# Bagpipes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039 "2003-06-28T22:47:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/1 "2003-06-28T22:47:52Z")
I really enjoy hearing them played live, but I would never, like, buy a bagpipe CD or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/2 "2003-06-28T23:03:14Z")
I might. It still wouldn’t be the most embarassing CD in my collection either. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/3 "2003-06-28T23:07:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aesiron \* > \*\*It still wouldn’t be the most embarassing CD in my collection either. \*\* Hmmmmmm… Olivia Newton-John’s greatest hits? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/4 "2003-06-28T23:24:55Z")
Star Trek sound effects. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/5 "2003-06-28T23:39:25Z")
If they’re playing “Amazing Grace” there’s nothing more chilling (in a good way) but I doubt I’d want a bagpipes version of The Kingston Trio’s songs, the Beatles, or the Baja Marimba band. OTOH, they might take the edge off Yanni’s stuff. Or Kenny G. Maybe a small band with bagpipes, sitar, ukulele and pipe organ might be soothing if you were waiting on a root canal. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/6 "2003-06-29T00:57:33Z")
I would definitely like to have bagpipe music in my CD collection at some point. That, along with a CD of a brass band called Besses o’the Barn, my grandfather’s old band. As for embarassing, come on, I like folk music! For those of you who would be embarrassed by having bagpipe music, and especially for those of you who can’t stand bagpipes, I ask your sympathies for my old love’s neighbors. You see, he was a security guard who worked nights. If he was awakened midmorning by someone blasting rock and roll music and he was annoyed enough, he would retaliate by blasting bagpipe music just as loudly. I heard the tape at normal volume, and it was good stuff, but I always sorry for the folks who got caught in the cross-fire! :eek: CJ ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/7 "2003-06-29T01:15:27Z")
I own three bagpipe CDs. I keep one of them at work to listen to on those nights I need to work late. It scares the cleaning crew. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/8 "2003-06-29T01:54:49Z")
I’ve got a bagpipe CD in my collection. Drives the young 'uns crazy. See, it’s always good for something. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/9 "2003-06-29T02:05:06Z")
Some of the collections of stuff by the world pipeband champions are pretty good. “Masterblasters” by the Victoria Police Pipe Band is pretty cool – it’s got some not-quite-traditional arrangements. Also, if you get a good drummer with a good piper, that makes some seriously cool sounding music. I was at the Ohio Scottish Arts school a couple of years ago. At the instructor concert, one of the piping teachers and the tenor/bass drum teacher did a set of tunes. The drum teacher played a large djembe, and they seriously rocked on those tunes. (I spent a summer trying to decide if I could be a tenor drummer in a pipe band. I ended up not sticking with it, but it gave me a greater appreciation for pipe band music. But the volume levels are tremendous. I came home from practice with ringing ears more than once.) ---
**Author:** ![BadBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BadBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBaby)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/10 "2003-06-29T02:31:21Z")
I am the proud owner of two cd’s featuring bagpipes. 'Course it’s _alternative_ bagpipe music from my cousin’s band, but it’s still good listening. Oh, I’ve also got one cd of traditional music, which is lovely, especially since it reminds me of my college days. Go Highlanders! ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/11 "2003-06-29T02:46:00Z")
Well, I _do_ have AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top.” ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/12 "2003-06-29T02:49:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zeldar \* > \*\*Maybe a small band with bagpipes, sitar, ukulele and pipe organ might be soothing if you were waiting on a root canal. \*\* Don’t forget the pan flute. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/13 "2003-06-29T03:15:36Z")
Yeah, LolaCocaCola, Might as well put that soprano sax in there, too. No point having it too subtle. Just have to wonder how a nice reggae cha-cha boogie would sound with that instrumentation. I know. Let’s get Spike to do it! Not Lee, Jones. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/14 "2003-06-29T04:43:35Z")
I like pipe bands as opposed to hearing bagpipes by themselves. However, I am a tad biased since I also enjoy rudimental drumming. I was happy to see the USAF Pipe Band at the State Fair the other year; good stuff. By the way, _20th Century Masters/The Best Of Olivia Newton John_ is right here on the desk… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bernard\_Marx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@Bernard\_Marx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bernard_Marx)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/15 "2003-06-29T07:35:42Z")
I win - I have eleven bagpipes CDs! ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/16 "2003-06-29T08:13:07Z")
Oooh! I love _The King’s Own Scottish Borders_! I have one of their banners hanging in the room here. Please, just one more round of: “If I saw Maggie in the wood, I’d do her all the good I could…” ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/17 "2003-06-29T09:33:15Z")
Aye, laddie! There’s nothin’ like the skirl o’ the pipes to get the blood flowin’ an’ scare the b’jeezus out o’ the enemy! 😃 I don’t have it now, but I used to have a record (in the olden days before CDs) of the Royal Highland Fuseliers. It was pretty good. But then I like the band organ on the carousel at Griffith Park, too. I even have a tape of that. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/18 "2003-06-29T13:07:06Z")
Bagpipe music is one of those types of music that just don’t belong on a CD in your front room. You got to hear it live, either in a big hall or outdoors. It’s also a hard instrument to play well. A lot of criticism bagpipes get is because there’s a lot of rotton players out there. There’s nothing to compare to the sound of pipes and drums. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/19 "2003-06-29T14:37:55Z")
Also, it depends on what **type** of bagpipes you’re talking about! I’m assuming that most of the previous conversation has been about the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes (the one they played in Star Trek, the one you usually hear “Amazing Grace” played on), but there are TONS of other types of bagpipes in the world. My favorite is the Northumbrian Smallpipes. They’ve got a great, sweet bubbly sound. I must have 6 or 7 Northumbrian Smallpipes CDs. Check out Kathryn Tickell’s music for examples. Archergal, fan of unusual instruments. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039/20 "2003-06-29T16:51:30Z")
I wish I could learn to play bagpipes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes/185039.md?page=2)