant Smillie.
During the middle ages in Scotland and Ireland, the bagpipes were used to rally the troops into battle. The English outlawed the bagpipes in 1366 and declared them an instrument of war. Anyone caught playing the bagpipes were put to death.
Ive been playing close to three years, said Sweeney. I play with a pipe band back in the rear in Binghamton, New York. I carried mine on the plane all the way from Camp Pendleton.
But Ammer and Sweeney arent the first Marines to pick up the bagpipes to play in a war zone. Several Marine pipers played during the bloody Battle of Peleliu. A Marine lieutenant was observed piping his amphibian tractor ashore on Iwo Jima. In Korea, Sgt. F.H. "Timmy" Killeen piped for his company of the 7th Marines during the numerous Inchon-Seoul night firefights.
The bagpipes have been used in every major conflict with the Marines, said Ammer.
Known as war or highland pipes, these instruments were also used during funeral ceremonies when burying fallen comrades. In the early days when a police officer or firefighter was killed in the line of duty, the Irish or Scottish forefathers within these departments ensured that their fallen brothers were buried with full honors. Today, that tradition transcends ethnic, racial and religious lines and the bagpipes are played at police, fire and military funerals regardless of race, color or creed.
Its pretty motivating to be here playing my bagpipes, said Sweeney. Aside from with my family and friends, I cant think of a better place to be.
The pipes are like the violin. If you have a good player (with a good ear), they are very nice to listen to. Anything less than that, they are excruciating.
In a pipe band it's not so bad, because the pipe sergeant strolls around and tunes for all the back rankers. But when they get on their own . . . . . !
- ex member of the Atlanta Pipe Band. Never a very good piper, but I have played piano for 45 years so at least my pipes were always in tune . . .
Scotland The Brave
http://216.69.32.102/BAB/midi/sbrave.mid
Hark when the night is falling
I hear the pipes are calling
Loudly and proudly calling
Down thro' the glen.
There where the hills are sleeping
Now feel the blood a-leaping
High as the spirits of
The old Highland men.
Towering in gallant fame
Scotland my mountain hame
High may your proud standards
Gloriously wave.
Land of my high endeavour
Land of the shining silver
Land of my heart forever
Scotland the Brave.
High in the misty Highlands
Out by the purple islands
Brave are the hearts that beat
Beneath Scottish skies.
Wild are the winds to meet you
Staunch are the friends that greet you
Kind as the love that shines
From fair maidens eyes.
Where's a good sporrin when you need one ?
Ask and ye shall receive:
Scotland the Brave1. Hark when the night is falling
Hear! hear the pipes are calling,
Loudly and proudly calling, down thro' the glen.
There where the hills are sleeping,
Now feel the blood a-leaping,
High as the spirits
of the old Highland men.CHO: Towering in gallant fame,
Scotland my mountain hame,
High may your proud standard gloriously wave,
Land of my high endeavour,
Land of the shining river,
Land of my heart for ever,
Scotland the brave.2. High in the misty Highlands,
Out by the purple islands,
Brave are the hearts that beat beneath Scottish skies.
Wild are the winds to meet you,
Staunch are the friends that greet you,
Kind as the love that shines
from fair maiden's eyes.(CHO)
3. Far off in sunlit places,
Sad are the Scottish faces,
Yearning to feel the kiss of sweet Scottish rain.
Where tropic skies are beaming,
Love sets the heart a-dreaming,
Longing and dreaming
for the homeland again.(all join in the chorus!)
You didn't correct the scansion, though. (I went to the same website you did, apparently.)
We're at war all the papers say
We will win I read today
We are strong, it wasn't us
We are right... Who started this?
Leave your work... I just left school
Leave your home... I am no fool
Take up arms... It left me strong
Sound alarms... The school bell rings
Sons of men who stand like gods
We give life to feed the cause
And run to ground our heathen foe
Our name will never die
This time will be forever
Join up here... I wave goodbye
We need you... Oh my breast sighs
Have no fear... I must try
God will be with braver men
Take the vow... I know its right
Praise the flag... The good fight
We're at war... I'm on my way
We will win... Why do i pray ?
I wait here in this hole
Playing poker with my soul
I hold the rifle close to me
It lights the way to keep me free
If i die in a combat zone
Box me up and ship me home
If i die and still come home
Lay me where the rose is sown
Sons of men who stand like Gods
We give life to feed the cause
And run to ground our heathen foe
Our name will never die
This time will be forever
- Big Country (Scotch-Irish Band / Lyrics by Stuart Adamson)
Whenever I try to whistle the theme song from the Old Spice commercial, I ALWAYS end up whistling "Scotland The Brave" instead.
Regards,
To a musician the Marine Corps Hymn may not be praised.
But to a Marine who is Always Faithful and fighting for American liberty, it must truly lift one's spirits, especially before or even during battle. God bless the
United States Marines and all other United States military organizations fighting to preserve our God-given liberties!
And may the Black Watch have a glorious opportunity to add some real bagpipe music to the battle for freedom in Iraq!
Don't dis the Pipes Laddie!
Amen, I've loved them since I was a child and have quite a collection of Cd's. They raise the hair on my neck whenever I hear them but I guess that must be genetic. Something the Sassenach wouldn't understand.
bookmarked
What's the definition of the word "optimist"? A bagpiper with a pager.
The Irish invented the bagpipe, kept if for a hundred years, realized it wasn't a musical instrument and gave it to the Scots. They've been playing them every since.
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent miscellaneous ping list.
There are two exterior doors at the Royal Society of Music in Edinburgh. One has a sign over it that reads "Bagpipers". The other has a sign over it that reads "Musicians".
Alba go bragh!
Some interesting threads about a Marine piper who was in Fallujah last April:
1st Sgt. Dwanyne Farr Plays the Bagpipes in Fallujah, Iraq
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