Originally Posted by
RickF
Our church like many others start off the new year with a bagpiper playing for part of their morning service.
I did not know this. It is a bit scary. Not at all sure it's common around here (maybe down near Aberdeen, or in the Carolina mountains/highlands?).
I've read that it's hard for bagpipes to play with other instruments like organ or piano. First off, they're not a chromatic instrument and by nature tune between a Bb and B natural.
I always understood that one of the goals of using the bagpipe in military contexts was to frighten (terrorize) the enemy. If so, this might account for the somewhat peculiar approach to "tuning" (a term that is perhaps best used loosely with regard to bagpipes).
Major Massie has 30 years experience as a genuine Scottish bagpiper and served 24 yrs in the British Army. He served in the Royal Scotts Dragoon Guards and The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars.
So ... 30 years of scaring the enemy. QED
Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)