Why do you love this instrument?

[CJ DIXON]

In this forum we discuss all details of this instrument from chanter design, opinions on makers, reed issues, tone difficulties, etc. which is wonderful of course but lets step back for a minute.... what is it that has drawn you to this wonderful instrument? For some it may be because of their strong Irish heritage, others perhaps it is the uniqueness of the instrument, or the challenge of playing....

I will start off... for me it is pure simplicity...a spiritual connection that captivates me and takes me to a trance-like state when I hear it's notes. It's sound sends me into an immediate selective hearing state that blocks other environmental noises, reflexes my eyes to shut and my breathing to deepen. It is an unfortunate experience for others around me, however, as they have to see the goofy looking expression on my face

Cheers,
CJ

[MikeyLikesIt]

Definitely the sound of the little beast. I also love the challenge it presents trying to learn to play and maintain them. And last but not least, it's just a feckin blast to play with other pipers.

-Mike

[maw]

Amongst things already said, I like it because when the women folk say men can't do two things at once...
I like to smile and say watch me play me pipes

[Unseen122]

Sound.

[CJ DIXON]

Maw wrote:
Amongst things already said, I like it because when the women folk say men can't do two things at once...
I like to smile and say watch me play me pipes

I really must remember that one...

Cheers,
CJ

[benwalker]

Can't Stand the Feckin Things............ They made me do it.... I Didn't want to........... they made me........

[Joseph E. Smith]

For purposes of anger management... it is obvious that it didn't work out too well....

[Rick Hall]

The pipes strike a chord (pun intended) deep within me...Spiritual? Yes, but something else unexplainable... something vital and hauntingly familiar, a racial memory, if you will, even upon first hearing them. Makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, gives me goose bumps and certain slow airs when played well, dare I say, are able to bring a tear to my eye.
Plus they are a chick magnet.
Yeah, right!?
Rick

[Andreas Leidenfrost]

Just love that great sound!

[Antaine]

I wanted the most uniquely Irish instrument i could find. Harp is used in other countries as is the fiddle.

I wanted something that would amaze by simple virtue of the fact one can play it. A conversation starter.

[WannabePiper]

Masochism.

[rebelpiper]

Plus they are a chick magnet.
Yeah, right!?
Rick

i agree rick, the chicks dig it!!!!

for me the pipes have a sound like no other instrument.
when i first heard and saw them i was drawn like a fly to honey. there was no other instrument for me. ive been playing 9 yrs hate that i started so late in life ( i was 26 when i started playing)

[Brian Lee]

Sadism.

Oh yeah - buy our thongs.

Thank you.

[Hans-Joerg]

Apart from all things already written in this thread I became aware recently that it might be in my genes to some extent: My mother´s father was from Franconia (he died before I was born) and played Tischzither. Tischzither is a sort of dulcimer with many drone-strings and is quite frequently used in Southern German Traditional Music. It is in just tuning and can only be played sitting. There must be some connections.
Best,
Hans

[rgouette]

As my astute & insightful wife has remarked, "music can bypass the mind & speak directly to the emotions".

I think that's exectly what happened when I first heard Uilleann pipes, and I simply had to play them

Cheers,
Rich