Bagpipes

[nunuu]

Out of curiosity, does anyone here find the instrument "offensive"?

Like, when someone plays a song using a bagpipe, would your ears bleed?

[WoottWinds]

I think they are only "appropriate" for a few very rare occasions, and even then, I have an extremely hard time listening to them for anything more than a minute. This is also coming from someone who has spent 4 years sitting to the right of a piccolo player, 2 years in the row directly in front of a 10 person orchestral trumpet section, 2 years with elementary level violinists, and 5 years in the same room as an E flat Clarinet. I like to think I can handle most loud and obnoxious sounds, but the bagpipes are not one of them...

[Wyrdwad]

I like when synthy bagpipes are used in video game music. (:

Since this is a Nunuu topic, I'm assuming it was created with this in mind:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrXCQXmbZxY

One of Nunuu's most hated final battle themes. Her dislike of it is almost legendary. But obviously (by virtue of this being my upload), I disagree. ;)

-Tom

[WoottWinds]

That is one of the most interesting final battle themes I've ever heard, I absolutely loved it. Don't think I've ever heard "synthy bagpipes", but it was a damn nice touch and not overbearing at all. And how can you hate that Nunuu?! I can't stand the bagpipes but that was an extremely awesome song.

[Chelli]

I can tolerate bagpipes for a bit, but if I hear them for a long time they really start to grate on me. The thing I hate most about them, though, is that stupid single note that drones underneath everything while bagpipes are playing. It's so annoying.

On a side note, for some reason my college's graduation ceremonies always open with bagpipes. Seems very out of place for a college graduation.

And that song Wyrd posted was awesome. It didn't even sound like real bagpipes.

[Wyrdwad]

That is one of the most interesting final battle themes I've ever heard, I absolutely loved it. Don't think I've ever heard "synthy bagpipes", but it was a damn nice touch and not overbearing at all. And how can you hate that Nunuu?! I can't stand the bagpipes but that was an extremely awesome song.

To be fair, I guess her biggest complaint is with the arpeggio in the background rather than the bagpipes. But I love that part, too. (:

-Tom

[Chelli]

This thread reminded me of a song from DDR that's always been known amongst my friends as "Techno Bagpipes":


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsdbZSx402o

[WoottWinds]

To be fair, I guess her biggest complaint is with the arpeggio in the background rather than the bagpipes. But I love that part, too. (:

-Tom

Ahhh ok, though I found that part to be very cool as well. The whole feel of it is extremely unique, don't hear much of that type of music in video games. I'll need to listen to the rest of the Zweii soundtrack now, next time I'm in my car, in it goes!

[Wyrdwad]

While Zwei II is a better game than the first in almost every way, the one regard in which Zwei 1 is superior is its soundtrack. The first Zwei's soundtrack is absolutely one of Falcom's best, I'd say.

If you do listen to it, bear in mind that there are two different Zwei soundtracks: regular, and 2008 (PSP) version. The PSP version soundtrack is better (better arrangements and instrumentation), but much harder to come by.

-Tom

[Ryos]

That is one of the most interesting final battle themes I've ever heard, I absolutely loved it. Don't think I've ever heard "synthy bagpipes", but it was a damn nice touch and not overbearing at all. And how can you hate that Nunuu?! I can't stand the bagpipes but that was an extremely awesome song.

I can't stand the instrument, but this song is awesome. Not that I expect anything less from Falcom. :P

[Sgt Phantomizer]

lol whats wrong with Bagpipes? o.O

I used to have an instrumental piece (it was Celtic/Irish) on Cassette which used bagpipes as one of the instruments, that i enjoyed listening to years ago.

[Dust]

Bagpipes? I don't find them offensive really, but it does depend on the song. For example, I once heard a guy trying to play Pachelbel's Canon via bagpipe. that made my ears bleed.

P.S. Wyrdwad I still want Zwei!

[WoottWinds]

@ Chelli - I'm more than slightly embarrassed with myself that I actually tried to recall and sit-dance-out the step routine for that song while at my desk listening to the video. Further embarrassment came when I realized that I probably would've gotten a passing score had I actually been playing...

@ Wyrd - I only have the Zweii Super Arrange soundtrack that I got as an extra in that Zweii II+ deal the Falcom store had in May. I'll have to see if I can track down the PSP version soundtrack.

@ Dust - Canon played by bagpipes...? That's actually kind of hilarious, although I haven't been subjected to it. It sounds like one of those things in music that I wouldn't be sure whether the arranger did to be purposefully terrible, or if they actually thought it worked. Other baffling occurrences in the instrumental world include the distortion-enabled Contrabassoon (which I had the great 'honor' of witnessing the world-premiere of :(), the Heckelphone and Contrabass Flute, and everything ever written by contemporary music composer John Cage. Seriously. Look him up and some of his songs (4'33 and Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano are great examples) and be utterly astonished and confused to the fact that he made a living "composing". It's beyond disgusting...

[Wyrdwad]

Dust - Canon played by bagpipes...? That's actually kind of hilarious, although I haven't been subjected to it. It sounds like one of those things in music that I wouldn't be sure whether the arranger did to be purposefully terrible, or if they actually thought it worked.

As a tangential aside, I should note that there exists a Japanese band called "Ukulele Kuricorder." They play music using only ukuleles and recorders. And some of their best hits include the Imperial Death March from Star Wars, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

And they're actually pretty darned good!

The point is... never judge a book by its cover, I guess! (:

-Tom

[WoottWinds]

As a tangential aside, I should note that there exists a Japanese band called "Ukulele Kuricorder." They play music using only ukuleles and recorders. And some of their best hits include the Imperial Death March from Star Wars, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

And they're actually pretty darned good!

The point is... never judge a book by its cover, I guess! (:

-Tom

Ukuleles and recorders are awesome though, I would have no doubt they are good! I'm pretty open to most instrument combos and ensembles, hell I've played a song made for a mandolin quartet with 4 bassoons, but I just can't help but judge without hesitation the use of the bagpipe in anything unrelated to music from Scotland or Ireland. To me personally they're 9 times out of 10, well, painful to listen to. There are also many other things in the musical world that are just bad ideas, like dropping rocks, nails, paper clips and such into the workings of a grand piano, then proceeding to play a line of music and call it a Sonata.

Now excuse me while I go look up this uke/recorder band... :D

[Chaosblade]

As a tangential aside, I should note that there exists a Japanese band called "Ukulele Kuricorder." They play music using only ukuleles and recorders. And some of their best hits include the Imperial Death March from Star Wars, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

And they're actually pretty darned good!

The point is... never judge a book by its cover, I guess! (:

-Tom
And this reminds me Van Canto. An a cappella metal band. Not really sure if I like it, but it's certainly interesting.

As for bagpipes, I don't really like the instrument but that doesn't mean it can't be used well. That Zwei song uses it pretty well.

Edit: And Nightwish isn't one of my favorite bands by any means. But their best song, which ironically enough didn't even take advantage of their best member, uses one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vouAtmE13vs

[nunuu]

I wasn't thinking about Zwei!! when I made the thread~! ^^ It was just something completely random (or maybe it was more from subconsciously thinking about the bagpipes that were used during the royal visit in Quebec City recently).

But yes, arpeggio is hate. Electric bagpipe things be okei~!

And I love Absolute (especially the electric guitar version). ^^; One of my fave dj TAKA tunes! XD