New Encounter on the MUP
 

Headed home through the nature preserve this morning I come around a bling corner and what do I see a few dozen yards in front of me? A bagpiper. I’ve seen a keyboard player before, and I’m sure even a guitarist or two and even a trumpeter. Buy never bagpipes. Thank goodness I was riding with earbuds!

i like bagpipes. guess its the irish in me.

(Wife is Irish) Me on St Patick's Day: "What is it with the firemen in skirts blowing these things?" Blissful silence for a week or two...

Heh. On Sunday I saw a guy get off a bus wearing a kilt and associated garb. It’s that time of the year.

Great Highland pipes - meh. Uillean pipes - :thumb:

Uillean pipes - meh...Scottish Small Pipes - :thumb:

Kidding of course I love all pipes they hit differently. Part Scottish so will always love it.

My Scottish grandfather, a WWI veteran, hated bagpipes as they were used to lead troops into battle. They had bad associations for him. The pipes are supposed to terrify the opposing forces.

I was at a symphony concert a couple days ago, and there was an interlude with a couple pipers accompanied by a drummer. What a godawful racket. An affront to the ears.

When I first retired I would go out on the local MUP for a ride about 10AM. The path goes through a mix of suburban neighborhoods and industrial parks. While going through one of the industrial parks I would see a guy out there with either a saxophone or a trumpet, and a music stand with sheet music clipped on to it. I guess he was coming out there during lunch break. Seems like a good idea as you don't disturb the neighbors like you would playing at home.

Something to add to the bucket list. Now, had you been in Portland....

The thread's making me think of the legendary Samurai Jack and his buddy the Scotsman. :D

I know a guy who learned to play the bagpipes. Occasionally he is hired to play Amazing Grace at funerals for $100

I've seen a pimp looking Santa Claus... he did have some people with him that were dressed accordingly.

I saw a bagpiper playing way out in the reeds at the beach on a ride once. Made my day.

Today would'a been my dad's 88th birthday. This is one of his favorite songs. When the pipes come on, it's glorious.

Bagpipe and Punjabi music collab for the win

I'm not a bagpipes fan, but this would be cool to see when riding along on a MUP. 😎 It really does take a while to get good at playing any instrument

I have seen & heard a bagpiper playing in the park. But not on or near the path.
I have a biking friend that would take his bagpipe with him on sailboat races and play it on the way back to the dock.

I’m half Scottish, I’d think that was the coolest thing I’d seen on a mup.

Been to the Highlands many times. I like the sound of 10 pipers or so playing together. My understanding is that pipes were not so much meant to frighten enemies in war, but that they could make their own army's soldiers braver, emboldening them.

And then - What is the definition of a gentlemen? Someone who knows how to play the bagpipes, but does not.
As for saxophones - What is the difference between a saxophone and a lawn mower? Lawn mowers tend to sound better in small ensembles, and when someone lends you their lawnmower, the usually want it back.

And then there is the guy who tried everything to get rid of his bagpipes, craigslist, ebay, etc., but could not unload them. So he had a great idea. He left them in the back seat of his car with the doors unlocked and the windows open. He went away for a day, and when he came back...he found three more sets of bagpipes in the back seat.

Better hearing it on a MUP than on Sword Beach on 6/6/44.

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/ar...20on%20D%2DDay.

All this chatter about bagpipes; I would rather know what a bling corner is. ;) An MTV Cribs style McMansion inside the apex of the turn? Or at least someone with cubic zirconium grillz?

No, but seriously, what ear buds could possibly block out bagpipes!? I need to buy a pair too.

I prefer Gunhild

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Bear spray will deter them.
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*** What????

You're welcome.

Q: What is perfect pitch?
A: It's hen you toss an accordion in the dumpster and it lands on some bagpipes.

I like both instruments (i like bagpipes a lot), but I like the joke, too.

I’ve heard some beautiful playing. Some other not so much. Like most musical instruments. Bagpipes, as with cow bell, can get pretty loud..not so good if played poorly.