Back to Gilwell on Bagpipes

[Kilt-alope]

I am thinking of buying a set of bagpipes and figure there are 3 songs I need to learn to play on them to start off. Amazing Grace, Scotland the Brave and Back to Gillwell (for Boy Scouts). The first two I'm sure I can find online, but can anyone here find or write good instructions (bagpipe tabs?) for Back to Gillwell. If I can learn that one I would like to talk my council into having a piper for Wood Badge classes, and maybe the critters into having one at their beading ceremonies.

Thanks

P.S. I already have a MacLaren tartan kilt

[robbiethepiper]

Try www.woodbadge.org/graphics.html, there is a link to the music.... Wrong key so you would have to transpose and possibly deal with octave jumps to stay in range....Robbie

[EagleJCS]

I can't emphasize strongly enough that you should get an instructor for learning the pipes. The pipes can be self-taught, but there's a big learning curve, and I suspect you will develop bad habits. The Atlanta Pipe Band has many top-quality pipers (John Recktenwald, if he's still playing with them, is one of the best) that would probably be willing to take on a student, or the band may provide lessons.

That said, most tutor books have "Amazing Grace" and "Scotland the Brave" notated with the correct notes for the pipes. (Pipe music is written in one "key", but the pitch is actually higher. Too much to go into here as to why.) By-the-by, instruments play 'tunes', people sing 'songs'.

The main tune notes for "Back to Gilwell" are as follows** (The tune is in 4/4, most notes are 1/8 notes, no octave jumps. If you know the tune, you'll know where to hold the long notes.):
LA D D D E F (-F) D D E D D B LA
I used to be a <totem*>, and a good old <to-tem> too,

LA D D D E F F D E E E F E
But now I'm finished <totem>ing, I don't know what to do,

LA D D D E F (-F) D E D D B LA
I'm growing old and feeble, and I can <totem> no more,

D E F F F D E E D C D
So I'm going to work my tic-ket if I can.

F HG HA F E F HG
Back to Gil - well, hap-py land!

HG F F F D E E D C D
I'm going to work my tic-ket if I can.


(LA = Low A, HG = High G, HA = High A)

Once you have the basic finger technique down, you can use whatever embellishments you choose (or just single gracenotes).

* For them that don't know, Wood Badge uses animal totems for their patrol names. In the U.S., it's Beaver, Bobwhite, Eagle, Fox, Owl, Bear, Buffalo, Antelope.

** Starting on LA transposed from the original C. I have the sheet music from my course book - SR-211.

*** The forum software removed the spacing I had put in for the notes. I can put this in my pipe music software and produce a PDF if you'd like. PM me.

Best of luck.

[dutchy kilted]

Great. Now I have that tune in my head.

Any other Bears out there?

[Kilt-alope]

I just got the phone call today that my finished ticket has been approved, but it may be august before I can get beaded (working at an out of state camp over the summer). Anyway, yes a pdf of the sheet music for bagpipes would be great, I will try to get in touch with the Atlanta pipe band when I get back.

thanks
Edward
92-64 Antelope

[ohiopiper]

You'll need to realize going into it that you're looking at a minimum of six months before you get on a set of pipes, and that's if you progress rapidly. You'll also know more tunes that those three before your instructor/tutor will let you get on a set.

Your best bet is to get in touch with the band right now, see what they recommend for a practice chanter (if they have no preference, I like the Dunbar Millenium).

Ask yourself if you want to play the pipes, or just play those three tunes. If they former, go for it. If the latter, save your time, energy and money.

[Jack Daw]

You will save a good deal of needless frustration if you obtain an instructor first, just as the other pipers recommend. I strongly suggest that you contact a pipe band for an instructor.

[EagleJCS]

Great. Now I have that tune in my head.

Any other Bears out there?

I used to be a Bear... As noted previously, SR-211-38 (beaded in Oct 1999).


There's a Wood Badge social group on XMarks, as well as a Kilted Scouter's group.


Kilt-alope, send me a PM with your email addy and I'll send along the PDF.

Also, if you just want those three tunes at your beading ceremony, it would be a lot less expensive in the long run if you just hire a piper. (Cost of pipes - basic set-up, around US$1K, more or less, depending on the make and various options; lessons, US$20-30 an hour.)

It took me 5 months to get the basic finger technique down, and I already knew how to read music, keep time and move my fingers independently (in addition to piping, I can I play guitar and sing). It was another 4 months of practicing just the drones to be able to keep them steady. It was another 3 months after that before I could play steadily on the full instrument (all 3 drones plus the chanter) for more than 5 minutes. (I don't practice as much as I should, but that's another story).

[Matty Ross]

Here on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvXcSI4BWZk

[Kilt-alope]

I had no intent of piping at my own ceremony, mainly just want another thing to piddle with at camp