Nepali Pipers

**gilmore** · 4th February 11, 10:50 PM

The other day I was sitting in the monastery when I heard the distant sound of Highland pipes. I took my camera and traced it to its source: boys in a Nepali ethnic group called Tamang playing on a Saturday, the day of rest here, when they aren't working in the fields. They were brothers and cousins who had been taught by their uncle for 3 months, they told me and were quite good.

Like Scots pipe music, they were accompanied by snare drums, though played a bit differently. Unlike Scots pipe music, Nepalis' is less martial and much more melodic. One of the more interesting things wa how the tempo changed, getting faster toward the end, and the boys all kept in time with each other, miraculously (to me) in synch with each other and the beat got faster and faster.

Does anyone recognize the tartans?

**Irish Jack O'Brian** · 4th February 11, 10:54 PM

Great photos! I would love to hear the sound. What monastery are you at?

**English Bloke** · 4th February 11, 11:06 PM

What a tremendous set of pictures. Cheers Gilmore.

**Downunder Kilt** · 5th February 11, 01:35 AM

Now that is an experience to treasure. Thankyou very much for the story and photos. Cheers

**BoldHighlander** · 5th February 11, 02:17 AM

COOL!

**Bugbear** · 5th February 11, 02:41 AM

Interesting. Good to hear from you, Gilmore.

**KiltedDixon** · 5th February 11, 10:13 AM

I would love to hear their sounds. Thanks for sharing the pics and story.

**EagleJCS** · 5th February 11, 10:29 AM

As a piper, I'm not so much interested in the tartan bag cover as I am in the pipes themselves. I would speculate they are either Scottish (ex-mil issue during the Raj) or a reproduction (old, but repro).

It would be interesting to find out their set-up (type of reed, chanter, bag, and what pitch they're playing at).

**Macman** · 5th February 11, 01:18 PM

Great pictures! I would like to hear what the group sounds like, too. It's wonderful to see those youngsters making music with those well-used pipes!

**highland mafia** · 5th February 11, 09:59 PM

Well judging from the "position" of the the drones on the tuning slides, I can't imagine a chanter coming in so sharp to warrant tuning so far down the pin LOL! But I'm sure it was a sight to behold. Reminds me of a story I heard recently...
Back in the day PM JK Cairns was sent to Nepal to do some work with the Ghurkas Pipes and drums. He spent many hours trying to get them to slow their tempo. Finally after days of work they were playing 6/8 and 2/4 at a lovely and lively 85/90 beats per min.. On the fifth day after several sets of listening to them in the circle he felt confident they finally could see the light of his tempo wisdom.. He walked away to have a chat with the RSM.. He was not 15 steps from the circle when he heard the tempo go from 95 to 100, 110, 120! Here come the Ghurkas! LOL!