[NSP] Re: bag shape
Allow me to offer two possible/likely explanations for leaving the seam facing outward: 1) To sew the whole bag and then turn it inside out sounds like a (Warning: Americanism Alert!) tin-plated bitch. I don't see either the chanter stock hole nor the drone stock hole being big enough to do this readily, if at all. 2) The bag seasoning is more likely to flow into the seam if the seam is left on the outside. Think of what the two versions look like from the inside: An outside-seam bag has a groove into which the goo will flow. If you were to invert the bag, then the seam would stick up from the inside surface of the bag, making it much harder to get the goo into the actual junction. In other words, I'd think an outside-seam bag would take seasoning better, and be a bit less leaky. One Man's Opinion--Your Mileage May Vary Alec MacLean In a message dated 1/26/2010 2:16:51 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, oatenp...@googlemail.com writes: Hello Richard and Barry, I agree entirely with the comments here. Comfort and the avoidance of stress are essential for the effective use of any instrument, and consequently for musicality. One aspect of this puzzles me. I have studied a large number of paintings and engravings showing pipes bags of the past. I have also examined many examples in museums. Whether they are from Breughel, Praetorius or any other picture showing a bag without a fabric cover, they are invariably inverted bags, i.e. with the seam inside the bag which has been turned inside out after sewing. An extra folded strip of leather is sewn between the cheeks of the bag but this does not project.Musettes are always constructed in this fashion and so are early bags from the time of the Reids and Dunn. In contrast modern bags have the sewn seam projecting as a narrow edge. This is not necessarily more uncomfortable than an internal seam but it has infinitely more potential to be so if the bag is an awkward shape or held in an inconvenient position. I wonder when and why this older and better method was discontinued. Examples here: Praetorius: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Syntagma07.png Duerer (click to enlarge - 150%?: http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/d/durer/2/13/4/076.html And of course, here! : http://www.richard-york.co.uk/past/bagpipicsmod.html Francis Francis On 26 Jan 2010, at 21:27, Barry Say wrote: > Hi Richard, > > Excuse me while I mount my hobby-horse. > > The size of the bag relative to the body shape of the player can have a crucial effect on the perceived difficulty of playing the pipes. I observed the posture of many players in piping meetings and I came to the conclusion that those who had the bag tucked well up into their armpit leaving the forearm detached seemed to have the greatest freedom in playing the pipes, so I resolved to adopt this position. > > When playing, my bag rests in the crook of my elbow and 2/3 to 3/4 of my forearm is not in contact with the bag. The problem with adopting this stance is having the confidence that the bag will stay where it is put. It took me several years to get my pipes and my stance comfortable, but now I find that I can play almost any non-leaking pipes with relative ease. > > For a long time, the corner of my bellows was rubbing on my right wrist and causing an abrasion. Now there is 3 inch separation between the wrist and the corner. I dont remeber how I got rid of that problem. > > I am currently considering taking an inch off the neck of my bag to bring the chanter to a more comfortable position. > > I experimented with playing with the bag more in front of the body, but I found that this required active pressure from the arm to squeeze the bag, whereas with a standard bag I feel as though it is the weight of my arm which is compressing the bag. > > Does this help? > > Barry > > > Richard York wrote: >> I'd welcome comments/advice on nsp bag shape, please. > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html --
[NSP] Re: bag shape
Hello Richard and Barry, I agree entirely with the comments here. Comfort and the avoidance of stress are essential for the effective use of any instrument, and consequently for musicality. One aspect of this puzzles me. I have studied a large number of paintings and engravings showing pipes bags of the past. I have also examined many examples in museums. Whether they are from Breughel, Praetorius or any other picture showing a bag without a fabric cover, they are invariably inverted bags, i.e. with the seam inside the bag which has been turned inside out after sewing. An extra folded strip of leather is sewn between the cheeks of the bag but this does not project.Musettes are always constructed in this fashion and so are early bags from the time of the Reids and Dunn. In contrast modern bags have the sewn seam projecting as a narrow edge. This is not necessarily more uncomfortable than an internal seam but it has infinitely more potential to be so if the bag is an awkward shape or held in an inconvenient position. I wonder when and why this older and better method was discontinued. Examples here: Praetorius: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Syntagma07.png Dürer (click to enlarge - 150%?: http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/d/durer/2/13/4/076.html And of course, here! : http://www.richard-york.co.uk/past/bagpipicsmod.html Francis Francis On 26 Jan 2010, at 21:27, Barry Say wrote: > Hi Richard, > > Excuse me while I mount my hobby-horse. > > The size of the bag relative to the body shape of the player can have a > crucial effect on the perceived difficulty of playing the pipes. I observed > the posture of many players in piping meetings and I came to the conclusion > that those who had the bag tucked well up into their armpit leaving the > forearm detached seemed to have the greatest freedom in playing the pipes, so > I resolved to adopt this position. > > When playing, my bag rests in the crook of my elbow and 2/3 to 3/4 of my > forearm is not in contact with the bag. The problem with adopting this stance > is having the confidence that the bag will stay where it is put. It took me > several years to get my pipes and my stance comfortable, but now I find that > I can play almost any non-leaking pipes with relative ease. > > For a long time, the corner of my bellows was rubbing on my right wrist and > causing an abrasion. Now there is 3 inch separation between the wrist and the > corner. I dont remeber how I got rid of that problem. > > I am currently considering taking an inch off the neck of my bag to bring the > chanter to a more comfortable position. > > I experimented with playing with the bag more in front of the body, but I > found that this required active pressure from the arm to squeeze the bag, > whereas with a standard bag I feel as though it is the weight of my arm which > is compressing the bag. > > Does this help? > > Barry > > > Richard York wrote: >> I'd welcome comments/advice on nsp bag shape, please. > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: bag shape
Hi Richard, Excuse me while I mount my hobby-horse. The size of the bag relative to the body shape of the player can have a crucial effect on the perceived difficulty of playing the pipes. I observed the posture of many players in piping meetings and I came to the conclusion that those who had the bag tucked well up into their armpit leaving the forearm detached seemed to have the greatest freedom in playing the pipes, so I resolved to adopt this position. When playing, my bag rests in the crook of my elbow and 2/3 to 3/4 of my forearm is not in contact with the bag. The problem with adopting this stance is having the confidence that the bag will stay where it is put. It took me several years to get my pipes and my stance comfortable, but now I find that I can play almost any non-leaking pipes with relative ease. For a long time, the corner of my bellows was rubbing on my right wrist and causing an abrasion. Now there is 3 inch separation between the wrist and the corner. I dont remeber how I got rid of that problem. I am currently considering taking an inch off the neck of my bag to bring the chanter to a more comfortable position. I experimented with playing with the bag more in front of the body, but I found that this required active pressure from the arm to squeeze the bag, whereas with a standard bag I feel as though it is the weight of my arm which is compressing the bag. Does this help? Barry Richard York wrote: I'd welcome comments/advice on nsp bag shape, please. To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] bag shape
I'd welcome comments/advice on nsp bag shape, please. There's the conventional shape, and now I learn there's the tear-drop shape. I've been playing other (non Scottish) bagpipes for quite a long time, with various shaped bags, from medieval/renaissance large tear drop, held more in front of the body, to nsp-like but bigger on Jon Swayne D border pipes, and have got used to & comfortable with them. I'm still finding my way on nsp's... I suspect this is a life-long state... but find that after some 10 or so minutes of playing I'm getting a restricted left hand movement, as my arm's getting pressure from the bulge of the bag against my forearm where it restricts the blood flow or something; this is a problem I don't get with my other sets. I've tried varying my arm position/bag position/drone angle/position of jaw/general earth energy and leyline alignment etc, but haven't yet cracked the problem. It seems logical to expect that the tear-drop shape, with most of the bag further back under the arm, is going to leave my forearm more relaxed and less pressured. But until you've tried anything you don't know, and I'd like to hear from anyone who has, please, either positive or negative experience of this shape. With thanks, Richard. To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: the Guardian today....
OK, so how will I fit these 22-metre long drones into the stock? Will the instructions be in the next magazine? Still, they'll have their own supply of air so that will help! I must remember that, when fly tipping or taking part other anti-social behaviour, hearing the strains of the High Level from above means stop and hide :) Colin Hill - Original Message - From: "Anita Evans" To: "Dartmouth nsp list N.P.S. site" Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 2:20 PM Subject: [NSP] Re: the Guardian today Malcolm Craven wrote: Hi, What is B A E tuning. Should it be A E A Or E B E? I am confused a bit. I don't think they'll threaten the domestic market just in case you think I've gone quite quite mad http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/23/cctv-sky-police-plan-drones Anita -- Anita Evans To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: the Guardian today....
Outstanding! I hope that I can get the employee discount... Bill - Original Message From: Anita Evans To: Dartmouth nsp list N.P.S. site Sent: Tue, January 26, 2010 6:02:25 AM Subject: [NSP] the Guardian today We're in trouble - according to a letter in the Guardian newspaper, BAE is 'racing to capture the domestic UK drones market' Anita -- Anita Evans To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: the Guardian today....
"Unmanned spy drone" says the article. I have an image of a little hovering drone which buzzes round nsp mass playings to check on the tunings of everyone present. Depending on the personality of the group leader/teacher, offenders are either helpfully rectified or dispatched. ( in case who's gone mad??) Richard. just in case you think I've gone quite quite mad http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/23/cctv-sky-police-plan-drones Anita To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: the Guardian today....
Malcolm Craven wrote: Hi, What is B A E tuning. Should it be A E A Or E B E? I am confused a bit. I don't think they'll threaten the domestic market just in case you think I've gone quite quite mad http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/23/cctv-sky-police-plan-drones Anita -- Anita Evans To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: the Guardian today....
Hi, What is B A E tuning. Should it be A E A Or E B E? I am confused a bit. I don't think they'll threaten the domestic market Malcolm -Original Message- From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of Anita Evans Sent: 26 January 2010 11:02 To: Dartmouth nsp list N.P.S. site Subject: [NSP] the Guardian today We're in trouble - according to a letter in the Guardian newspaper, BAE is 'racing to capture the domestic UK drones market' Anita -- Anita Evans To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: the Guardian today....
Hi Anita, not being a Grauniad reader I have to guess the BAE is BEE Arable Entrepreneurs or some such biz Dave Singleton Anita Evans wrote: We're in trouble - according to a letter in the Guardian newspaper, BAE is 'racing to capture the domestic UK drones market' Anita No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.730 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2646 - Release Date: 01/26/10 08:46:00 To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Re: the Guardian today....
Hmm, BAE has the firepower to do it too! That will pack a punch in everybody's playing! LOL! Ken -Original Message- From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of Anita Evans Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 6:02 AM To: Dartmouth nsp list N.P.S. site Subject: [NSP] the Guardian today We're in trouble - according to a letter in the Guardian newspaper, BAE is 'racing to capture the domestic UK drones market' Anita -- Anita Evans To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] the Guardian today....
We're in trouble - according to a letter in the Guardian newspaper, BAE is 'racing to capture the domestic UK drones market' Anita -- Anita Evans To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[NSP] Jimmy Little
Thanks for the interest in Jimmy's CD. People in the UK seem to be taken with it and are enjoying it. The life and bounce in his music is a great place to start for those wishing to develop their own lively (NOT FAST!) style of playing. So in the interests of puttting our far flung bretheren on an even playing field with the locals we have now scrubbed all shipping charges for the CD (see: [1]http://robbpipes.com/HowDoesItGan.html) Cheers Anthony -- References 1. http://robbpipes.com/HowDoesItGan.html To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html