love the pipes:

[legendarytones]

I usually post in the Bluegrass threads, but just wanted to say how much I enjoy Celtic music. My youngest son got married this past week, and had a bagpipe player as the only music from clan Gunn. He was fantastic, it made chills on the back of my neck and arms. I am learning a few Scotch-Irish tunes on my mandolin, but would like to have some info from all of you who play it regularly, what would be some good music for me to get to learn more tunes. I have Scott, Irish, English, and Dutch blood in me. My wife's ancestors were of clan Ferguson. Appreciate any info on this.

[John Flynn]

Do you know why pipers like to march when they play?

To try to get away from the noise!

Just kidding, I like 'em too. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[legendarytones]

When the wedding ceremony was over and son and wife were walking out of the church, the piper followed them playing "The Campbells are Coming". I got amusement from my wife when she asked me what that tune was, when I told her it is the fighting song of clan Campbell that they went into battle with.

[Martin Jonas]

If you enjoy pipe tunes, go to Nigel Gatherer (http://www.nigelgatherer.com/)'s site and check out some of his mandolin arrangements of pipe marches (http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab1.html#march) and strathspeys (http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab1.html#strath). If you're familiar with the abc format, here (http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/abc/abc1.html) are many more. It's great fun playing bagpipe tunes on mandolin. If you really want to push the boat out, try a mandolin arrangement of one of the grand pibrochs. Dargai (http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/TuneGet?F=GIF&U=/~jc/music/abc/Scotland/by/James.Scott.Skinner/Dargai.abc&X=1&T=DARGAI&N=Dargai.gif) is a particular favourite, if only because I like to pit my wits against Richard Thompson's classic arrangement of the tune for acoustic guitar.

Martin

[mando bandage]

Just kidding, I like 'em too. #



MandoJohnny,

I certainly hope so, because my wife, who is mostly Scottish, and what isn't Scottish is Irish, has been piping for about a year. The day is fast approaching when she will be playing Scotland the Brave on her great highlands at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery where her father (the pure Scottish side) is buried. And I don't care if you are out in South County, you'll still hear it! (And I'll bet he will too.)

R

[John Flynn]

mando bandage:

I'd like to hear that! This Friday evening, I plan to go to Jefferson Barracks Park, which is right next to the cemetery, to hear the "97th Regimental String Band," a trio with guitar, banjo and mando that plays authentic Civil War tunes.

[legendarytones]

Martin, I appreciate the info. Tomorrow I'll spend some time there listening.

[mando bandage]

Mando Johnny:

Sounds like an interesting concert in an appropriate setting. While not authentic to the period, Steve Earle has a couple of curiously well-researched Civil War songs you may be familiar with, Dixieland and Ben McCulloch.

R

[mancmando]

I'm lucky enough to play with an Irish piper - the Irish pipes are quite different from Scottish bagpipes, there is nothing to blow into, a "bag" is squeezed to get the air into them...

Anyhow, check out Becky Taylor (http://www.beckytaylor.info/)

(not sure if I've put that on correctly!), unfortunately I don't play any mandolin on this, just guitar, but watch this space.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Bob DeVellis]

Irish pipers don't want to get away from the noise, apparently, because they play sitting. Uillian pipes are really pretty different from warpipes. I've played with both and love both but the warpipes are really an outdoor instrument -- REALLY loud. Uillian pipes can be among the most expressive instruments out there, in the right hands. I can remember at least one occasion, at a friend's house, where there were three sets of Irish pipes going at once, in addition to fiddles, accordion, concertinas, and what have you. Quite a ruckus, but a delightful one.

Couldn't find any pictures with three but there are two in this shot, Patrick Sky (left) and Todd Denman (right). The concertinist is Julie Ross and the banjo player is Dan Leonard. Not sure who the fiddler is -- not a regular. Pat's golden-fringe-trimmed leopard skin bag cover was a gag gift Julie made for him. I think he'd want me to explain.

[mandoman15]

a piper leaving his bagpipes in the back seat of his car went into the hair dressers to get a cut.. upon realizing he haddn't locked his car he rushed out of the brarber with half his hair cut, to lock his door. when he got to this car he found not only were his bagpipes still safe, another pair was sitting next to them.

just kidding, (it's my only bagpipe joke), honestly i love the pipes and have the honor of having a few close amigos who play them extremely well, and i have etreme respect for any piper, especially ullian pipers...

[withak]

Bagpipes make it hard to hear mandolins sometimes. (http://www.spiralseisiun.com/erik/ocean.mp3) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[arbarnhart]

mandomand15,

Here's another, so you will know 2...

Q. What's the range of a bagpipe?
A. Depends on the strength of your throwing arm and technique, but usually about 25 yards. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif