A piper attending Burns Night in trousers???

[OC Richard]

It just dawned on me how odd it probably seems to most X Markers that every year I'm hired to play uilleann pipes for an hour at a Burns Night Dinner, and for this gig I wear what I usually wear to uilleann gigs: orchestra black.

Now when I'm hired to play Highland pipes I always wear Highland Dress, except when it's an Irish function and the people specify "no kilts" up front.
I feel a bit odd playing Highland pipes in trousers, though Cape Breton pipers did it for generations.

But I strongly dislike wearing kilts when playing uilleann pipes, especially if I'm to be up on a stage (for obvious reasons!)

But not wearing kilts on Burns Night of all nights...

What do X Markers think? Should I wear kilts, even though I'm playing uilleann pipes? I'll be at ground level, so the "sitting in kilts up on a raised stage" thing isn't an issue.

Actually this brings up an entire issue, that of the lack of any sort of traditional "piper's dress" amongst uilleann pipers.

Uilleann pipers perform in suits, and have going back as far as we have photos. There did exist, back in the 19th and early 20th century, something called "a suit of the Irish cut" which was a swallowtail coat, kneebreeches, stockings, and oftentimes buckled shoes. This was worn with either a bowler hat or a top hat, and it's the suit we think of as being a Leprechaun suit. These Irish cut suits were often of green baize. But no piper in the last 70 or 80 years has performed in such a thing, I don't think.

I've often thought about trying to come up with some sort of Irish uilleann costume, perhaps something as simple as wearing kneebreeches instead of trousers.

My Irish trad trio for years has worn a vaguely "Far and Away" type outfit with collarless shirts and tweed vests and caps. This is absurdly hokey to most Irish trad musicians, but clients love it.

[Paul]

I think you should wear a kilt with a heavy horse-hair sporran. I understand your concerns with being on stage but in my experience, the long heavy sporran will aid you.
If you were to wear trousers I'd suggest tartan trews. You could probably get an unissued Scottish millitary pair for pretty cheap and there's a lot of sellers selling such on ebay.

[davidlpope]

What's the story behind being asked to play the Uilleann pipes at a Burns Supper? It seems that Border pipes would be much more fitting!

I don't wear a kilt when piping unless 1) it's specifically a Scottish event or 2) the folks requesting the piping want me to.

I've piped in church before and wore a suit that I normally wear for church. I piped for my brother's wedding and wore a morning coat like the rest of the groomsmen.

If I played the Uilleann pipes I don't think I'd wear a kilt when doing so. I think the less we conflate Scottish and Irish culture in people's minds, the better. They are both rich enough in tradition to stand on their own.

Cordially,

David

[auld argonian]

There was a wonderful tv series about the History of Ireland that aired a couple of years ago. This one went a long way to de-bunk a lot of the romanticized version of things and dealt with known facts...what a serious disappointment to a whole lot of people! It became apparent that there's a significant percentage of folks who prefer the romantic fantasy so that would explain their wanting the "popular misconception" to the historically accurate...and God knows, you got a whole lot of people on this forum who can give you chapter and verse about what is and is not historically accurate. I sort of think that any outfit that's popularly thought of as traditional is actually a modern interpretation of traditional and not necessarily precisely historically accurate.

If wikipedia is to be believed (yeah, I know....), it looks like the Uillean Pipes first appearance dates to the beginning of the 18th Century. Is that a basis upon which to consider appropriate dress? I'd just go with something basic and dignified with maybe some kind of nod toward the ethnic origins of the instrument...as I think of it, the fella from around here that plays the Uillean Pipes seems to favor that "far and away" outfit but, then, he dresses like that all the time anyway.

You pose, as the saying goes, a pretty problem here. I'm going to be interested to see some of the opinions that the working pipers of the forum express. I am, however, still trying to digest your statement about Irish clients specifying "no kilts"....may I say, in my best Jerry Seinfeld tone of voice, "What's that all about?".

Best

AA

[macwilkin]

The piper at our Burns Supper last year wore trousers, mostly due to the fact that he left his kilt at home -- he was from out-of-town.

Why not attempt a look a la the Duke of Northumberland's piper?

http://www.northumbrianpipes.com/Ima...s-25yrs_03.gif

I agree with David; the Border pipes seem much more appropriate.

T.

[cessna152towser]

Tartan trews are very popular in lowland Scotland.
One of the Burns Suppers which I plan to attend this year takes place in my home town of Hawick where I would expect the tartan trews will outnumber the kilts substantially.
If you consider that the kilt is not appropriate for the type of musical performance then I would certainly say go in tartan trews.

[Tobus]

I've often thought about trying to come up with some sort of Irish uilleann costume, perhaps something as simple as wearing kneebreeches instead of trousers.

I think that's a fabulous idea. While a kilt may not be entirely appropriate for playing uillean pipes, and normal pants (or a modern suit) would be a travesty for a Burns supper, maybe doing something halfway inbetween would be just the ticket. Kneebreeches were, as I understand it, fairly universal. It would lend itself toward a historical and unique look while satisfying both Scottish and Irish looks.

Besides, I like the look of kneebreeches. If we can't wear our kilts all the time, I'd like to see these make a comeback on their own merits.

[McMurdo]

While a kilt may not be entirely appropriate for playing uillean pipes, and normal pants (or a modern suit) would be a travesty for a Burns supper,

A suit is not a travesty for a Burns Supper, in fact I've been to a few where most people, most of them born in Scotland wore suits. If you are that worried about it, I'd say stick with the suit or as you said orchestra black. Remember the old saying in So Your Going to wear the Kilt

"If you can imagine any circumstances under which you would be embarresed to wear the kilt, then you should not wear the kilt under any circumstances"

[Tobus]

A suit is not a travesty for a Burns Supper, in fact I've been to a few where most people, most of them born in Scotland wore suits.

I said that mostly tongue-in-cheek. Being a kilt related board, I figured we would all understand the extreme dislike of wearing pants to a celebration of a Scottish cultural icon.

Personally, I would think it IS a travesty if a person wants to wear a kilt to Burns night but feels some reason that it wouldn't be right.

[macwilkin]

I said that mostly tongue-in-cheek. Being a kilt related board, I figured we would all understand the extreme dislike of wearing pants to a celebration of a Scottish cultural icon.

Personally, I would think it IS a travesty if a person wants to wear a kilt to Burns night but feels some reason that it wouldn't be right.

Of course, that Scottish cultural icon most likely never wore a kilt in his life.

Remember that a Burns Supper is really celebration of the man and his works, not necessarily Highland attire or Scottish culture in general. INMHO, many Burns Suppers these days are really "Scottish" dinners with only brief references paid to the ploughman-poet. But, I am a bit of a Burnsian purist. :mrgreen:

I do agree with Glen, though, that Burns' several references to Highland dress negate that arguement somewhat.

T.