Playing the Pipes for Easter Sunrise Service

**Blupiper** · 13th March 08, 02:47 PM

I will be playing for Sunrise Service a week from Sunday. It will start at 6:30 am. My question for you all is on the appropriateness of what I'm wearing. As it will be early, kind of dark still and around 35 degrees, I will be wearing a black commando-style sweater, my glengarry and MacLeod of Harris kilt with proper hose, flashes, shirt, tie, etc. Any advice/suggestions? Not getting out of bed and blowing off the whole thing isn't an option. BTW, the playlist will be The Hymn of Promise (aka, In the Seed There is a Flower) and Morning Has Broken.

JMB

**beloitpiper** · 13th March 08, 06:17 PM

Sounds right, but maybe bring an Inverness cape incase it is colder than you thought.

Also, nice tunes.

**Frank McGrath** · 13th March 08, 06:26 PM

Wish I could be there. Good Luck.

**Jack Daw** · 13th March 08, 07:34 PM

Is this "sunrise" service inside the church or outside? When I've piped during a service, I'm uncomfortable about wearing a hat inside a church because some of the believers may not like it. So, I don't do it no matter whatever else I am wearing. You may want to consider this.

**JS Sanders** · 13th March 08, 07:48 PM

Blupiper,
Presumably this will be an outdoor service. What you describe is quite apropos for the occasion. A dark commando sweater, etc is smart attire and more so for the piper.

I've worn it to many funeral gigs for no other reason than I was weary of the usual black argyll jacket.

I'm sure you'll make necessary preparations for cold weather piping.

My concern at those temperatures is keeping my hands warm & dexterous. For that, I've been using Wristies with the disposable heaters. Works beautifully. You should have time to receive a pair if you order quickly.

Slainte & Welcome,
steve

**Blupiper** · 13th March 08, 11:36 PM

Thanks for the replies, all. It will be an outside service, at a local memorial park and cemetary. I will try to "stay dextrous," which should be a challenge. I am still keeping my fingers crossed for unseasonably nice weather.

JMB

**Blupiper** · 26th March 08, 11:42 PM

Got it done. Took the kit I described, along with an Inverness cape to keep it from raining. Began at 6:30 am with 'Morning Has Broken' and finished not being able to feel my fingertips. Weather about 31 degrees and no rain or snow, thankfully. In bed with a cold last two days. Oh, well, the things we do.

JMB

**Prester John** · 26th March 08, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Jack Daw

I'm uncomfortable about wearing a hat inside a church because some of the believers may not like it...

I hear you. Funny how offended folks can get if a man wears a hat in church.

I visited the big catholic Cathedral in St. Louis and saw a sign requesting that men remove their hats in Church, but not one requesting that women cover their heads in Church.

Fair is fair after all.

**McClef** · 27th March 08, 04:43 AM

Keeping this purely to custom and tradition rather than religion as such...

It's based upon something that St Paul wrote in I Corinthians and at the time culturally it must have been considered a distraction. Head covering didn't require a hat, which were a later development in any case, but today a hat is considered as a head covering.

For some reason the wearing of male headgear in a church became limited to the clergy - mitres, birettas etc. in both eastern and western traditions and therefore the male laity were expected to remove any headgear upon entering.

There were some groupings that allowed male hats - the Puritans and the Quakers wore them for example but that declined with time also. It's only fairly recently when headgear for ladies was seen as optional in many traditions.

When it comes to highland wear it would still be the tradition to remove head coverings, even if piping, before entry and that is certainly the practice in the UK armed forces for all uniformed personnel to remove hats even when a Church Parade is held in the open air.

It's less an issue of fairness than respect.

**macwilkin** · 27th March 08, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

Keeping this purely to custom and tradition rather than religion as such...

It's based upon something that St Paul wrote in I Corinthians and at the time culturally it must have been considered a distraction. Head covering didn't require a hat, which were a later development in any case, but today a hat is considered as a head covering.

For some reason the wearing of male headgear in a church became limited to the clergy - mitres, birettas etc. in both eastern and western traditions and therefore the male laity were expected to remove any headgear upon entering.

There were some groupings that allowed male hats - the Puritans and the Quakers wore them for example but that declined with time also. It's only fairly recently when headgear for ladies was seen as optional in many traditions.

When it comes to highland wear it would still be the tradition to remove head coverings, even if piping, before entry and that is certainly the practice in the UK armed forces for all uniformed personnel to remove hats even when a Church Parade is held in the open air.

It's less an issue of fairness than respect.

I suppose it depeneds on your definition of a "church parade", but in 1968, when the Cameronians chose to disband, one last conventicle was held at Douglas, where the regiment was raised in 1689. I have seen pictures and even films from this event, and in it, the Cameronians are wearing their hats on parade:

http://www.community-council.org.uk/...onventicle.jpg

It's always been my understanding that bonnets/headgear are worn on parade to the church, then removed. Several photos on google images seem to confirm this -- perhaps our own Nervous Jock could weigh on this subject, since he is a serving TA officer?

T.