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Bagpipes.
Yes, it was hilarious when the piper on “So I Married and Axe Murderer” played “If you think I’m sexy”, but you sound like a tool when you ask that. It was years and years ago, so just stop. And yes, we wear kilts when we compete and perform. They aren’t skirts, they aren’t dresses, they’re kilts and they all cost 500-600 dollars and are made of 9 yards of material and weigh several pounds each. Yes, we wear underwear too. Stop asking ridiculous questions.
Anyways…
The bagpipes are one of the oldest instruments we know of. There are hundreds of different versions, and they all have a different tone, and come from a different part of the world. Actually, the only peoples I can think of that didn’t develop some sort of instrument that used a reservoir to hold air while playing were the Native Americans and Native Australians (HA…PC at it’s finest).
Now, instead of starting you off with something more traditional (we’ll get there though, don’t worry), I decided to go with a really unique tune. It’s an adaptation of the famous “Cannon in D” by Pachelbel, and I had previously never heard anything like it.
It’s performed here by Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (a 5 time World Champion at this time of this writing). Simon Fraser was the first grade 1 (Highest level) band that I ever saw in person.
Previous to that moment, I felt like a lot of you do about the bagpipes. Bagpipes are interesting, but what is the point?
Well…then I heard 17 pipers and 6 snare drummers and 4 tenor drummers (if I remember correctly) and a bass drummer all playing together PERFECTLY, in person. It will always be one of the most memorable experiences in my life. It was then that my perspective changed completely. It cannot be described…the power was absolutely amazing. After that day I have no doubts why the British put a ban on the use of the “Great Highland Bagpipe” centuries ago. The moral boost for the ally, and shear terror it must have produced in the enemy could easily have changed the flow of a battle. If you ever have a chance to see a good pipe band playing, do it. You will not regret it. There are festivals all over the world every summer, and they are a blast.
I hope you enjoy this, as it is a little different than what can normally be found out there. I will be sure to hit on something a little more traditional in the future, so you can compare and see just how cool this really is.
The one major goal we have here at The Reviewist is to help people to find, and appreciate, new music. Maybe something they haven’t experienced before. For 1812 Overture (officially called Festive Overture: 1812, Op. 49) this may be slightly difficult, as most of you have heard it. Many times actually…the problem though, is that you heard it on the 4th of July, all drunkered up and not paying attention to a single thing (except Uncle Jeb and his cavalier attitude towards explosives and alcohol). We think that a little history is in order here, because the piece is so stunningly beautiful when you know what is going on. Many classical composers were master story tellers…they just didn’t use words. As a matter of fact, there are so many pieces of classical music that tell whole stories! Once you know the stories, though, you get hooked. So, proceed with caution…or heaven forbid you might ACTUALLY like the classical music you have only claimed to like in the past.
Do you have the guts? Seriously…do you have the kibbles and bits to listen to something you never would have considered before? Something you may have even mocked in the past?
