Posted on 11/08/2004 5:00:50 PM PST by SJackson
Not a drop of Scottish blood in me- more's the pity- but the pipes make me cry. Haunting! And Scotland the Brave is thrilling.
Amazing Grace- you're right. You have no soul of that tune on the pipes doesn't put a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye.
Even as an Army brat of many generations' standing, I can appreciate the Marine Corps Hymn.
It's just not a tune that can be played properly on the PIPES! And that's a limitation of the pipes, not the tune. Pipes are tuned more or less to the mixolydian mode in A (at least the music is written in A, but what the key note of any given pipe band may be varies). In the mixolydian mode, the seventh note in the scale is flattened to give a characteristic "minor" sound.
So when you hit the fourth measure of the Marine Hymn, that seventh note sounds "off" because the tune is written in a major key.
People should stick to playing PIPE MUSIC on the pipes, even if it's only "Mairi's Wedding".
Q: How do you get a bagpipe player off your front porch?
A: Pay him for the pizza ...
The minstrel boy to the war is gone, In the ranks of death you'll find him; His father's sword he hath girded on, And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard, (Should) "Tho' all the world betrays thee, One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard, One faithful harp shall praise thee!"
The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's steel Could not bring that proud soul under; The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again, For he tore its chords asunder;
And said "No chains shall sully thee, Thou soul of love and brav'ry! Thy songs were made for the pure and free They shall never sound in slavery!
DIE PAGAN!
Would I get my 72 Virginians?
Alba gu brath, gu dearbh!
Hey pipe, I saw Clann An Drumma a couple of years ago at Pipes in the Valley in Glastonbury, CT. The event is put on by Ten Penny Brewery which is a local, Scottish-inspired microbrewery. CAD was awesome. They played on the stage in the pavilion while the formal bands were doing their march demos outside. The pavilion was PACKED solid. Here are these guys, who look like they walked right off the Braveheart set, ungroomed, bringing the house down while the "parade corps" were outside playing to a relative few.
I went with my family and we were outside watching the corps when all of a sudden this thunderous booming of tribal drums could be heard from the pavilion. My 6yo son and I fought our way to a back corner and watched these guys go crazy for nearly 45 minutes before taking a break. Once the other bands were done with their demos they would trickle in. It was really a cool site to see all of these guys in full, formal dress really getting into what the rough and tumble guys were doing on the stage. I couldn't help but thinking what do these guys think of CAD stealing the show?
I don't know if you've ever seen them live or not, but if you get the chance definitely go! They'll have you ready to run into battle!
LOL!
I agree with one exception.
My father took me to see the Regimental Band of the Scots Greys when I was twelve years old. It was the first time I'd ever heard live pipes. They did an arrangement of Amazing Grace that started in pitch blackness with a single piper, brought in the drums and pipes on the second verse, and ended with the soloist on the fifth verse.
God, Scotland, and soldiering have had my heart ever since.
Thanks, Dad.
"Now my boys, Scotland Forever"
Seriously, the reason "Amazing Grace" sounds o.k. is that the tune skips that problematic seventh note (and the fourth note as well). The composer of the tune was William Walker, a Baptist singing master who edited and published the old Southern Harmony hymnal - in general use in the Southern mountains in the early 19th century.
Guess where the inhabitants of the Southern mountains came from . . . Scotland (many by way of Ireland). William Walker was born in Spartanburg SC.
Many of the old shape note hymn tunes come from the same musical tradition as the pipe tunes - Scottish and Irish modal melodies. So a lot of them sound good on the pipes. Just off the top of my head, "Sweet Prospect" and "Evening Shade" would work just as well - the old shape note books are full of modal hymns.
So . . . "Amazing Grace" works well as a pipe tune because it IS a pipe tune . . . or so I would maintain. :-D
An Irish joke the scots never got!
Hope bagpipes put the fear of God in the Arab terrorists.
Indeed. I never thought of it but you're right. I learned something today.
But, when it comes to music, that's not a very high bar for me. My only true lessons were a brief attempt at the pipes when I was in grad school. That, and exposure to Chinese my first year in the Army, was enough to show me there was a Universal 'Things for the tone deaf not to try' List.
But I do love it. I'll just have to Cross Over before getting my conductor's baton.
I can't conduct - I have good pitch but my time sense is not good. :-D
I saw them up close and pesonal at Loon mtn Games in NH. These animals rocked the entire mountain. Truly a great show for anyone to see. I got to talk with their piper for a while, that boys' got some talent. I bought their CD then too. Glad to see how many freepers appreciate the "art".
(check out my pic w/ ghwb in profile)
Use an accordian, go to jail.
And my personal favorite ...
Ban Drum Solos!
A blot on America.....bagpipes in the Marine corp.
Bagpipes are the product of society incapable of making music.
A blot on America.....bagpipes in the Marine corp.
Bagpipes are the product of society incapable of making music.
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