On Bagpiping on the International Space Station

Over the weekend a US flight engineer and astronaut, Kjell Lindgren, played bagpipes aboard the International Space Station paying tribute to research scientist Dr. Hurt. Playing the traditional tune Amazing Grace in zero gravity, it was a first for bagpipes to be played in outer space. According to the BBC news Mr. Lindgren contacted pipe maker McCallum over two years ago. McCallum spokesman Kenny Macleod stated that the set taken aboard the 45th expedition to the space station were a set of the plastic pipes saying, "They're made of plastic - they're just easier to keep clean and to make sure they're not contaminated. They're also lighter." Honoring Dr. Hurst with the pipes was preceded with a short video message.

Dr. Hurst worked for US engineering company Wyle Science as a research scientist and instructor. He died suddenly in October, aged 48. Mr Lindgren said of Hurst: "He always had a quick smile, a kind word. I don't know if anyone was more enthusiastic and professional about being involved in human space flight."

Here is a link on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DWzmq9e0Lw

McCallum spokesman Macleod also stated (after seeing Mr. Lindgren play), "The thing about bagpipes is that they're very difficult to play at high altitude because the air is that bit thinner. They're quite hard to blow so he's done well,"

To paraphrase the tag line from the movie Alien, “In space, no one can hear to pipe.”

Or can they?

On piping for my daughter’s wedding

When my daughter became engaged, a whole world of new discussions, details, plans and possibilities opened up. Early on she asked about having pipers play a processional as I walked her down the aisle. I was extremely delighted that she wanted bagpipes, even knowing that I would not be able to play. No disappointment there as I am the Father of the Bride. And, as it happened, our band whole heartedly wanted to play. I was equally delighted when our band’s leadership approved playing at the wedding! Our family is indeed honored by the generosity of time and music.  

The wedding plans moved along in quick order. The couple found a beautiful venue in Santa Cruz, CA., called Hollins House at Pasatiempo (http://www.pasatiempo.com/hollins-house).  A gorgeous venue overlooking the Pasatiempo Golf Links which in turn overlooks Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay beyond. On my first visit with my wife and daughter, the outdoor location for the end of October wedding was scoped out. We marched the path of the processional as I hummed the beloved tune: Highland Cathedral. We decided that day a solo piper would play the tune straight through one time, marching up the aisle the across to the band. As the drums and pipes began playing a second time through, we would emerge from behind the house and walk up the aisle.  We could picture it all in our minds.

The band opened the ‘Boyden Wedding’ event on our automated band calendaring system (https://teamsnap.com) and quickly had a pipe band confirmed to play. Understanding that to play for an event as a pipe band never involved playing one tune, it was unique for our gang to be asked to prep, dress, practice, tune and perform one tune. One of our senior pipers, Paul Llewellyn, led the band and played the solo, with the band performing flawlessly in strike in and cutoff.

At the reception, a number of friends all asked why the band only played one tune. We all would have love them playing several more, but the bride and groom called the shots for the wedding and reception. Beth had a vision, and my job was to see that vision come alive. The band was invited to stay for the reception’s cocktail hour and pictures. Almost everyone stayed the entire time. It was a blast having them present for an incredibly special time in our family history.

I cannot express adequately just how grateful our family is to the Stewart Tartans for their generous gift of friendship by performing. They are a marvelous group of musicians and friends.

Bagpipe is a verb

Over the weekend our band performed in a parade through downtown Mountain View, CA. During a break in the parade, one of our wonderful tenor drummers pulled out a card game called Anomia. The game has players matching game card symbols and whoever answers the category named on the opponent’s card wins that card. While playing the game, the card flipped up listed “Adjective” which took me too long to think of an adjective, so I lost my card and “hung my head in shame.” Actually it’s a hilarious game. And now on my Father’s Day list (hint, hint!).

Later in the day I thought back about the game which triggered an earlier memory: When my kids were in early elementary school, one ‘school’ game we played while studying English was called noun or verb; adjective or adverb. We used this to think about words that describe things versus describing actions. As we played, one of the kids noted that some words can be both a noun and a verb. We noticed that some words do fit both categories: fly, bowl, love, ship, cook and drink, to name a few. This was a great observation for young students. An epiphany of sorts. So where does bagpipe fit in?

First thought is about the gangly five tentacle wheezing creature played in the highlands and in pipes and drums bands. I can touch it, squeeze it, make sound come from it; it is a thing. One can buy it, own it and covet it. It crafted of hard wood and be hand turned (on lathe) with silver engraved mountings and covered in velvet or tartan. All physically solid to the touch. So it is a noun.

Second thought is that bagpipe, as a verb, is to create music from the noun of the same name. There is both physical and mental effort, measured in years of study to make music that may be enjoyed. Audience members who have watched either a young or experienced piper, bagpipe sees the amount of air needed to play, physical strength to control the instrument and the finesse of finger work on the chanter to make music. And that performing on the noun’s chanter is a mental exercise focusing on playing a tune well with proper musical timing, cadence and tune embellishments.

I guess my kids would have said bagpipe is loud and noisy (then laugh). The parent / teacher in me would (in an affirming voice) acknowledge that they are correct but point to the noun-verb nature of all musical instruments. In my mind the noun is secondary to the verb in the world of music. The instrument does not make the music, only the bagpiper can. So the bagpipe is def., def., definitely a verb.

On piping - Top 25 tunes for every piper

Playing bagpipes, like most instruments, means playing a variety of tunes. Bagpipes are one of a few instruments that demand to be played memorized. This can be difficult for some, easier for others, I’ve covered how I memorize tunes before so I won’t write on that topic today. Before doing a search on the internet, I started with a list of what either I play, what friends say they are requested to play, what our band or other local bands plays on a regular basis. How does one then stop at 25 tunes when there are literally dozens of great tunes which could be included? I then spent some time validating what I know is played with a search on most popular tunes yielded a very good list of tunes. The tunes listed are not is a specific order, but represent wonderful classics pipers should be familiar with. Another day I’ll post what tunes my friends and I are working to perfect for performance. Enjoy!

1.            Scotland the Brave

2.            Amazing Grace

3.            Green Hills of Tyrol

4.            Skye Boat Song, Traditional

5.            Highland Cathedral

6.            No’ Awa’ Tae Bide Awa

7.            Rowan Tree

8.            When the Battle’s O’er

9.            Highland Laddie

10.          Orange and Blue

11.          Bonnie Dundee

12.          Battle of the Somme

13.          Barren Rocks of Aden

14.          A Hundred Pipers

15.          Flower of Scotland

16.          Brown Haired Maiden, The

17.          Wearing of the Green

18.          Minstrel Boy

19.          Greenwood Side

20.          Mhari Bhan

21.          Liberton Pipe Band

22.          Garry Owen

23.          Atoll Highlanders

24.          Going Home

25.          Mist Covered Mountains

On motivation

There is an old Scottish proverb: It take seven years to make a piper. When you start on chanter you are excited to be on the road to playing bagpipes. It maybe a year or so to get the fundamentals down of piping music and chanter work. Then a couple of years learning to incorporate chanter work and music memorization with playing the bagpipes. Along the way life happens and for short periods of time you may step away from the learning curve. So what gets and keep you motivated as a bagpiper?

For me there is a three-fold challenge in piping:

1. Memorizing music

2. Mastering the instrument physically

3. Making music.

Each has its own challenge in staying motivated.

Focusing on memorization can be tough. We listen to other players that seem to easily memorize music, while I struggle. It is and it isn’t a matter of repetition when it comes to music memorization. The quality of your time and the method of how you memorize are very important. I was playing a strathspey that I love and learned, but have never played it technically well. So I learned another and will put that old one on a shelf for a couple months or years and come back to it. Memorizing music should be fun not tedium.

Mastering the instrument is a matter of just staying the course. Keep playing, Keep working on the instrument with a singular purpose. Putting the pipes down for a while will, just like in exercise, be counter-productive.  Maybe change up the playing routine, or change your practice location, or play some new music. Staying motivated could be as simple as connecting with other pipers. Join that band, or regularly play music with pipers you know. You will be motivated to improve, try new music you hear and by taking an interest in your friends will be motivated to keep playing. Staying connected with other player is key

Staying motivated to make music may be the most difficult of all. Not everyone is born with a sense of what music sounds like. So listen to world class piping. Ok, some of that music may be way too technical for us ordinary humans, but you may also hear a tune that does inspire you to learn. Or in listening you will hear that elusive musical pattern of the tune you have been trying to master.  It could be as simple as listening to Pandora or Spotify or an online piping music web site. Be careful about YouTube though as not all recording are created equal and not all pipers play well.

Also, Chart your progress. Write a note or email a fellow piper on what tunes did you learn this year. Make note of embellishments have you made progress on or mastered? In January, set yourself a goal. Maybe it is to enter one additional competition or enter one for the first time. But do it for the fun of it. Reward yourself when you see a success.

On 911

Each year on September 11, our generations pause to remember the events that took place in 2001 when Islamic terrorists hijacked planes and using them as bombs took down the twin towers of the World Trade Center in NYC, struck the Pentagon in Washington DC and drove one plane into the ground in Pennsylvania as that flights crew and passengers fought back. And each year pipers are called upon to assist in the memorial events. As pipers we are called to perform at memorials of loved ones now departed. What an amazing honor that must be! I lift my hat (glengarry) to the families on those lost in the attacks, to the responders who aid and the pipers who played.

There is a story, reported by Joel Meyerowitz, professional photographer who chronicled the recovery work on the Trade Center site: In March 2002 as crews sifted through the piles of debris, firefighter found a portion of a Bible fused to a chuck of steel. The page that remains visible is from the Gospel of Mathew from Jesus Sermon on the Mount and reads: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” How amazing that something God’s scripture might survive the fall on an entire building and survive.


Amazing Grace
Lyrics: John Newton; Tune: Unknown

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

On the Ivory in Bagpipes

In the wake of the public outcry recently about a US dentist killing a single male lion named Cecil in Africa, I thought about what such might have to do with bagpiping. Sport hunting has long been part of the human psyche, and tradition, and has little to do with the manufacture of highland bagpipes. Yet part of the story was the underlying theme of hunting endangered species. As an individual, as a people, and as a nation, we need to grapple with the implications of using the elephant, rhino, and other endangered species to produce sculptures, jewelry, and, bagpipes. Should it be allowed at the expense of endangering an animal population? Just because we can? I would say not.

In March of 2015, 15 tons of elephant ivory was destroyed (burned / pictured above) in Nairobi, Kenya. It had been confiscated from poachers. One article I read was that emerging markets for ivory has emboldened criminals to hunt and kill elephants for their tusks. Groups such as Save The Elephants (http://savetheelephants.org/) (SAE) are doing their part to raise awareness and helping fight poaching. Why burn the poached ivory? Maybe allowing it to be sold would feed a market, so better to starve that demand; remove the source from the end user. According to SAE, approximately 100,000 elephants and rhinoceros were killed in Africa between 2010 and 2012. In February of 2014, President Obama, announced a call for member states to place a permanent moratoria on all commercial imports, exports, and domestic sales and purchases of new ivory. This is welcome news and will help, but not eliminate, the killing and black market for ivory.

As an industry, some bagpipe makers have throughout the past used elephant ivory (among other exotic materials) for projection mounts on pipes. Up until 1976 when the US banned import of ivory, some pipe makers offered it as an option. It was a natural material that looked beautiful mounted on a set of pipes. In a news story from August, 2014, two US bagpipers had their pipes detained by US border security at the US / Canada border because their pipes had ivory. Luckily they got their pipes back in time to travel to the Worlds with their band. Since 1976 the plastics industry has developed imitation ivory which is special cast polyester with the characteristics of real ivory (color, density, texture). The imitation ivory can be turned by lathe into mounts. On the sets of pipes that I have seen, this product works very well and is beautiful.

So if I ran the circus, what would I do to minimize illegal trafficking of ivory?

First, I would advocate maintaining a complete international ban of new elephant and rhino ivory. One huge ‘elephant in the room’ is testing ivory’s age. The cost of testing the age makes easy identification of ivory, as old or new, a matter of the owner providing proof of the ivory’s age. And if suspected as new ivory then testing would be called for. If everyone was honest, the problem would go away, yet greed gets in the way when there remains a market for ivory. Stiff penalties should be levied and the sale of confiscated ivory would be directed to protect endangered species.

Second, I would advocate the free trade of legal ivory within countries. Private individuals may hold and to trade, however I would require all ivory to be registered with a national registry. Ivory held outside of these requirements would be subject to confiscation. I can see obvious challenges to this .

Third, I would advocate that the penalties for poaching or engaging in any form of illegal trade in ivory (or in any endangered species) be very severe. Any monetary consequences would flow to programs protecting the elephants and their environment. There must be a component on education as well.

With 7.3 billion people now populating Earth, there will be people wishing for and able to afford exotic material, even though endangered species. Do we allow the use of endangered animal parts? If not elephant or rhino, what about buffalo, or walrus or Hippo or killer whale? To paraphrase former First Lady Nancy Reagan, “Just say no.”

Photo credit: KHALIL SENOSI / AP