Fungus-infested bagpipes sicken lifelong player

**Jock Scot** · 14th March 13, 05:14 AM

Wow! I suppose when one thinks about it, it is pretty obvious really that bugs would be lurking within a wind blown musical instrument. You pipers out there, get thinking!

**Tobus** · 14th March 13, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Wow! I suppose when one thinks about it, it is pretty obvious really that bugs would be lurking within a wind blown musical instrument. You pipers out there, get thinking!

This story reminded me of my days in junior high and high school when I played brass instruments in the band (tuba and baritone). These instruments, unlike woodwinds or even the bagpipes, aren't simply blown into. You have to pucker your lips into the mouthpiece and vibrate your lips as you blow, which results in a lot of saliva inside the instrument. All these brass instruments are fitted with a "spit valve" somewhere (usually at a low point) so you can periodically drain the saliva out of the instrument.

Looking back on it, it was really disgusting. These instruments belonged to the school and were used by several students. We would each clean our mouthpiece, but I don't recall ever having any strict rules on cleaning out the insides of the instruments or disinfecting them. We'd usually go as long as we could until it got really foul-smelling in there.

And then we'd just give it a bath in warm soapy water. But nobody ever got sick from it, that I know of.

Scary stuff, though.

**Chas** · 14th March 13, 06:38 AM

I am somewhat at a loss to understand how it could happen. After all the piper is blowing any infection away from himself. If it came out the drones or the chanter then we are all at risk aren't we?

If it wasn't so serious, it would sound like one of those 60's horror movies - "Wee Jock and the Pipes of Death"

Regards

Chas

**plaid preacher** · 14th March 13, 06:46 AM

Not being a piper myself *yet at least* I'm no expert. But if Dame Anna Russell in her classic piece on the doodlesack is correct there is a blow - suck - twiddle continuum; please not the sucking part. I do believe there is a flap to hold the air in the bag that the piper sucks into position which could also lead them open to inhaling any wee beastie that was living in the bag.

Pipers out there, help me out. Do Dame Anna and I have this correct?

By the way I love that bit. I will have to youtube it this evening.

**Blupiper** · 14th March 13, 09:00 AM

To answer Thomas H and Plaid Preacher: there is a valve or flapper at the bottom of the blowstick. Similar in form and function to the flapper valve in the bottom of the toilet tank. It keeps the flow of air one-way--into the bag. As far as cleaning out a sealed bag: you must condition it to seal leaks and condition the leather. Traditionally, mixtures of substances such as treacle, honey and whisky were used. Today, there are commercially made products available that use lanolins, antiseptics and parrafinic substances. Keeping the inside of the sealed bag clean means breaking down the pipes after playing to allow air circulation to try and dry out the innards of the bag. Or buy a bag with a zipper in it and use a moisture control system. These are simple to elaborate systems which fit inside the bag, attaching at the base of the blowstick's mounting stock. They use a variety of dessicants to dry the breath coming from your lungs into the bag. Humans are variable; some people are"dry blowers" and others "wet." Depends on the amount of moisture, saliva, etc., that you put into your bag when you inflate it. I tend to the dry side. Hope this helps. I am going to look into my bag tonight--not that there is anything growing in there!

JMB

**Chas** · 14th March 13, 09:33 AM

Thanks JMB.

It always amazes me when I find out things that I never knew existed in the first place.

Regards

Chas

**plaid preacher** · 14th March 13, 10:04 AM

Indeed, thanks JMB. A careful read of the article also raises a couple of interesting facts.

1) the traditional bag made from actual leather required more maintenance which probably also decreased the possibility of a build up of wee beasties.

2) The gentleman-in-question's pipes were sounding sweet and he did not want to break them down before competition in case it affected the tone. I remember back in my days as a reservist spending the summer with a reg force regiment. Our Transport Officer was a piper and was asked to play at a ceremony to commemorate one of the regiment's battle honours. He marched onto the parade square and started his pipes but they d@& things just wouldn't produce the sounds he wanted. I don't think he pulled them out for the rest of the summer.