'Pipers, what do you say...

[MacAngus]

Thats a nice story kilted fire piper. I have had people tell me the same thing of the floating effect. You're stronger than me cause in 98 i lost my dear nana who loved that i kept up the tradition in our family and loved to hear me play.Similar to you I was listening graveside kind of trying to get my bearings together but when the funeral director gave me the nod i blew up the bag and lost it i just couldn't do it for some reason i was overcome with emotion. But after her funeral i kinda redeemed myself by playing at the house party afterward and i played all her favorite old straspheys reels and jigs.My family loved it.

[Kerr the Walker]

I don't currently play (would like to learn at some point though), but I don't think I could play at a relative's funeral. I get choked up hearing AG on the pipes regardless of venue....a relatives funeral would be asking for trouble. Weird thing is, when it's sung or played on any other instrument it doesn't bother me, but when I hear it played on the pipes it hits me like a brick.

[piperdbh]

The way I get through it is to look ANYWHERE other than at the family, and think only about my fingers and reeds. It helps to have a cool temperature, too. I've played in terrible heat, and bitter cold. I prefer a cool day with a good bit of humidity.
My personal opinion is, if you can through it, play on. If not, don't. I've never broken down mid-tune, but I did blow the chanter out of the bag once. The hemp thread had dried out and shrunk, and suddenly the music stopped! Emmmmbarrassing!

[MacAngus]

I think the toughest funeral i played was for a 4 year old little girl .
It was about 10 degrees my chanter wouldn't play i took it out of the bag and there was ice on it i put in another one and played .
To my surprise my fingers sounded great in that blistering cold.
I usually don't look at the families either but this was different the poor family was balling
from the begining as they walked into the church and after the ceremony was done at the cemetery.
It was hard to play not only cause it was cold but because the family was so distraught over their little girl.I just bid sown on the mouth piece and kept going until i played slowly out of sight.

[ohiopiper]

When asked, my response is usually "it would be my honor to play for the funeral" if it's a person or family I know. If it's not someone I know, it's usually a business transaction, as in they want a piper and I hapen to be one. Simple decorum and courtesy, same as if you were the one providing anything else for the funeral.

[Jack Daw]

Just as others have responded, "I would be honored."

Thankfully, because I am not a professional, full-time piper, I've only done a handful of funerals for to pipe b/c I work during the week. I don't care to do them.

[highlander_Daz]

Last time I played at a funeral the clients demanded their money back, some one had told them the pipes were loud enough to wake the dead and it wasnt the case

J/K

[piperdbh]

Daz,
Did you give them their money back?
I think I'd be tempted to go over to those folks' house at 3 in the morning and serenade them.

What if you really had wakened the dead? I bet those folks would not have liked that, either. They'd have to give their inheritance back.

[cajuncelt]

Classic piping joke...
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It's the thought that counts..... As a young bagpiper, I was asked by a funeral director to play at a grave-side service for a homeless man, with no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost; and being a typical man did not stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew, who were eating lunch, but the hearse was nowhere in sight.

I apologized to the workers for my tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave, where I saw the vault lid already in place.
I assured the workers I would not hold them up for long, but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I played out my heart and soul.

As I played the workers began to weep. I played, and I played, like I'd never played before: From My Home & The Lord is my Shepherd to Flowers of the Forest .

I closed the lengthy session with Amazing Grace and walked to my car. As I was opening the door and taking off my coat, I overheard one of the workers saying to another, "Sweet Jeezuz, Mary'n Joseph, I never seen nothin' like that before - and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.

[Jack Daw]

LOL! I've NEVER heard that one! Thanks, cajuncelt!