I am the Kings' Piper

**tulloch** · 23rd January 12, 02:01 PM

I had a very good experience recently.

I have been learning the pipes for a year now and I have a couple tunes under my belt and a lot of ambition. God how I love that thing!

My best friend from high school, (a retired Commander, an architect and a historian of classical antiquity), was in the country for the memorial service for his mother. His surname is King. Her maiden name was McKay. He and I are quite proud of our Scottish blood and made a lot of it forty years ago as teens. It was at Mrs. King's piano that I discovered that I could figure out tunes. Following that I taught myself banjo, guitar, violin and have had a very rich life because of that start.

My friend the Commander called me up and told me of the memorial service hoping that my wife and I could come. I said yes! We could not miss that. It was only a bit over an hour drive to get there. I had to rearrange my work schedule but for him, for them, no question I would do it if at all possible.

After talking with him I had one of those ideas that could pass undisturbed or could be seized upon as potentially great.

I called him back and told him that I'd been learning to play the pipes and that I would be honored to play Amazing Grace at his mother's service. I did not want to co-opt the program but I didn't want to be talking with him in ten years and regret not doing this for his family. He told me he would discuss it with his siblings. He called me back shortly afterward and said that they all thought it was a great idea.

I played at the end of the service. Amazing Grace was one of the hymns we had sung. It was very effective and greatly appreciated. He did not know it was my first public performance.

I am really happy to have given that to them. They are really happy to have had a kilted piper at mum's do. So glad to have done it. And, incidentally, I am now their family - King - piper. I am the Kings' piper.

**gary meakin** · 23rd January 12, 02:39 PM

**Guinness>water** · 23rd January 12, 03:28 PM

Very nice story and what an honour!

**Matty Ross** · 23rd January 12, 04:03 PM

Thats awesom and I love the Ross Hunting.

**flyingshamrock** · 23rd January 12, 05:48 PM

That's awesome. An unfortunate first performance but a performance none the less.

**James Hood** · 23rd January 12, 06:12 PM

Played with love, for honour. Music can serve no higher purpose.

**Cowher** · 23rd January 12, 10:03 PM

Awesome! I'm glad you were able to bring a nice touch to a sad occasion. I'd love to hear you play. I should be getting my smallpipes anyway now.

**ohiopiper** · 24th January 12, 10:51 AM

Personally, I like instrumental music at times like funerals and such. The pipes fit the bill perfectly. I read this once and think it sums up why music is important for us during emotional times.

Mozart gave us Gods laughter.
Brahms gave us Gods word.
Beathoven gave us Gods fire.
God gave us music so we might pray without words.

**Laird_M** · 25th January 12, 02:29 AM

Very moving story.

I've told the wife that I want 'Caledonia' played at my funeral.

**2a5t2f7** · 25th January 12, 05:49 AM

"Music after all is the background score to our lives, not merely surviving in our memory banks long after so many of our seemingly stronger memories have faultered, but serving to remind us of who we were at a given moment of our lives, where we were, what we dreamed of, what we feared, and of course who we loved."

Thank you for sharing your gift......