Amazing Grace

**davedove** · 20th March 08, 04:47 AM

This is one of the occasions where I can appreciate the concept and the talent, but do not care for the final product.

However, I will concede that many times this is just pre-existing expectations. Sometimes a person is just so used to hearing a piece done a certain way, and anything that is too far removed from that just doesn't resonate.

**michaelbeeman** · 20th March 08, 07:08 AM

I simply don't know. Yes, the talent is obvious. The rendition? I'm just not sure. I think, maybe, the crowds reaction put me off more. Laughing at Amazing Grace? I think I've seen too many good men and women Piped on to the hereafter to ever be comfortable with that.

**Ian.MacAllan** · 20th March 08, 08:28 PM

It reminded me of Jack Benny & his violin. I suspect that a musician must be truly talented to carry off such butchery.

.

**kfreeouf** · 20th March 08, 09:07 PM

I tend to hold a special reverence for that song. Seeing someone torture it was awful...but then I don't consider most Rap to be music either. Yet, a lot of people spend money on it.

Semper Fi
Keith

**wgority** · 22nd March 08, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by Ancienne Alliance

Thank you Bill.
Jon is an old friend. I know his pipes well. We played togetter many a time .
I met Franz Hattink . I'm not sure for Sean Jones. How old is Sean ?

Robert,

Sean is a young player/maker whom I just met last year. He's making some absurdly nice instruments that have great tuning and lovely tone. Check out his wares if you have the chance.

http://www.jonesinstruments.co.uk/Home.htm

Bill

**BoldHighlander** · 22nd March 08, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by wgority

Robert,

Sean is a young player/maker whom I just met last year. He's making some absurdly nice instruments that have great tuning and lovely tone. Check out his wares if you have the chance.

http://www.jonesinstruments.co.uk/Home.htm

Bill

What a neat site!
Thanks for the link.

**Jack Daw** · 23rd March 08, 03:20 PM

I've always thought that Caber Feidh could cross over as a jazz tune. I wonder if she's tried an arrangement of that.

She's a natural musician, but I'm thinking only a part-time piper. It may be easier for her to play those pipes if she tucked the bag closer to her ochter (excuse me) and used a better fingering technique because she acts like she's struggling with them. I hope she's struggling with them b/c I can't stand for musicians to pretend that they are playing something really difficult when it really isn't, just to show off. It was ok to listen to.

**wgority** · 23rd March 08, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Jack Daw

It may be easier for her to play those pipes if she tucked the bag closer to her ochter (excuse me) and used a better fingering technique because she acts like she's struggling with them. I hope she's struggling with them b/c I can't stand for musicians to pretend that they are playing something really difficult when it really isn't, just to show off. It was ok to listen to.

Jack, her fingering technique is spot on for French chanter based pipes. As to the struggle with the drone, I've seen many French and Flemish pipers who tie their bass drone forward over the bag neck to prevent just such drone sway as you see in her video. While her version of AG is not to my tastes, I think you're seeing her playing one thing and thinking it's quite another - very much comparing apples and oranges.

**Ancienne Alliance** · 24th March 08, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by wgority

Robert,

Sean is a young player/maker whom I just met last year. He's making some absurdly nice instruments that have great tuning and lovely tone. Check out his wares if you have the chance.

http://www.jonesinstruments.co.uk/Home.htm

Bill

Wow ! I love these pipes. And they aren't expensive !