From: AGVAXT::DAYE         "David Daye" 25-MAR-1993 13:05:34.59
To:   @BAG
CC:   DAYE
Subj: Orkney Wedding w/ Sunrise

"Roll over, MacCrimmon, and tell Mad Angus the news!"

Well I've done my Highland piping with the Columbus Symphony's presen-
tation of "Orkney Wedding with Sunrise." It originally struck me as a
hokey, possibly offensive, portrayal of an increasingly tipsy wedding.
But in the end it was a dream come true.

The publisher, Boosey & Hawkes of NY sends a Henderson chanter for A-440
pitch. What a joke. Massive hole-tape. I started to test an uilleann pipe
style tuning rod, 1/4" diam maple dowel tapered down to 1/32" or so, stuck
up the bore from sole to *past* the high A hole believe it or not. It let
me remove tons of tape. But I didn't need this chanter so I left the gear
and a note for the next poor bugger, and replaced the tape the way I found
it.

Fortunately I *like* flat bagpipes. Got my "Franken-chanter," a conversion
job from my folk band days. Lots better than the old Henderson. Drone reeds 
were on extenders of hobby-store brass tubing, w/ smaller diam inserts to
keep the i.d. less than drones'. I used artificial drone reeds which --
if *DRY* -- absolutely don't change pitch over short intervals.

Pipes play @ the finale, a very slow part expressed like an air, but you
have to walk in. Pretty tough trying to figure out the relationship (if
any!) between the baton, the chanter, and the musicians 60 feet away.
Then threading along the edge of the stage without a net, trying not to
crunch fiddles!  Err.... violins.

At the last rehearsal one drone cut off. DANG!!  I'd let the drone reeds
get too damp. So in the 5 hours before concert time I removed the plastic
drone reeds and set them on a furnace vent, removed blowpipe, kept
chanter & drone pipes assembled. Didn't want anything else changing.

Concert night. Warmup room is out 2 doors, down an elevator, one long
hall and a flight of stairs, 2 min. from stage. Mercifully it has an
adjustable thermostat; there's even a girl w/ walkie talkie to cue me.
I do 8 brief checks and pipes are ROCK STEADY. I rehearse my high-wire
act using practice chanter. The girl smiles and says "you're on." Last
tuning check. Fully warm, STILL ROCK STEADY, 440 exactly. On with the
Feather Bonnet and up, up, up & awa'.

The fiddle solo is ending; 4 soft horn calls, then the brass begins to
build. Drones in for 5 bar. Big chord; a pulse of the bass fiddles; the
conductor points into the audience, and my chanter rings out the dawn.
It's a gorgeous, vibrant blend and I think "TAKE NO PRISONERS!!"

On stage the conductor grins, we're tuned & tight as a pipe band [not sure
he'd appreciate that comparison!]. An incredible wall of sound behind me!
The longest minute of my life ends with cheers. Now everybody in the hall
knows why we play The Pipes.

Next day the bad news. 2nd night, to be recorded, cancelled by the blizzard.
But could I possibly have pulled it off again?....