Pipes cracking during overseas travel - Page 2

David · 08-02-2010, 07:38 AM

Many pipers do pass in and out of contrasting environments, play parades in heat, humidity, raging sun, bone dry air, etc. all without any cracking of their pipes. Just note that even if you do not ever see a single small crack, that does not mean that the tone of your musical instrument has not been compromised. It is great that Scottish soldiers in the British Army played their pipes in Inja in all kinds of hot, sunny and humid weather, but the standard should be how musician-pipers who can pick and choose their playing time and location treat their instrument.

Also, when traveling, consider that you'll be lugging the pipes around all over the place. When would anyone want to leave them unattended? Trust them to someone else? Leave them in a hotel? I traveled all over the world with my old Hardies in the early 70s, and they were a major hassle to deal with. Especially the beach camping in Sinai. Just to go swimming I had to leave them with some soldiers I trusted. Had sand in the pipe box for years. I almost forgot them in overhead shelves on trains and buses in several countries.
It is very hot and humid at the moment in most of Israel, but a few hours away in the desert it is 20% humidity and 110 fahr. Our trains and buses are all airconditioned, but I doubt this will be the case in India. India is not the middle east, but it has enough similarities that I would say

LEAVE THEM AT HOME !

08-02-2010, 07:38 AM	#11
David Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Haifa, ISRAEL Posts: 1,974	Re: Pipes cracking during overseas travel Many pipers do pass in and out of contrasting environments, play parades in heat, humidity, raging sun, bone dry air, etc. all without any cracking of their pipes. Just note that even if you do not ever see a single small crack, that does not mean that the tone of your musical instrument has not been compromised. It is great that Scottish soldiers in the British Army played their pipes in Inja in all kinds of hot, sunny and humid weather, but the standard should be how musician-pipers who can pick and choose their playing time and location treat their instrument. Also, when traveling, consider that you'll be lugging the pipes around all over the place. When would anyone want to leave them unattended? Trust them to someone else? Leave them in a hotel? I traveled all over the world with my old Hardies in the early 70s, and they were a major hassle to deal with. Especially the beach camping in Sinai. Just to go swimming I had to leave them with some soldiers I trusted. Had sand in the pipe box for years. I almost forgot them in overhead shelves on trains and buses in several countries. It is very hot and humid at the moment in most of Israel, but a few hours away in the desert it is 20% humidity and 110 fahr. Our trains and buses are all airconditioned, but I doubt this will be the case in India. India is not the middle east, but it has enough similarities that I would say LEAVE THEM AT HOME ! __________________ IAIN MORRISON OF CUMBERNAULD A heavy 6-part 2/4 march THE ROAD TO JACOB'S WELL A Light & Lively 4/4 March Last edited by David; 08-02-2010 at 07:41 AM.