So, about those bagpipes...

Ok, perhaps our brains weren’t totally functioning when we saw the random bagpipers last Saturday while out at dinner. Why do I think this, you might ask. Well, last night we went to see the Band of the Coldstream Guards along with the pipes, drums, and dancers of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guard at the PAC. And guess what? The pipes of the Scots Dragoon Guard are bagpipes. Duh… It was an entertaining evening. Since these are military musicians, it was no surprise to see how disciplined they were. The conductor would turn toward the audience after each selection and salute. The band members remained motionless behind him until he put his hand down. Then as he turned back toward them, everyone would scurry to change their music. I also found it interesting that the bagpipers all stood in perfect 1st position form throughout their entire performance (well, when they weren’t marching back and forth across the stage, anyway.) They also kept their mouthpiece in their mouth the whole time. I am a little fuzzy on how the bagpipe thing works, but perhaps it’s like a reed they need to keep wet? It was a little thrilling to hear bagpipes play in harmony.

The band and bagpipers marched back and forth, up and down, and it was neat to hear the acoustics of the hall change the sound depending on which direction the instruments were going. They did some interesting formations and even did a figure eight during a march. There were a few times I was afraid someone was going to crash or get harpooned by the director’s huge baton, but, of course, everyone made it out just fine. The cymbalist did cut it close once and a trombone had to haul ass a little to make it through his allotted space. And while I suppose ones choices are kind of limited by the bagpipe’s range and base drone, it was still a good variety of music. Although, is it wrong of me that when they played their final piece (the one that everyone probably associates with bagpipes), I immediately thought of Charlotte’s (first) wedding in season three of “Sex in the City”? I mean, it’s what is played as she walks down the aisle with her father, right after she announces Trey’s impotence, and right before Carrie and Aiden break up. Hmm, maybe I need to not watch that show so much…