PipersCity of Bristol Pipers
Written by Siobhan Mullan Sunday, 15 May 2011 21:49
Bagpipes are ancient instruments which have evolved into a variety of forms around the world. Perhaps the most famous bagpipes are the Great Highland Bagpipes, central to Scottish history, music and culture. The Great Highland Bagpipes are played solo and in pipe bands accompanied by drums, throughout Scotland and around the world. The instrument is both deceptively simple and maddeningly complex at the same time!
Air is blown through the blowstick to fill the bag, (now more often made of Gore-Tex than animal skin!) whilst the left arm squeezes air from this reservoir through the chanter, which sounds the tune, and the bass and 2 tenor drones, which provide a continuous accompaniment.
The characteristic clear 'mountain stream' tone of the bagpipes comes from the small double reed in the chanter (similar to that of an oboe). However, in contrast to orchestral wind instruments the bagpipes have just nine notes and cannot achieve the types of musical expression normally controlled by the mouth, such as changes in volume, due to the presence of the bag. In order to overcome the limitations of this simple instrument an elaborate system of ornamentation of the music through an array of super fast finger movements between the main notes of the tune provide musical expression and a 'bubbly' sound. Mastering these finger movements is notoriously difficult, requiring many hours of dedicated practice on a (thankfully quieter!) practice chanter
Playing in a pipe band
Pipers play the tunes in the pipe band accompanied by rhythms produced by the drummers. The pipers must play in unison, although sometimes groups within the band will play more than one part. The pipe major is the musical leader of the band and helps to keep everyone together. The music played in pipe bands is generally traditional tunes, such as marches, jigs and slow airs. Just to spice things up a bit the music is always played from memory and often whilst marching!
The band practices every Wednesday at 8pm in the TA centre in Horfield, Bristol. The typical evening routine is for the band to divide into practice groups of drummers and pipers to undertake tuition before the whole band comes together at 9pm for a full band practice.
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