Bagpipes & Kilts & Curling

[imrichmond]

"Scotland the Brave" is a popular tune and one that most non-pipers recognize, although 90% of the latter will call it "My Bonnie Lassie". It has no particular significance as a tune other than that it is easily recognized by the public, and is often played for that reason. A piper might well play a different tune, in part because he/she is sick and tired of playing StB. There are literally thousands of excellent pipe tunes and any 2/4, 4/4 or 6/8 march can be played to march people onto the ice; it only needs to be a lively tune. I have often played "Highland Laddie", "The Glendaruel Highlanders", "Bonnie Dundee" or "The Blue Bonnets" for marching groups into events, including bonspiels. Of course, the event organizers may request that the piper play a particular tune.

As for marching on the ice, this can be deadly for a piper wearing shoes with leather soles and metal plates in the heel. I used to wear a pair of rubber overshoes covering my brogues whenever I played for a bonspiel. These give a decent grip on the ice, but they have become harder to find in recent years. Nowadays, I wear ghillie brogues with soft rubber soles and heels. So far, I have never fallen on the ice. Taking shorter steps also helps with marching on the ice.

The necessary pieces of highland dress depend on whether the piper is wearing day dress, evening (formal) dress or full military number 1 dress. At minimum, a male piper should be wearing a kilt, sporran, appropriate hose, a jacket and tie and a glengarry or balmoral hat. For a less formal affair the piper might choose a sweater in lieu of the jacket and tie. Women pipers may be similarly dressed or may simply be wearing a tartan skirt with an appropriate top. In this case the lady piper would not normally be wearing a hat. Most pipers wear what they have, be it their personal gear or the uniform of the pipe band they play with. There really are no hard and fast rules.