Piper in Ireland (Nat Geo photo contest photo)

**jhockin** · 1st June 14, 08:27 PM

(Mods: I'm including text that credits the photographer, but if still not kosher, please remove)
image.jpg
"Clew Bay Pipe Band Piper playing at the Achill Island, Ireland Saint Patrick's Day Parade." Location: Achill Island,County Mayo Ireland. Photo and caption by Glen McClure / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.

**John_Carrick** · 1st June 14, 10:36 PM

Wow, that reminds me of Dizzie Gillespie playing the trumpet - his cheeks expanded like a frog while he was puffing.

**tulloch** · 2nd June 14, 06:19 AM

I think I know just how he feels.

**duke_19_62** · 2nd June 14, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by John_Carrick

Wow, that reminds me of Dizzie Gillespie playing the trumpet - his cheeks expanded like a frog while he was puffing.

Sorry, I hve to pick nits. Dizzie Gillespie played cornet, not trumpet.

**Ordway** · 2nd June 14, 08:15 AM

While I am not usually a nit picker, Dizzie's official website, amongst other sources, call him a trumpet player. I did a quick perusal of a few dozen images on the web and none of them show him playing a cornet. They do show the the famous "silver bell" trumpet with the upturned bell which is currently in the Smithsonian.

**duke_19_62** · 2nd June 14, 08:18 AM

I stand corrected.

**MacRobert's Reply** · 2nd June 14, 09:53 AM

... and its the weather that keeps Ireland green!

**TheOfficialBren** · 2nd June 14, 09:57 AM

If I'm not mistaken, the fingering technique for the trumpet and cornet are identical. Technically, you're both right.

**OC Richard** · 3rd June 14, 02:59 AM

It's what makes the British bands sound smoother and warmer than American ones, in general: British bands are all-conical save for the trombones, having cornets, flugelhorns, and various sizes of euphoniums, going on down to the tuba (a tuba, after all, being a bass cornet, not a bass trumpet). In America trumpets are used, cylindrical, which have a brighter tone.

About that band's kit, it's typical of Scottish pipe bands, the black Glengarries and black Argyll jackets. Too bad we can't see what kilts they're wearing (I think I see a tiny bit of green). Like all pipe bands in Ireland and the UK they have 'band capes' (black nylon Inverness Capes).

Here's what 230 pipe bands dressed like that looks like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Yi54EWg6I

I was in that seething mob of shiny wet black nylon and smelly damp wool and mud-spattered white hose and waterlogged ghillies (in rained without letup all day). See me? I'm the 7,643rd guy from the left.