Cape Town Highlanders (Army)

Bane

Has anyone here ever played for the Cape Town Highlanders (Army Elite Infantry)
I'm asking because i've been asked to do some guitar parts for them and if anyone here has any insight that could help me decide whether or not to commit, or just tell me what excactly i am in for, it would be much appreciated.

Manfred-Klose

What like playing guitar for the army band?

ask Alan, i think he used to play in a army band.

Renesongs

I used to jam with a bassist who served with the highlanders but he used to play a snare drum for them.
What you really need to ask is can you make your guitar sound like a bagpipe?

AlanRatcliffe

ask Alan, i think he used to play in a army band.

Not by choice... I was in Kimberly.

The Cape Town Highlanders is a pro marching band with a very good rep. They have a really good drum section, but they are a pipe band (as in bagpipes) ...unless they got a dance band going since I last looked.

I'm guessing they are doing a CD to raise money to get to the pipe band competition and need someone to lay down tracks in the studio? You'll ideally need to read, but it'll probably be covers and, as everything will likely be in D (the usual note of the drones), you can easily fake it given a setlist and a bit of practice time to prepare.

Riaan-Combrink

I once read McCartney had to modulate to D at the end of Mull of Kyntire because the bagpipes only play in key of D. Alan's right that most do, but I found this nice little FAQ that shows the other options. Note the concert pitch issues therein:
http://www.xmission.com/~redbeard/rmmb_fom/cache/61.html

Then, to up the ante, a more tecnical piece with the following intro:
What musical key does the bagpipe play in? This is a very confusing point for many people. It's sad to say that many amateur musicians (read "most pipers"!) do not know the difference between the tuning pitch and the key. Terrible mistakes can result from this misunderstanding. It's generally only an issue when bagpipers try to play with guitars, organs, orchestras or other bands.

I know of pipers who've told orchestras that they'd be happy to play Amazing Grace in B-flat with the orchestra. I know of people with smallpipes tuned to concert A and told folk musicians that they'll play Amazing Grace in A. This can lead to very embarrassing situations and can potentially ruin a musical program. Please read on to find out why this DOESN'T WORK.
http://www.themacleods.net/qanda/skmqa019.htm

This one also seems quite inormative (may have to get Rene to translate it if you're theory not much better than mine!! ?)
http://cityofoaks.home.netcom.com/Bagpipe_Tuning.html

And for inspiration, check out the ultimate drone rock song: AC/DC's A long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n roll. Bon Scott was apparently a dinkum bagpipe competition virtuoso pre AC/DC (in his youth played bagpipes and drums in the Fremantle (Western Australia) Scots Pipe Band), but listen to the bit where Angus trades riffs with the pipers! Shoud get you in the mood for this gig ?:

Further evidence that bagpipers are cool - Thunderstruck played on the pipes by Tartan Terrors:

Check out this list to see how widespread the use of bagpipes has been by many top artists. In the metal world where many GFSArs hang out, very hectic. In Scandinavia they even have a genre called Drone Rock.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nontraditional_bagpipe_usage

Can't wait to hear what you come up with!

Riaan C

AlanRatcliffe

Great post Riaan! More than I ever wanted to know about pipes! ? Karma'd

Bon Scott was apparently a drunken bagpipe competition virtuoso

FIXED! ?

Bane

thanks for the input guys. Guess i should wait and hear exactly what they want from me. I know Mark Knopfler did a song with Royal Scots Dragoon Guard (The Gael), was amazing. Think i will take some tips from him too ?

Riaan-Combrink

Alan Ratcliffe wrote More than I ever wanted to know about pipes!

Stayed at home from work with a throat infection today. Too much time on my hands!!! ? Seriously, one of the cool things about GFSA is someone will post something that piques one's interest and leads to some research, so thanks, Bane. ?

@Alan. Thanks for fixing the quote. Sloppy research ?

Bane

yes i did aswell at first. when i found out they were a strict marching band with pipes and drums i was wondering what on earth they wanted from me...but i can tell you one thing...i am NOT wearing a kilt! ?

AlanRatcliffe

i am NOT wearing a kilt!

R50 to the first forum member to post pics. ?

Bane

...me and my big mouth ☹

Renesongs

may have to get Rene to translate it if you're theory not much better than mine!!

Primitive instrument are bad enough, barbarian ones I run away from - Rather like the retreating German infantry being attacked by the Highlanders, "If that's how they treat there house pets, imagine what they will do to us ☹ )

I had to attend a formal wedding ceremony while my foot was in a plaster cast. I couldn't get in to a dress suite so I hired a kilt. Very pleasant experience, After the drinks started flowing, I had become quite a hit with the ladies who were trying very hard to ascertain whether I was wearing the kilt the way a highlander would
Or as Billy Connelly remarked the Scots are a fears lot, they don't feel pain , They live in a land where the thistles and the heather grows waist high and they go charging through it in a skirt with no underwear.

Manfred-Klose

yes i did aswell at first. when i found out they were a strict marching band with pipes and drums i was wondering what on earth they wanted from me...but i can tell you one thing...i am NOT wearing a kilt!

Maby they want to go new school, get some shredding in there!!!! ?

You would have to walk around with one of those small marshall pocket amps,ha ha

Bane

hmmm i so regret posting this...never imagined the day i'd be afraid of my own army ? (for whatever reasons).

Matt-W--Rowley

Interestin indeed. Did you know that the pipes were originally used ion Egypt around 4000 BC? The Irish were the first to use them off Europe and they introduced them to the Scots. Who still haven't got the joke . . .