Vancouver’s bagpipe ban prompts outcry [Globe & Mail]

[robthehiker]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2395509/

Vancouver’s bagpipe ban prompts outcry

A few weeks ago, Kyle Banta was eager to pick up his bagpipes and go busking again in central Vancouver.

For two straight summers, the 22-year-old has been playing on city sidewalks, earning spending money, trying out his own compositions and winning approval from members of the public charmed by the pipe sounds. Some would ask when he would be back. At times, he would make $100 a day.

So Mr. Banta says he was surprised to see on the city website that bagpipe busking was to be banned by Vancouver’s engineering department due to noise concerns – part of a ban that also covered percussion instruments.

“I was quite disappointed because my favorite thing is to play pipes,” said Mr. Banta, describing a decision implemented in a “sleek, quiet way.” He said calls to the engineering department seeking clarification were not returned.

But the unusually specific ban, which hit a few bagpiping buskers in Vancouver, has run into opposition from one of the city’s top Scots.

That would be Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who was sworn in for a second term wearing a kilt in reflection of his Scottish heritage.

The mayor has been known to play the tuba, but is prepared to go the wall for bagpipers.

He’s mindful of noise complaints, but says the ban brought about by the city engineering department will face opposition from city council, dominated by Mr. Robertson’s Vision Vancouver party. The ban is under review.

“My first reaction is that a complete ban on bagpipes and percussion instruments across the city is ridiculous and culturally insensitive,” Mr. Robertson said in a statement.

“The clans won’t stand for it.”

The last line was a bit of a joke, but Mr. Robertson is serious about taking on a ban that has been the talk of the piping community.

Jack Lee, the pipe sergeant of the six-time world champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, is outraged.

“To ban bagpipes is so short-sighted – one of the great instruments of the world, and one of the oldest instruments of the world,” said Mr. Lee

“Bagpipes are not really that loud. When my next-door neighbour starts his lawnmower, it’s far louder than I would be if I blew my bagpipes up.

“It brings a lot of pleasure to a lot of people.”

Rob MacNeil, president of the B.C. Pipers Association, recalls an incident in 1943 where a piping busker was arrested by a Vancouver police officer over opposition to his playing, and then jailed for six months until he was cleared by a court ruling that also brought about $150 in compensation.

But Mr. MacNeil, who has been playing the pipes since he was 10 years old, said he has never heard of such a ban elsewhere in Canada.

“I think it should be reversed. I’ve seen busking in so many cities around the world. When it’s done properly so it basically respects the instrument, and the national dress and the audiences and the [surrounding] businesses, it is a valuable thing, and a lot of people like to see the entertainment that pipers can provide,” he said.

Andrew Berthoff, the Toronto-based editor of Pipes/Drums magazine, said he has vaguely heard of noise-related bans in Britain, but never in Canada.

“Canada has some of the best pipers in the world and, probably per capita a better quality on average – more talented pipers than you would hear perhaps anywhere,” he said.

Mr. Berthoff, who busked in Edinburgh about 25 years ago recalled the routine as a great way to practise. Some Scots hated the noise, he recalls, but most liked it.

Mr. Banta also busked in Scotland. He says he got a better reaction in Vancouver than in the Scottish city of Stirling, where he recalls people were a bit more blasé about the sounds of the pipes.

Now he’s hoping to play again in Vancouver. He’s a competitive player, and he also plays in classrooms and concerts, but says there was something special to sidewalk playing.

“For me, the mature and responsible thing to do is wait and hope the bylaw is changed, and the ban is lifted because I do believe it was a wrong move for the city,” he said. “All I can really do is wait.”

[DavidB80911]

Have our neighbors to the North lost their minds. Buskining is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years and goes along with playing traditional folk instruments includung the Pipes. In particular the city of Vancover BC, with its rich history of the Pipes.

It may resolve itself but, a little civil disobediance might happen. Maybe I have read "Walden" to many times. I can see a TV movie of this.
City bans the Pipes. Students decide to raise a little "McCain" and thus is born a"Phantom" Piper. Appearing all over the city and the Police can't catch him/her.

[KenB]

I hope this is resolved soon. It would be a shame to impose this type of draconian heavy handed by-law. What's next? Outlaw humming?

[BruceBC]

I will be heading to downtown Vancouver with my pipes today. To hell with them! I will be playing at three war memorials in honour of the anniversary of the WW1 Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps in capturing the ridge to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, powerful artillery support and extensive training. The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and thus became a Canadian nationalistic symbol of achievement and sacrifice.

I dare the City to ticket me.

[robthehiker]

I will be heading to downtown Vancouver with my pipes today. To hell with them! I will be playing at three war memorials in honour of the anniversary of the WW1 Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps in capturing the ridge to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, powerful artillery support and extensive training. The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and thus became a Canadian nationalistic symbol of achievement and sacrifice.

I dare the City to ticket me.

*like*

[KenB]

Bravo! Play with passion and fire. Show 'em how it's done.

[OC Richard]

One of the things that annoys me about "bagpipe bans" is that they assume that 1) there is only one type of bagpipe, the Great Highland Bagpipes and 2) all Great Highland Bagpipes are the same volume.

Neither of course is true. Scottish Smallpipes, Northumbrian Smallpipes, and Uilleann pipes are half the volume of a saxophone, and about the same volume as a flute or violin. Would they be banned also?

And the Great Highland Bagpipes can have a wide range of possible volumes. A 466 chanter set up with a soft reed is half the volume of a 482 chanter set up with a strong reed, and is no louder than a saxophone or trumpet.

People consistently overstate and overestimate the volume of the GHB. I heard a clear example of the GHB's acutal volume some years ago, when I was up in the stands at a High School football game and the halftime show had a large marching band which was joined by six bagpipers. During one tune, with the large marching band and six pipers all playing together, one of the trumpet players did a descant, and it was clearly heard. Yes one trumpet clearly carrying over the sound of six bagpipers.

[xman]

My brother in Toronto thinks we should take this as an opportunity to show the city, council and inhabitants alike, exactly what pipes are about and stage a massive pipers rally. Anybody have any experience with such things?

During one tune, with the large marching band and six pipers all playing together, one of the trumpet players did a descant, and it was clearly heard. Yes one trumpet clearly carrying over the sound of six bagpipers.

Ah, but the trumpet can go from a whisper to a scream.

[Alan H]

The whole thing is the far side of stupid.

[Father Bill]

The whole thing is the far side of stupid.

Alan said it right!