Photo: Stuart Curnow
SYNTHETICS
‘The MCS is there for the stability and musical longevity of your bagpipe,
NOT the sound. The sound is up to you and how you set your bagpipe up’
dedicate the time to the instrument needed, or for those who were only learning and spent more time trying to get their instrument stable, rather than learning to be a musician with it. There will always be individuals who have a natural mastery of their instrument.
This
often comes down to how they set their instrument up and what sort of blower they are. Not too wet, not too dry, just lucky! Unfortunately this is only the case for a small minority of pipers. Pity the poor guy who is a wet blower, who might have to keep several sets of reeds going, or may only be able to play 30 minutes or so before his pipe becomes totally uncontrollable. In the early 1980s there was a change in vision of what the instrument could be. This vision would allow players to have a stable instrument, first and foremost.
It did come
with conditions, however. The MCS is there for the stability and musical longevity of your bagpipe, NOT the sound. The sound is up to you and how you set your bagpipe up. Moisture
PIPING TODAY • 42
Control Systems can have an effect, but how much of an effect is up to the piper. Before even starting to think about what pipe bag you choose, you need to have the principle of an airtight system foremost of your mind. You have your drones and chanter selected, hopefully all in good condition and free from warps and cracks. Good drones, selected for the performance and sound you desire. Or they may be just what you received, or a family heirloom. It’s how you set them up that can make the largest difference. Make sure you hemp them correctly and very well. I find black-waxed hemp, put on as best you can, as evenly as you can, to be one of the best starts you can get. A bagpipe that is hemped properly and is well cared for should not need re-hemping for years. Selection of the bag is also key. Depending
on your commitment and your available time, you’ll be playing what is a physical instrument, for a long time. There is huge amount of debate on forums about bag size. It’s like shoes. Pick
the wrong size shoes, too big or too small, too wide or too narrow and you’ll regret it. Choos- ing which bag is a very personal thing, and one that, for the novice piper, will be influenced heavily by the band or by who is mentoring or tutoring that piper. The options out there are growing. Synthetic, hybrid or hide? Silicone collars, clamps or tied in stocks? Bag developers are constantly re-assessing what works and what can be improved upon. For an instrument that stayed relatively fixed from a developmental perspective for 100 years, give or take a decade, the last 20 years have seen a veritable explosion of options. Look at yourself full-length in the mirror standing normally. Put your arms into what you feel is the perfect playing position. You’re look- ing for the bag to fit that position. A bagpipe under your arm should not alter your posture dramatically. If it does, the bag may be too big, too small or the drone collars may be too far back or forward to suit your body stature. Make sure the bag is comfortable under your
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52