When people think of Scotland, they often think of bagpipes, kilts or the Highland games.
The N.C . State Pipes and Drums ensemble incorporates all of the above and even has a few things that may surprise you. This past Wednesday in Stewart Theatre it held its first of two annual concerts.
The Pipes and Drums ensemble consists of four basic instruments. First are the Highland bagpipes, which are the main and most-represented instrument in the ensemble. Highland bagpipes are naturally loud instruments and players have little to no control of the volume of sound produced by the instrument.
At one point in the performance both of the bagpipe bands were on stage at the same time. Consisting of about forty students in all, this made for quite a loud night for those in the front row.
Next come the snare drums, which begin many of the marches the band performs. The snare drums the band uses are unique, as they have snares on the bottom and top of the drum. This produces a higher-pitched sound than the snare drums found in traditional orchestras.
Then there are the tenor drummers, who decorate their playing by twirling their drumsticks in flourishes. According to Jerry Finegan , the current Pipe Major for the band, the Scots took this tradition from the Africans.
Last, but not least, are the bass drummers, who provide a steady pulse and foundation for the band.
The Pipes and Drums ensemble first began in 1968, when a graduate student ran an advertisement in Technician for anyone interested in forming a bagpipe band. Since then, the ensemble has also attracted many guest players, who perform with the students as part of the band.
Formerly, the band only gave one performance per year. However, to celebrate the band’s 40 th anniversary in 2008, the ensemble gave an additional concert. The two-concert tradition continues to this day.
According to Jerry Finegan , the Pipes and Drums ensemble also performs at competitions around the United States in addition to performing at concerts at N.C . State. One of the main venues for their performances is the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games right here in North Carolina. The ensemble has also traveled to South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Pennsylvania.
When the concert began, there was nothing on stage save for several tartan flags in the center of the stage. Out of the silence came a soft drum roll, and one could hear the sound of steady footsteps as the band began their march. The pipers marched in from both sides of the stage, and filed in as the drums provided a cadence. Dressed in the traditional Highland style (plaid kilts black sweaters and tartan hats), the pipers commenced their spectacular performance.
Though the band was the star of Wednesday’s show, the audience was treated to several other performers and soloists, including an award-winning dancer who performed a celebratory dance accompanied by one of the pipers. There was also a performance by the Raleigh Scottish Fiddle club, which combined several string instruments with a bagpipe, and performed a few selections from their repertoire.
Even if playing the bagpipes or drums isn’t your forte, the Pipes and Drums ensemble still offers much to be enjoyed.
“I think it’s nice that they brought a lot of the Highland culture to State,” Kayleigh Jernigan , a freshman in polymer and color chemistry, said. “I feel like they really captured the essence of Scotland.”
The Pipes and Drums ensemble is always looking for more members, especially drummers. For those with an interest in getting involved with the ensemble, N.C . State will offer a one-credit “Beginning Bagpipes” class that meets Wednesdays in Price Music Center from 7-9p.m . during the spring semester.
