I understand the inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man carrying an indignant, asthmatic pig under his arm. Unfortunately, the man made sound never equaled the purity of the sound achieved by the pig. - Alfred Hitchcock

To the right is an image of Ron Ellis and myself (on the left) at the 2003 Calgary Highland Games. Ron Ellis plays with the Kelowna pipeband and has been a friend of the family for many years.

In 1986, I was participating in the Aberdeen International Youth Music Festival in Aberdeen Scotland. At the time I was a French horn player with the Calgary Youth Orchestra. The opening ceremonies of the festival took place in a huge cathedral in downtown Aberdeen and featured a performance by a British Army pipe band. The pipe band marched up the aisle of the cathedral (playing of course) and also put on a small tattoo later that same evening.

This was the first time I had ever experienced a pipe band up close and I was enraptured!! I thought the whole experience was simply magical and the little voice in the back of my head (the voice that is now controlled by medication) was telling me that one day I would have to learn how to play the pipes.

At present (March 2005) I have been playing the pipes for 4 years. I have been taking private lessons from Stephanie McSween for all of this time. I joined the University of Calgary pipe band during the fall of 2002 and played with them for about 2 1/2 years.

Learning to play the pipes has been very hard as it is very unlike any other instrument I have ever played (which would include the piano, the trumpet, the French horn and the bass guitar). About the only positive transfer that has occurred is the diaphragm and breathing control that I learned playing the horn ... and the ability to read and understand music of course.

I have been very much enjoying playing with the band and in addition to performing with the band I have been doing the odd bit of solo playing at weddings and such.

The following is a bagpipe joke that I find quite amusing:

One weekend I told my Sunday school class the story of the Three Trees. In it, each of the trees wished to grow big and strong. The first wanted to become an ornate treasure chest; the second a majestic sailing vessel and the third wished to become the tallest tree in the forest.

Then one day a woodsman entered the forest and felled the three trees. The first was made into a plain box, the second into a simple dory and the third cut into lumber. The children all understood the disappointment of the trees.

But I continued. "The first tree became the manger for Baby Jesus. The second tree was made into the boat from which Jesus performed man miracles and the third tree was made into a cruel instrument of torture..."

An incredulous voice interrupted; "The bagpipes?!"

taken from Readers Digest ... by Andrea Manuel

more bagpipe humour

Bagpipe Related Links

Bagpipe Web Directory

a global bagpipe directory

Canadian Bagpipe Links

Pipers and such

Ann Gray

a Calgary piper of international renown

Seanachie

a Celtic band based in Calgary - great fun live

Raven

A wonderful Celtic group from Seattle (I think?)

MacUmba

an interesting blend of traditional Scottish melodies, Caribbean and South American rhythms

Vendors of music and kit

the Celtic Pipe Line

These nice people will sell you just about anything related to piping or drumming at very reasonable prices. I bought my pipes from these folks and I can't say enough good things about them!! I highly recommend this company for all things pipe-ish.

Cranford Publications

I found the score to my absolute favouritest pipe tune on the planet (trip to Mabou Ridge) for sale with this company.

Lismor Recordings

a good source of bagpipe and Celtic recordings

Associations

ASPD

...that's the Alberta Society of Pipers and Drummers for those of you who don't like acronyms