I imagine this happened because of Rememberence Day.
I live downtown not too far from EVERYTHING; the Armories, the police station, the fire station, you name it, I live near it.
Sitting at my computer I suddenly heard bagpipes, and they were close! they stopped, and a few second later they started again, and stopped. A minute later, again. This went on for about an hour, on and off, driving me absolutely nuts.
It's the strangest thing. I don't mind the pipes when I'm hearing a recording --I think this is because I can control the volume-- but when they are live, they freak me right out!!! Worst of all, my computer's headset has an attached microphone, hense the sound went right into my ear. If I unplug the mic the headphones don't work either. AARRGGHH!!! I think my distaste for bagpipes has to do with my sensitive hearing, and with a bagpiper who walked a little too close to me when I was really little.
Are there any other Gatherers who are driven crazy by bagpipes?
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Comments: 94
I think bagpipes sound wistful and lovely. Many years ago I used to hang out and lay in the sun at Lake of the Isles, a gorgeous park, complete with romantic lake, in Minneapolis. One lovely Sunday morning I encountered a bagpipe player in full regalia - knee socks, kilt, fringed purse, the whole works - playing for tips. The scene was enthralling, and I stayed for a long time, listening to the mournful sounds of that instrument. It was a very memorable experience.
Here is a link to one of many sites that describe it.
I agree with you about being able to turn the pipers off. LOL
One firefighter who played the bagpipes in NYC said that, after September 11, he played the pipes at so many funerals of the fallen, he doubts he will ever pick them up again.
I agree with you about overly loud music. I have very, very good hearing. Too good, in fact, because I have to wear earplugs when I sleep or even small noises wake me up. My husband, on the other hand, suffers from partial deafness in at least one ear - the result of too many untreated ear infections as a child. Of course he LOVES racous, punky garage music, so I am constantly turning down the volume his stereo or the TV! He's blown two sets of stereo speakers in the last 10 years.
I used to play music in the street. One day on the UC Berkeley campus I was doing all right, tips were accumulating at a decent rate when a piper set up about 50 yards away. Soon my audience went over the piper. I moved within singing range, 20 yards or so, and blasted him out. It took ten minutes or so but he got the idea and left.
I love the sound of bagpipes but not when it steals money from me. I like the Irish pipes a lot too.
You hate the pipes? Hmmpf! Oh well...I absolutely adore them.
mar sin leibh‡/leat (goodbye)
So the piper in the park was that long ago, eh? WOW!
And you're right. No place to go in here execpt out, at which point I'd be CLOSER to the music, so where I sit now there's really no escaping.
I sleep with my radio on, because unexpected noises bug me at night. As long as I have my radio on, I don't notice them. I usually fall asleep listening to the BBC or AM 740. I hope your husband pays for all the speakers that he blows.
Any female pipers out there?
How are Irish pipes different?
Can't remember exactly what the difference between Irish and Scottish pipes. IIRC it's in the drones.
If I believed in reincarnation, I could almost believe that I was once piped into battle...
One should take note as to the original use of bagpipes as an instrument of WAR; specifically targeted to sonically terrorize the enemy encampment for hours leading up to battle.
What is the definition of a Scottish Gentleman?
A man who can play the bagpipes but chooses not to. ;o)
Not even used to that yet.
~10
Good article to
there are its advantages to living close to down towne though!
Maybe in THIS form you'd like them.
(running away before Leah throws a tomato at me)
Okay, I can top that. This was one of the most hair-raising experiences I have ever had. We took our daughter to the UK as a graduation present when she graduated from UCLA. We rented a car and toured England and Scotland. On our way north into Scotland, we were climbing up into the Scottish highlands on a cool, cloudy morning. We stopped at a view point, and as we climbed out of the car, an apparition rose from the bushes...a bagpiper in full Scottish regalia. He played a piper tune (not very well) as we stood transfixed, wondering if he was a ghost.
And then he walked up and offered to sell us some bagged samples of Heather for an outrageous price...five pounds, I think. I bought some, just because he added so much to our experience, up there on that lonely overlook.
When I was in Goodlettesville TN in 1996 there was a blasted train that woud pass by our camp site EVERY HOUR, 24/7!! I didn't sleep for about two weeks!! When I got home I slept for the next two weeks.
I love bag pipes but the starting and stopping would have driven me to drink!
AND THEY HAVEN'T CAUGHT ON YET!!!!
I am taking issue because the sound of the things hurts me. It's beyond annoying to me, it hurts my head. I do not take issue with them on Rememberence (Veterans) day, I am uncomfortable by them at ANY time!! Weddings, funerals, pipers in parks, it is the pipes themselves. If you think my objection is with REMEMBERENCE than you have totally missed the point of my article.
The Trumpets and moments of silence at 11 were for Rememberence day too, and those touched me deeply. I was awake at 6 AM Sunday to hear the religious service for Rememberence day over the BBC....were YOU? If not, why not?
Don't worry, I won't call you self centred. I'm not going to sink to a level of accusation, just because you might have rather slept at 6 AM on Sunday morning, rather than listened to the service where the Queen herself laid a wreath in rememberence!!
(Maybe I should've bought him the Irish kind, since he is. I'm the Scot.)
Nicole! You're right, in that form I might enjoy them....as long as I had a pair of industrial strength ear-guards handy! ;-)
The Irish, or Uillean Pipes are different in that they are not blown into as with the Scottish bagpipes, but operate on a bellows. Paddy Maloney of The Chieftains plays the uillean pipes and they are beautiful.
Everything that you wanted to know and more about bagpipes
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