There used to be a piper who’d practice in the schoolyard on the other side of my back fence. Haven’t heard him/her recently, I guess he/she moved away. I always kind of enjoyed the mystery of “oh, there’s the piper,” when I was out weeding.
Archergal, you are a person of rare taste and discernment.
Yours sincerely,
WotNot, the native Northumbrian
I have a CD of bagpipes, and I’m not ashamed to say that it’s because I like them. If it happens to annoy other folks, well that’s they’re problem that they’re not sophisticated enough to appreciate good music.
And Futile Gesture, it isn’t even enough to hear them outside. Good piping, you don’t just hear, you feel it.
Why thank you, WotNot! 
I have an interest in the border lands and would love to visit the area some day!
A lot of good tunes came out of Northumbria.
I’ve got a Seamus Ennis ulian(sp?) pipes CD. Does that count?
I freaking love bagpipes.
The Dropkick Murphys and the Pogues both have some songs which feature bagpipes in a punk band. It’s a very interesting sound!
My sister has a CD by a band called Hevia, which I steal- ahem, borrow- when I’m in the mood for some piping. There’s also some bagpipage on several of my Celtic music collection CDs.
I think bagpipes are one of those things that you love or hate, the auditory equivalent of black licorice. (Of which I am also a fan. 
) Properly played pipes shiver down your spine with an unearthly sound…
Archergal, I’ll have to check out Northumbrian Smallpipes music. Thanks for the heads-up! 
Speaking of unusual instruments, [slight hijack] do you like hammered dulcimer? I’m renting and attempting to learn to play one. [/hijack]
O.K. I have several pipe CDs, and even had a set or pipes untill my nephew coundn’t live with out them, Now I’m not sure I can.
Hmmm…I have close to a dozen CD’s featuring pipe music - not only the Great Highland Bagpipes, but also Uillean Pipes and Lowland Smallpipes.
There’s also a lot of tin whilstle and bodhran happening there.
I HAVE a hammered dulcimer! I love the sound of them, and I can play mine a bit, but I found out that holding the hammers and playing aggravates a sore tendon in my right wrist. 
So my HD will be for sale whenever I get around to doing something about it.
I always thought that hammered dulcimer music would be what raindrops sounded like if they were music. Ok, silly and sentimental, but hey, sue me. 
I love the sound.
You can major in bagpipe at my undergraduate school! The picture text on the right side gives a reference:
http://www.cmu.edu/enrollment/admission/know/programs_and_majors.html#CFA
Yeah, hammered dulcimer requires much wrist action. Like just about anything hammered; marimba, vibraphone, chimes, xylophone… I was in percussion pit for a while in high school. LOVED the mallet instruments! Marimba has this lovely rich tone to it, and vibraphone has more of a chime-like quality. Too bad all the mallet instruments cost about as much as an average car.
Archergal, let me know if you ever get around to selling your dulcimer, 'kay?