# I need accordion and bagpipe music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2006, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500 "2006-04-13T09:41:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/21 "2006-04-13T20:56:50Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Bellows-powered bagpipes, such as uilleann pipes, are surely as valid as any other? They’re not really _bag_-pipes as such, are they? OK, I’m being pedantic. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/22 "2006-04-13T21:40:29Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > I think a large collection of bagpipe and accordion music could be handy for: > > • Ending a blind date that is going very poorly. > • Getting those pesky in-laws to leave. > • Interrogating terrorist suspects.¹ > > ¹ Warning: May violate Geneva Convention. If I went on a date and the pipe music was brought out, I’d stick around. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/23 "2006-04-13T22:44:20Z")
> [@Boulter's Canary](#): > > They’re not really _bag_-pipes as such, are they? > > OK, I’m being pedantic. No you’re not being pedantic, you’re just wrong 😛 Bagpipes have pipes powered by a bag of compressed air. Some bagpipes fill this bag with breath power, some use a bellows. All are bagpipes. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/24 "2006-04-14T02:30:22Z")
Sweet, thanks everyone. I think bellows-powered pipes can be included, since they _sound_ like bagpipes. _rubs hands in glee_ ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/25 "2006-04-14T02:48:13Z")
For bagpipe I will recommend virtuoso [Martyn Bennett](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyn_Bennett). Here is his Yahoo [artist page](http://music.yahoo.com/ar-271919---Martyn-Bennett), and his [official site](http://www.martynbennett.com/) as well. His music was not ordinary, and his loss is felt. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/26 "2006-04-14T02:55:13Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Bellows-powered bagpipes, such as uilleann pipes, are surely as valid as any other? I think they are just as valid. Watch Martyn Bennett’s video Tongues of Kali to see a bellows powered bagpipe, I cannot remember where he said it was from, (I cannot find the post he made to his site explaining about the song, the site was changed some after his death.) I hazard the guess of Turkey. It was from that region, at the least. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/27 "2006-04-14T03:08:03Z")
Adding, it looks like if you click on albums on Yahoo you are able to purchase and download songs. (Or maybe they make you buy the whole album?) I like almost every song on his Bothy Culture album. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/28 "2006-04-14T03:28:12Z")
**Shirley Ujest** > [@](#): > > If I went on a date and the pipe music was brought out, I’d stick around. Should I ever date Shirley, I’ll know _precisely_ the kind of music to set the proper romantic mood. (Wonder if I can find an _all_ bagpipes _all_ the time radio station?) ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/29 "2006-04-14T03:32:38Z")
On the accordion front, don’t forget the entire genres of zydeco and Cajun music, most of which features squeezebox, and most of which sounds pretty good! ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/30 "2006-04-14T12:39:01Z")
Don’t forget about other styles of music that use the accordion too. Shakira uses them in Objection Tango, and they are used in Mexican music frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/31 "2006-04-14T15:42:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > You can get some accordion music on any of Weird Al Yankovic’s albums. Yes indeed, especially in his polka medleys of popular songs. They Might Be Giants’s John Linnell is an accordianist, and several of their songs prominently feature the instrument (eg. The Day, Famous Polka, and quite a few from their “Lincoln” album (Piece of Dirt, Purple Toupee, Mr. Me, I’ve Got a Match, Snowball in Hell)). As for bagpipes, did the Scottish band Big Country use real bagpipes, or just bagpipey-sounding guitars? > [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Accordian’s are not evil. “Welcome to hell. Here’s your accordian.” -_The Far Side_ ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/32 "2006-04-14T16:01:53Z")
A thread started by an Aussie and still no mention of \*\*AC/DC’\*\*s _It’s A Long Way To The Top_, the greatest bagpipe solo of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/33 "2006-04-14T16:54:15Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > I think they are just as valid. Watch Martyn Bennett’s video Tongues of Kali to see a bellows powered bagpipe, I cannot remember where he said it was from, (I cannot find the post he made to his site explaining about the song, the site was changed some after his death.) I hazard the guess of Turkey. It was from that region, at the least. OK, I stand corrected - and in that case, Davey Spillaine’s **‘Pipedreamer’** is a good album containing several different musical styles mixed with Irish folk and Paddy Moloney’s work with the Chieftains is world famous. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/34 "2006-04-30T18:31:58Z")
Wow, I missed this thread last month - was out of town and not able to check into the SDMB. Hope it’s not too late to jump in. Here’s links to bagpipe CDs I have and would certainly recommend: [Simon Fraser University Pipe Band: Down Under (Sydney Opera House)](http://www.tartantown.com/sfu_downunder.html) (SFU has repeatedly won as best pipe band in the world competitions in Scotland). [Masterpipers, Vol. 1 & The World’s Greatest Pipers, Vol. 10: Jim McGillivrary](http://www.piping.on.ca/index.php?context=1657) - Masterpipers is a collection of live performances by some of Canada’s best pipers, and Jim McGillivray was a successful competitive piper, wining the Gold medals at Oban and Inverness, and the Clasp at Inverness. [Double Gold - John Cairns](http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/C/Cairns,_John/Discography/Double_Gold_-_John_Cairns/) - another Canadian winner of both gold medals. Any of [Rob Crabtree’s four CDS](http://www.robcrabtree.com/recordings.html) - a bit more accessible, perhaps, than the preceding ones. Some other discs that I’m planning on getting but just haven’t got around to it yet: [Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band](http://www.fmmpb.com/merchandise.htm) - another repeat winner as best pipe band in the world, FMM is from Northern Ireland. [Michael Grey - Nine Blasted Notes](http://www.musicscotland.com/acatalog/9_Blasted_Notes.html) - a more experimental approach to the pipes. (The title refers to the fact that the chanter can only play nine notes, from low G to high A.) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/35 "2006-04-30T18:35:21Z")
Oops - hit “submit” by accident. Meant to add this one: [The Pipers’ Gathering: Live from North Hero](http://www.pipersgathering.org/CD.shtml) - this is a marvellous collection of tunes from bagpipes other than the Great Highland Pipes - includes Scottish smallpipes, Uiellen pipes, Northumbrian small pipes, Border pipes, all recorded live at the annual meeting for “alternative” pipes in North Hero, Vermont. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/36 "2006-04-30T18:51:27Z")
The Gotan Project features accordion pretty heavily – electrolounge-y tango, available for legal download IIRC through [http://www.emusic.com](http://www.emusic.com) – _La Revancha Del Tango_ is a pretty good album. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/37 "2006-04-30T18:55:07Z")
For rock n’ roll bagpipes, check out McCuaig. John McCuaig is the singer/bagpipe/guitar player - and I’ve seen him play trumpet as well. They do some awesome things, and they’ve got a couple of cds out. > **[GarageBand for Mac](https://www.apple.com/mac/garageband/?cid=oas-us-domains-garageband.com)** > > GarageBand for Mac has everything you need to learn, play, record, mix, and share incredible music, even if you’ve never played a note. > **[GarageBand for Mac](https://www.apple.com/mac/garageband/?cid=oas-us-domains-garageband.com)** > > GarageBand for Mac has everything you need to learn, play, record, mix, and share incredible music, even if you’ve never played a note. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500/38 "2006-04-30T22:01:27Z")
> [@Boulter's Canary](#): > > _John Kitrkpatrick_ is one of the best accordion players of all time (In the English folk tradition). > > Also English folk - _Simon Care_. See if you can find anything by his band _‘Tickled Pink’_. Recommended track; \*\*‘Need for Speed’ \*\* - a ten-minute progressive rock - style improvisation based on the trad folk dance tune **‘Speed the Plough’**. :eek: > > Bagpipes - \*Kathryn Tickell \* plays Northumbrian pipes either solo or with her band \*‘Ensemble Mysticale’ \* (iirc). Check out her solo on Oysterband’s **‘Lost and Found’** as well. > > _Alun Stivell_ plays Scottish bagpipes and bombarde (breton bagpipes). > > Irish pipes don’t really count as they’re powered by a bellows, so \*Paddy Moloney \* and _Davey Spillaine_ are out. Damn, you beat me to John Kirkpatrick. But Kathryn Tickell’s Northumbrian smallpipes are also bellow-driven, so if those kinds of pipes are excluded, you’ll have to let her go too. That’s a shame, because her stuff is wonderful. Check out [Bagad Kemper Pipe Band](http://www.themusicmeister.com/store/detail.php?p=6439&s=23) for another kind of bagpipe music too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-accordion-and-bagpipe-music/352500.md?page=1)