Health hazards - bagpipes!

[Dave2002]

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37152871

[Old Grumpy]

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37152871

Highland pipes health hazard to the listener too!

OG

[Richard Tarleton]

Highland pipes health hazard to the listener too!

OG

There have been occasions in history when people have been mighty glad to hear them - Lucknow, Sword Beach, Pegasus Bridge.....

I take it you're a small pipes man yourself OG?

[subcontrabass]

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37152871

I remember from many years ago reading in a book about the care of musical instruments on the importance of pouring a little whisky into the bag from time to time (mainly for suppleness, but I presume also for sterilisation). Pouring whisky into the player (with unpredictable effects) was also noted as a common practice.

[Nick Armstrong]

I remember from many years ago reading in a book about the care of musical instruments on the importance of pouring a little whisky into the bag from time to time (mainly for suppleness, but I presume also for sterilisation). Pouring whisky into the player (with unpredictable effects) was also noted as a common practice.

No need to worry about the audience - they'd have to be tanked up already, to be there at all!


.


PS:

Some men there are love not a gaping pig,
Some that are mad if they behold a cat,
And others, when the bagpipe sings i' th' nose,
Cannot contain their urine.

(Merchant of Venice, Act 4 sc. i)

[underthecountertenor]

There have been occasions in history when people have been mighty glad to hear them - Lucknow, Sword Beach, Pegasus Bridge.....

I take it you're a small pipes man yourself OG?

But not Schwanda the effing Bagpiper, eh, RT?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I take it you're a small pipes man yourself OG?

Count me in, too - the Northumbrian pipes have such a sweet, plangent sonority: lovely to listen to.

I remember from many years ago reading in a book about the care of musical instruments on the importance of pouring a little whisky into the bag from time to time (mainly for suppleness, but I presume also for sterilisation).

... or even for the players who prefer to suck rather than blow?

[Old Grumpy]

I take it you're a small pipes man yourself OG?

Couldn't possibly comment...

...oh, yes I do prefer the Northumbrian variety if that's what you mean!

OG

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The main health hazard of bagpipes to the player is the decibel level, particularly when played indoors. Al fresco, bagpipes can be a source of unwanted aural pollution.

I'm sure I mention the piper who practised on Filey Brigg when he thought no-one was around. As I was interested in discussing the bagpipes, I wandered across the country park, but he must have thought I was intending to complain, as he quickly packed his instrument away and made a hasty exit.

[BBMmk2]

Not only bagpipers but brass and wind musicians too!

[Richard Tarleton]

Count me in, too - the Northumbrian pipes have such a sweet, plangent sonority: lovely to listen to.

From Wiki:

In a survey of the bagpipes in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford University, the organologist Anthony Baines wrote: "It is perhaps the most civilized of the bagpipes, making no attempt to go farther than the traditional bagpipe music of melody over drone, but refining this music to the last degree."

Highland bagpipes, on the other hand, are also weapons of war . Much as I love the sound, I too draw the line at it indoors, which makes me grateful I've never been invited to dine at Balmoral.