Scottish bagpipes?

francoscot@telefonica.net

Aug. 8, 2008, 6:38 p.m. (Message 53352)

I have been watching the opening ceremony from Beijing (the Chinese 
ceretainly know how to organize things -- wow! or "chapeau bas!", as we 
say) during which I heard plenty of bagpipe music, but did not see a 
single kilted musician. Was it my imagination, or did anyone else hear 
Scottish music and get to see who was playing, in particular, during 
the entry of the innumerable competing teams (I did not even know some 
of those countries existed!)?

I'm not normally a sport spectator, and did have a sneaky feeling that 
I ought not to be watching, what with all the commercialization, the 
dope, and the human rights business, but somehow I found this world 
event very moving.

Martin (whose excuse for watching TV in the daytime, was that the 
outside thermometer was showing 38°c !)

RODERICK JOHNSTON

Aug. 8, 2008, 7:11 p.m. (Message 53354, in reply to message 53352)

I didn't see the opening but I do know that there was an article in
the Scottish press stating that a small pipe band from the NE of
Scotland had been invited to play at the opening ceremony.  It had
been kept very secrect.
Rod Johnston 
Fort William

Andrew Smith

Aug. 8, 2008, 7:19 p.m. (Message 53355, in reply to message 53352)

There were at least two or three shots of the pipe band, from Dundee I 
believe, and Huw commented on how they were able to keep up the playing in 
full kit in the prevailing temperature and humidity, both of which were 
pretty high, and how interested the Chinese are in Scottish pipe music. They 
alternated with one or two other bands throughout the entry of the 204 
teams.
I too found it moving, and extraordinarily well choreographed.
There is a lesson for London 2012, but I suppose it will not be taken up.
Andrew Smith,
Bristol, UK

simon scott

Aug. 8, 2008, 7:57 p.m. (Message 53356, in reply to message 53352)

Martin, your temperature is about the same as Beijing.

It was, and is, a world spectacular how ever sports minded you or are not.

I heard a surprising amount of bagpipes and couldn't understand the
connection, particularly as they seemed to play Scottish tunes.

Simon
Vancouver

Sheila Kidney

Aug. 9, 2008, 12:33 a.m. (Message 53357, in reply to message 53356)

The pipe band is the Mains of Fintry Pipe band from Dundee.

According to one of the commentators they were heard playing at a folk 
festival in ?France by someone involved in the organising of the ceremony 
who liked the sound and decided he wanted them to be there.

There seem to be 4 very different sounding groups playing during the 
athletes parade so each one gets a bit of a break, and it certainly makes 
for variety.

I saw a couple of shots of them and they are in full gear.  Well done Mains 
of Fintry.

Sheila Kidney
Edinburgh, but born and bred in Dundee!

GOSS9@telefonica.net

Aug. 9, 2008, 6:44 a.m. (Message 53362, in reply to message 53352)

"...pipe band played for the country of Yemmen, altho the connection
escaped both me and the reporter. "

Did they play the "Barren Rocks of Aden"?

AJ Harrison

Aug. 11, 2008, 9:15 a.m. (Message 53365, in reply to message 53352)

Hi All,

I just happened to be at home to get ready to go and play at a wedding.  I
caught bits of the opening ceremony.  The Fintry Pipe Band apparently were
on tour in China and were asked by the organisers to take part in the
ceremony.  The Chinese love pipes.  They sounded good too.  Well done
Fintry!
  

Best Regards,
Alan Harrison
RSCDS Leeds Branch