Bagpipes Video Series Featuring The 42nd Royal Highlanders

From Plank Road Publishing

Plank Road Publishing was happy to welcome the 42nd Royal Highlanders from Lafayette, Indiana, to a recording session in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their bagpipes, fifes, and drums were featured in "Emerald Isle," from Music K-8, Vol. 22, No. 4. We filmed the musicians performing on and explaining about their instruments, and we have assembled several short, focused videos so you can pick and choose which to view and share with your students.

  • Amazing Grace (Harmony) - Bagpipers and fifers perform a beautiful harmony version of "Amazing Grace." Time: 1:40.
  • Bagpipes: The feared Instrument? - Piper Brandon Hughes talks about the historical role of highland bagpipes as an instrument of war. There's no getting around the fact that this is a very loud instrument! Time: 2:53.
  • Bagpipes: What They're Made Of And How They Work - Piper Taylor Stirm talks a little about the history of bagpipes, the materials used to craft them, and the mechanics of playing them. Time: 2:31.
  • The Chanter - Bagpiper Brandon Hughes plays a short tune on the chanter, detached from the bagpipes, and explains why that's so difficult. Time: 1:10.
  • Drones And Reeds - Taylor Stirm explains about the bass and tenor drones, as well as the chanter, and takes them apart to reveal the reeds. Time: 3:09.
  • The Fife - Fifer Preston Smith talks about the fife and its historical role in the military. Time: 1:35.
  • March, Strathspey, And Reel (MSR) - We ask the 42nd Royal Highlanders to play a piece of their choosing, and they opt for "MSR." There's a mistake the first time through - yes, even professional musicians make mistakes - but the second time through goes smoothly. Time: 4:05.
  • McPherson's Lament / Banjo Breakdown - A lone drummer starts. Fifes join in. Finally, the bagpipes add their stentorian voices to this tune. Time: 3:15.
  • Playing Bagpipes: Grace Notes, Movements, And Lots Of Air - In this interview, Bagpiper Brandon Hughes explains some of the unique qualities of the bagpipes: They require lots of air, and they make use of grace notes and movements (notes between the notes). Time: 5:08.
  • Recording Emerald Isle - First bagpipers, then drummers, and finally fifers lay down tracks for John Riggio's "Emerald Isle" at Aire Born Recording Studios. Time: 6:27.
  • The Rope Tension Drum - Drummer Brandon Cunningham introduces us to the rope tension drum. Time: 2:08.
  • Scotland The Brave - With bagpipers in the recording studio, we couldn't pass up the chance to have them play "Scotland The Brave." The first time through, the musicians ran into a snag, but we tune in just in time for a second take, which turns out beautifully. Time: 2:30.
  • Tuning And Reeds - Brandon Hughes explains how bagpipes are tuned and talks about modern vs. traditional reeds. He demonstrates how reeds sound by themselves in contrast to how they sound in the drones. Time: 9:24.

About Downloadable VideosThis video is available in downloadable MP4 format.

Prod. #
Product Description
Price
Qty
Options
239114
Amazing Grace (Harmony) - MP4 Download
5.3MB MP4 video file. Time: 1:40.
Always available
$1.98
239214
Bagpipes: The feared Instrument? - MP4 Download
8.3MB MP4 video file. Time: 2:53.
Always available
$1.98
240014
Bagpipes: What They're Made Of And How They Work - MP4 Download
7.7MB MP4 video file. Time: 2:31.
Always available
$1.98
239814
The Chanter - MP4 Download
3.2MB MP4 video file. Time: 1:10.
Always available
$1.98
239314
Drones And Reeds - MP4 Download
11.3MB MP4 video file. Time: 3:09.
Always available
$1.98
240214
The Fife - MP4 Download
4.5MB MP4 video file. Time: 1:35.
Always available
$1.98
239414
March, Strathspey, And Reel (MSR) - MP4 Download
14MB MP4 video file. Time: 4:05.
Always available
$1.98
239514
McPherson's Lament / Banjo Breakdown - MP4 Download
11.4MB MP4 video file. Time: 3:15.
Always available
$1.98
240114
Playing Bagpipes: Grace Notes, Movements, And Lots Of Air - MP4 Download
14.6MB MP4 video file. Time: 5:08.
Always available
$1.98
239614
Recording Emerald Isle - MP4 Download
19.7MB MP4 video file. Time: 6:27.
Always available
$1.98
240314
The Rope Tension Drum - MP4 Download
8.1MB MP4 video file. Time: 2:08.
Always available
$1.98
239714
Scotland The Brave - MP4 Download
8MB MP4 video file. Time: 2:30.
Always available
$1.98
239914
Tuning And Reeds - MP4 Download
34.1MB MP4 video file. Time: 9:24.
Always available
$1.98