Bagipes Banned from Edinburgh Wedding !

[RockyR]

If I were the piper and had that day free, I may go to the church, stand 1/2 a block away and start playing (down wind from the church of course). Think of it as a gift to the bride and groom.

[macwilkin]

Last year, my father-in-law passed away in Birmingham, Al. They were long time, faithful members of the Episcopal Church. When we were planning the funeral service the minister said the church had a prohibition against bagpipes inside the church for the funeral service. He stated that their affiliation with The Anglican Communion (The Church of England) still led them to view the bagpipes as an implement of war. They did consent to allow the piper to stand on the sidewalk in front of the church with the doors open so the attendees could hear the pipes.

I can't wait to share this story with several priests and a number of our local Scottish society members who are Episcopalian -- sounds like that rector flunked his church history course in Seminary -- the Episcopal Church USA's first Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Seabury, was consecrated in Aberdeen in 1784 by three Scottish Bishops! The SEC, not the C. of E., was responsible for the creation of the Communion, since it was not the established/state church of Scotland -- Seabury could not be consecrated in England being an American.

Todd (a 20 year "pisskie" who organizes the local Kirkin' at his Anglo-Catholic parish)

[CMcG]

<snip>pipers playing their Pipe Band competition setup pipes, with the chanter screaming a quartertone sharp and as loud and brassy as human ingenuity is capable of making it.

If all pipers used warm woody mellow concert-pitch (466) chanters for church gigs we would have far fewer people objecting to pipes in church.

Slightly off-topic, but I'm curious about the quartertone sharp tuning of a chanter. Is that a sharper than the drones, thereby giving a richer sound from the tones rubbing, or is everything tuned up a bit? Also, what other organological modifications do competition pipers make to increase the volume and brassiness?

I can understand why some clergy might not appreciate that sort of sound inside a place of worship; it really is an outdoor instrument. However, banning any type of pipes whatsoever from the vicinity is draconian. As OC Richard wrote, not all pipes are that bold and brash.

[davidlpope]

Slightly off-topic, but I'm curious about the quartertone sharp tuning of a chanter. Is that a sharper than the drones, thereby giving a richer sound from the tones rubbing, or is everything tuned up a bit? Also, what other organological modifications do competition pipers make to increase the volume and brassiness?

466 is actually a relatively "flat" tuning of a chanter. Bagpipes don't work on a conventional A=440hz scale. Our pipe band tuned A=476hz. The tenor drones are always tuned an octave below Low A on the chanter, the bass drone is two octaves down.

As far as not being able to have pipes in a particular church, if you don't agree with the rules, find another place to play ball...

David

[FatherWilliam57]

Once again, thanks to the members of this forum for giving me an education. In over 20 years of ministry, I have never had a couple request a piper at their wedding (or even have a family request one at a funeral). But at least now if the situation ever arises, I will know what reasonable requests can be made of the piper to make it a good experience for those in attendance and cut down on any potential complaints. Again, thank you.

[EagleJCS]

Slightly off-topic, but I'm curious about the quartertone sharp tuning of a chanter. Is that a sharper than the drones, thereby giving a richer sound from the tones rubbing, or is everything tuned up a bit? Also, what other organological modifications do competition pipers make to increase the volume and brassiness?

davidlpope has it right. The tenor drones (the two shorter sticks on the shoulder) are tuned one octave below the chanter's Low A, and the bass drone (the long stick) is two octaves. (The chanter is where the tune/melody comes from, the drones provide the 'hum'.) And yes, bagpipes can be (and definitely should be) tuned.

From what I've been told, the relative pitch for bagpipe competitions has been rising every so slightly from year to year from the mid-1980's or so (because the flatter tone sounds dull by comparison and consequently doesn't place as well). From what I understand, the pipes started out slightly sharper than concert A=440 anyway, but that's another discussion. Unfortunately, that means the higher notes are sounding more and more shrill. I've read that we're now approaching the limits of what the current design of drone/chanter bores and reeds can produce.

The volume (and brassiness) comes from using a stiffer reed. There's a lot of ebb and flow to the dynamics between the drums and pipes of a band. The pipes start going sharper, so the drums (which can be tuned as well) have to follow. Since the drum tension goes higher to get a higher pitch, their volume goes up, so the pipes have to get louder as well.


Regarding Richard's comment about soloists using their band setup - sometimes, that's all a piper has. Not everyone can afford a second set of pipes, or even has the time to maintain a second chanter (with backup reed, etc.) and using just one set of drones for both band and solo duties. When mini-bands are hired (like I'm playing with later today), it's easier to use the band setup (we're already matching in pitch) than trying to get all of our solo chanters (those of us that have them) to match note for note.

Anyhow, this is all off topic....

[JSFMACLJR]

My father was an Anglican/Episcopalian priest. He had parishes in both the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Episcopal Church USA. He would never allow pipes to be played inside the church; outside would be fine. My father loved the pipes--but just not in the church. No exceptions. If that caused a problem for anyone, well, sorry, try someplace else.

[kiltimabar]

Bagpipe volume can be controlled? They can be tuned? Who knew? I'll bet there are a lot of people who are totally unaware that there is more than one way to play the pipes besides loud and proud!

[seanachie]

I even have a hard time convincing people to let me play my uilleann pipes in the church. They don't believe me when I say they are the same volume as a single violin or flute. Many's the time I've had to actually play the uilleann pipes for them. As soon as they hear them, my playing in the church is approved.

I enjoy the uilleann pipes as well. I hired a group of Irish musicians for the wedding reception and they were grand. Many people who had never heard them before thoroughly enjoyed the trad music.

[EagleJCS]

Bagpipe volume can be controlled? They can be tuned? Who knew? I'll bet there are a lot of people who are totally unaware that there is more than one way to play the pipes besides loud and proud!

Volume can't be controlled as can an electric guitar's. Generally speaking, the pipes are on or off, and always have been. Increasing volume has been gradual, as has the rise in pitch. (We're not talking about a great degree of difference in volume, either. Probably only about 10 dB, if that much.) I would liken it to the difference between standing just around the corner from a piper and standing in front of one.