Beginnings and Endings Remembered Scottish style with Bagpipe Players

We are coming to the end of the year 2012, and most people find themselves going over the most memorable events in their lives. A wedding that was attended would surely stand out, as well as the funeral of a loved one. One of the most dramatic accompaniments to either of these events would be a wedding bagpiper or a funeral bagpiper to achieve a lasting memory.
Wedding bagpipers can be found in many California communities, including the city of Pleasanton CA famous for their annual Highland Games at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. San Jose CA, Walnut Creek CA and San Francisco CA also have bagpipers who can play at couples wedding should they want to create a Celtic atmosphere for their special day .
Classic Bagpipe music can be used as a prelude, a processional for groomsmen, parents and the bridal party, as well as recessional music. Including a wedding bagpiper dressed in full highland regalia can create a lifetime of memories of this special celebration. Don't forget to have him pipe the couple into their reception, and include him in some of the wedding photos!
The ending of a loved ones journey can also be memorialized by using a funeral bagpiper. If your loved one was Scottish, this could be a particularly appropriate send-off. Or even if they just loved the bagpiper players they had seen at various points throughout their life.
Many Funeral Bagpipers can be engaged at the last minute, as few of us know when our journey will end. Probably the most famous Bagpipe tune of all time is Amazing Grace, and played at many funerals. Bagpiper music can cover such a wide range of human emotions, including dignified and respectful which is so much at heart of this sad occasion.
Bagpipers can be engaged for the actual funeral, a Memorial Service, or a simple Graveside Service. There can be no more powerful way to bid farewell to a loved one that to hear the plaintive music of a well played bagpipe. Listening to the music will surely bring thoughts of the dearly departed to mind.
For further details about wedding bagpiper walnut creek ca and funeral bagpiper walnut creek ca please visit the website.

Bagpiper Music for Wedding Celebrations or Somber Memorials

Bagpipe music can be a big part of a wedding, or equally for a funeral ormemorial service. Both wedding bagpipers and memorial bagpipers can add alot to such events, even though these occasions may not seem to have a lotin common.Champion Bagpipe players can be found from San Jose CA to Walnut Creek andthroughout Northern California playing at wedding celebrations. Proudlywearing a dress kilt such as the Hunting Buchanan or the Ancient Buchananand playing a variety of joyful tunes, the wedding bagpiper fits right in tothe general air of celebration. From piping in the processional with a tunesuch as Mairi's Wedding (Lewis Bridal Song), you might then find the piperplaying Scotland The Brave for the recessional. If you are very fortunate,the wedding will also feature lively Highland Dancers accompanying thebagpiper.

But pipers are equally at home playing for a somber affair, such as amemorial bagpiper piping on the soul of a recently departed loved one.Whether it's in Sacramento, San Francisco, or another Bay Area city, amemorial bagpipe player has such a wide variety of music suited to hisinstrument that he can easily switch from celebration to sorrow, and many ofthe tunes he plays are widely recognized. Anyone who has ever heard AmazingGrace played on a bagpipe will never forget it, and equally recognized arejoyful tunes such as Scotland The Brave.

No matter whether the occasion is a joyous one or a sorrowful one, thebagpipe player can make either highly memorable.

For further details about wedding bagpiper san jose ca and memorial bagpiper san jose ca please visit the website.

Tags: wedding+bagpiper+san+jose+ca, memorial+bagpiper+san+jose+ca

Bagpiper Music for Wedding Celebrations or Somber Memorials

Bagpipe music can be a big part of a wedding, or equally for a funeral or memorial service. Both wedding bagpipers and memorial bagpipers can add a lot to such events, even though these occasions may not seem to have a lot in common.
Champion Bagpipe players can be found from San Jose CA to Walnut Creek and throughout Northern California playing at wedding celebrations. Proudly wearing a dress kilt such as the Hunting Buchanan or the Ancient Buchanan and playing a variety of joyful tunes, the wedding bagpiper fits right in to the general air of celebration. From piping in the processional with a tune such as Mairi's Wedding (Lewis Bridal Song), you might then find the piper playing Scotland The Brave for the recessional. If you are very fortunate, the wedding will also feature lively Highland Dancers accompanying the bagpiper.
But pipers are equally at home playing for a somber affair, such as a memorial bagpiper piping on the soul of a recently departed loved one. Whether it's in Sacramento, San Francisco, or another Bay Area city, a memorial bagpipe player has such a wide variety of music suited to his instrument that he can easily switch from celebration to sorrow, and many of the tunes he plays are widely recognized. Anyone who has ever heard Amazing Grace played on a bagpipe will never forget it, and equally recognized are joyful tunes such as Scotland The Brave.
No matter whether the occasion is a joyous one or a sorrowful one, the bagpipe player can make either highly memorable.
For further details about wedding bagpiper san jose ca and memorial bagpiper san jose ca please visit the website.

The Importance of Poet Robert Burns to the modern Bagpiper

Although bagpipes today are most closely associated with Scotland, the bagpipe is actually of Middle Eastern origination. The initial purpose was to serve as a call to worship, but it was only after the instrument traveled via caravan to different parts of the world that it became known for so many different purposes of today.
Bagpipe playing is probably most closely associated with Scotland, as that country adopted this musical instrument and made it their own. It might accompanying troops into battle so the playing of the pipes could help build courage, or it might appear at a funeral to pipe the departed soul into heaven with a plaintive tune such as Amazing Grace, or it might be found at a wedding as a joyous ballad. One other reason it is so closely associated with Scotland is because of their most famous poet, Robert Burns. He was responsible for writing many songs specifically for the bagpipe, and he ended up donating more than 300 such songs to the Scots Musical Museum.
Even today many events feature the bagpipe player and bagpipe music, including the annual Robert Burns' birthday fetes to honor the renowned Scottish poet. His birthday on January 25th is celebrated all over the world, where many a bagpiper plays while glasses are lifted in toasts to the glory of this famous Scot who wrote poems and songs, indulged in excess with both women and drink, and is still remembered centuries after his death at the early age of 37 in 1796.
If you are lucky, you might be able to attend one of these celebrations with its Scottish food, Scottish poems, and classic bagpiping of one of those more than 300 compositions he contributed and which are still played today.
The availability of good piping is found in many areas of the world today, helped in part by the popularity of Renaissance Faires. It is so readily available that people who live in California, from San Francisco and San Jose, to Fremont and Napa Sonoma wine country, can enjoy the musical renditions or bagpipers frequently. One famous celebration is hosted by the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton CA which has the largest Gathering of the Clans and Highland Games in the entire world !.
For further details about Dublin CA Bagpiper and Walnut Creek Bagpiper please visit the website.

The Highland Games are Closer Than you Think!

When you hear the words Highland Games, what comes to mind? If you have ever been lucky enough to attend a gathering of the Scottish Clans during one of their annual Highland Games, you will undoubtedly picture bagpipers wearing their dress kilts, competitive dancers doing the Highland Fling, and exotic fare such as bangers and enormous turkey legs. But do you think of Bagpipers from Sacramento, Walnut Creek, Dublin or the Napa/ Sonoma Area? Probably not, but you should!
The largest Highland Games and Clan gathering in the world just happens to take place at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA during the Labor Day Weekend of September 1st and 2nd, 2012.
People come from all over the San Francisco Bay area, and even from out of state to watch the Bagpipe players, the costumed parades, the sheep trials for sheepdogs, eat the exotic foods from Scotland, the UK and Ireland, and shop for treasures from the same countries.
One of the highlights of the games is seeing the many bagpipers from all over the Bay Area show their proficiency at playing the pipes. If you love bagpipe music for your personal pleasure, many of these bagpipe players are from Sacramento, Walnut Creek, Dublin, or even the Napa Sonoma region and can be hired to play at your wedding, anniversary celebration, or even at such a sad occasion as a funeral.
Bagpipers play such an extraordinary range of music, from a rousing march to a dirge or a classic such as Amazing Grace.
So don't feel sad when your day at the Fairgrounds is over, just be reassured that you can hire a professional bagpipe player well after the end of the Highland Games and Gathering of the Clans. And when it comes right down to it, I bet you associate the playing of bagpipes more with the Highland Games than the tossing of the caber!
For further detail about Napa and Sonoma Bagpiper , Dublin CA Bagpiper and Walnut Creek Bagpiper please visit the website.

Bagpipers at the Scottish Highland Games in Pleasanton September 1-2, 2012

Prepare yourself for bagpipe heaven as the Caledonian Club of San Francisco brings the 147th annual Scottish Highland Gathering and Games to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in the Pleasanton/Dublin CA area Sept. 1st and 2nd, 2012, over the Labor Day Weekend.
Here you can see up to 25 pipe bands marching with their best bagpipers dressed in kilts made from the famous plaids of Scotland. Watch the parade which may well include Mary Queen of Scots and her arch rival Queen Elizabeth I. Treat yourself to the awe-inspiring tossing of the caber (not easy to do as the caber is nearly the size of a telephone pole!), feast on treats from the UK including bangers and mash, giant roast turkey legs, fish and chips, and much more. And then shop for wonders from Scotland, Ireland and England.
Didn't make it to the Olympics in London this year? This is the next best thing, and a whole lot cheaper. It's a very manageable trip for folks from most Northern California towns, such as Walnut Creek or Concord, or even Napa and Sonoma counties or Sacramento.
Many people buy the two day pass just to make sure they see it all, from the kilted bagpipers to the highland cattle, Clydesdale horses and sheep dog herding, Highland Fling dancers and Renaissance players offering a wide variety of entertainment.
Gates open at 8 a.m. and there are several large parking lots surrounding the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Bring your energy and your love of bagpipers and all things Scottish, and be prepared to have an amazing time.
When you are tired and finally ready to leave but feel sad, be aware that some of the bagpipers you see here are available for hire for your birthday, anniversary, family reunion or any other celebration you might be having (see www.FredPayneBagpiper.com for example). Just imagine what a unique and fun time you can give your guests who are not lucky enough to be there this year at the Highland Games.
For Further Detail about Dublin CA Bagpiper, Napa and Sonoma Bagpipers for hire, Dublin CA Bagpipers for Hire and Walnut Creek Bagpiper please visit our website .

45th Annual Scottish Games and Celtic Festival in Monterey CA

Northern California is rich in ethnic cultural events, and the month of July is no exception. The Scottish Society of the Monterey Peninsula and the Salinas Jaycees are holding the 45th annual Scottish Games and Celtic Festival on July 7th and July 8th, 2012 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. The festival is within easy driving distance of the San Francisco Bay Area, so if you're in the Bay Area visiting the Napa and Sonoma wine country to the north, a day heading south include this festival could easily be one of the best days of your summer vacation.
Or if you're an Oakland or San Jose bagpiper fan, it would also be worth a visit just to hear the world class quality of the many bagpipe players who will be performing. Whether you favor a battle dirge played on the bagpipes or the plaintive notes of Amazing Grace, you can have a truly memorable day.
Typical events at these Festivals include watching highland dancing, attending sheep dog trials, seeing the gathering of the clans, even doing some whiskey tasting, and of course listening to bagpipe players and their pipe bands, including Oakland and San Jose bagpipe players.
There is also a Drum Major contest displaying their skills while parading with their bagpipe bands. The winner will be honored as the top Drum Major of the Monterey Games.
This event will also present a living history exhibit portraying life as it was in 16th century Scotland. Sponsored by the Society for Creative Anachronism, abbreviated SCA, an international, non-profit, educational organization that has done extensive research into what type of clothing was worn, what weapons were used, what food and music was like during the Renaissance and 16th century Scotland. Since we cannot go back in time to actually see these things, this is the next best thing and a lot more comfortable.
Don't miss the many Scottish vendors who showcase a wonderful variety of items for sale, such as shortbread, Cadbury chocolate, orange marmalade and even new and used bagpipes. If you have always wanted to learn to play the bagpipes, be sure to come and be inspired by these wonderful bagpipe players. You can usually find one of them who offers lessons.
For Further Detail about san francisco bagpiper, Oakland Bagpiper, Oakland Bagpipe Player and Napa and Sonoma Bagpiper please visit our website .

Scottish Games in the San Francisco Area, Bagpipers, Caber Tossing, and More

When you think of San Francisco, what image comes to mind? Most people would envision the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, or perhaps images of the Great Earthquake of 1906. But I'll bet few people imagine a kilted Bagpiper in downtown San Francisco playing a haunting melody on the pipes!
And yet the San Francisco Bay Area is the perfect place to hear the haunting strains of Amazing Grace, played with skill and precision. The Bay Area is home to one of the largest gatherings in the world for the Scottish Games held annually at the Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA. Scottish clans gather there from all over the world to hold athletic competitions in unique events found only in Scotland, such as tossing the caber and the hammer throw.
But the one indelible thing taken away by anyone attending is the number of quality bagpipe players in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can watch the parade that always includes a royal court dressed in Elizabethan finery, and then listen to the pipers and drummers following close behind.
The Scottish Games are being held this year on the 1st and 2nd of September, 2012. If you love the thought of hearing a world class San Francisco bagpiper, be sure and put these dates on your calendar and come to the largest gathering in the world for the Scottish Highland Games. It is their 147th gathering, so tell your family and friends about the San Francisco bagpipers and Scottish caber throwers they can see and hear there. It's a great day for the whole family.
For further details about bagpiper San Francisco please visit the website.

Plaintive sounds of Amazing grace

When you hear the words bagpiper in San Francisco or San Francisco bagpipe player, what image comes to your mind ? Is it someone holding the bagpipes and playing at the local edition of the Scottish games? Or maybe a bagpiper parading with Queen Elizabeth at the Renaissance Faire?
It just might surprise you to learn that the bagpipes, whether played by a Bagpiper in San Francisco or in the Highlands of Scotland, did not originate in Scotland. Nor did they originate in any English speaking country. Instead, the bagpipes are an innovation dating back to approximately 400 BC, and used first in the Middle East ! It was not until the 8th century that they were first introduced to the British Isles when they were under Roman rule.
All early bagpipes had a few elements in common, including a bag filled with air and a reed to make the music, which makes them a wood wind instrument. But don't you sometimes wonder how in the world someone managed to put these two items together and create such an astonishing musical instrument?
So whether you are listening to a roaring rendition of a battle march played with great skill by an accomplished San Francisco bagpiper , or the plaintive sounds of Amazing grace, you can recall the origination of the intriguing instrument you're listening to.
For further details about bagpiper san Francisco please visit the website .

San Francisco bagpiper to bring his bagpipes

Who knew that the San Francisco Bay area would have such an interesting assortment of activities for the many lovers of bagpipe music. And one of them even offered free admittance to any San Francisco bagpiper to bring his bagpipes !

The weekend of March 24th, 2012, brought the 8th Annual San Francisco International Bagpipe Festival to the Croatian American Cultural Center. It featured bagpipe music from around the world, including Spain, Italy, Greece and many other countries including Scotland and Ireland, of course. Also available was ethnic Bulgarian food to round out the afternoon.

Since this was the 8th annual Festival, if you missed it be sure to mark your calendar for next year, as the Festival will surely return again next spring. And if you are a San Francisco bagpiper , remember to bring your pipes along for free admission !

One other area of interest for those who love bagpipers in San Francisco and would love to learn how to play the pipes, is a program started in the fall of 2011 from a partnership between the Irish Pipers Band and the United Irish Cultural Center. This program is free to children and teens aged 8-18 who are interested in learning to play the Great Highland Bagpipe. All that is needed is the purchase of materials and the group instruction is free of charge.

For further details bagpiper san Francisco please visit the http://www.fredpaynebagpiper.com/

Plaintive sound of the bagpipe playing Amazing Grace

Do you love the plaintive sound of the bagpipe playing Amazing Grace ? Or the rousing sounds of The Wearing of the Green when piped by a champion bagpipe player? Then this information may be of interest to you.
The hills of Scotland may come to mind when you hear the notes produced by this strange, yet haunting instrument issue from a bag of air and a handful of reeds. But did you know that there are a few very good San Francisco bagpipers as well? And a few of them have won Championships for the high quality of their play.

Some of these bagpipers from the San Francisco Bay Area are available to play for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays and other celebrations, offering not only a choice of music but also a choice of dress kilts. Some are even available on short notice for funerals if your departed one loved the pipes.

The popularity of the highland games in Northern California at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds has introduced the bagpipes to many who have not had the chance to hear it played in Scotland, and have taken advantage of the CD’s available there to take home the rousing music to hear at work, at home, or in the car. But hearing it played live for your wedding is something you'll never forget.

So you don't have to venture far from Pleasanton to hear a champion San Francisco bagpiper play! Just keep your ears pealed and you may be hearing a champion San Francisco bagpiper before you know it.

For further details visit bagpiper San Francisco please visit the website .

Scottish Bagpipe Music in Northern California

Do you love going to the Highland Games or the Renaissance Faire because you enjoy listening to the sound of the bagpipes? For many of us this is our only opportunity to hear the pipes played as it doesn’t often occur in our everyday life. But did you know that you could arrange a bagpiper in San Jose for events of all kinds? Or anywhere in the Bay Area? And did you know that one of the best bagpipe players in the Bay Area is willing to travel to Sacramento and beyond in order to play at your event, whether it be a joyous one such as a wedding or a somber one such as a funeral? Fred Payne is a champion piper who's been a Western U.S. Champion soloist from 2002 - 2004, and he can be booked to fulfill your dreams of listening to the music that can only be coaxed from a bagpipe by a champion piper!
Most of us know Amazing Grace, and having been lucky enough to hear this song played at an evening dinner at Bunratty Castle, it is not easy to forget. But of course many other tunes are also available, from the Lewis Bridal Song to Scotland the Brave, so Fred is sure to have the exact right tune to create the mood you're looking for. Samples are available for you to check out at http://www.fredpaynebagpiper.com/scottish_irish_bagpipe_music.html

If you're hoping to plan a really unique and memorable event or wish to make a lifelong memory, or you're responsible for a wedding or memorial service in the South Bay, for example, Fred would be a perfect choice for a San Jose bagpiper . Or if you're in the state capital, consider Fred if you need a Sacramento bagpipe player You can visit Fred Payne at his website to learn more or to book him. He can also help you to arrange a drum corps and/or additional pipers if needed.

So just keep Fred in mind for a San Jose bagpipe player or Sacramento bagpiper , or anywhere in between. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how memorable Fred can make your event.

Bagpipes in Northern California

Do you love going to the Highland Games or a Renaissance Faire because you enjoy listening to the sound of the bagpipes? Normally this is our only opportunity we get to hear the pipes played here in Sacramento - bagpipe players are not found at many events or venues.
But did you know that one of the best bagpipe players around often travels to both Sacramento and Reno for a variety of events, such as weddings or funerals? So if you're looking for a Sacramento bagpiper or a Reno bagpipe player, consider Fred Payne, champion soloist bagpiper for the Western U.S. . from 2002 – 2004. Fred can be booked on short notice and provides a highly professional presence and musical experience to fit your event.
Most of us are familiar with the haunting tune “Amazing Grace”, and having been lucky enough to hear this song played at an evening dinner at Bunratty Castle in Scotland, it is not easy to forget. But many other tunes are also available from the “Lewis Bridal Song” to “Scotland the Brave”. Frec can customize a program for you, playing the ideal Scottish or Irish bagpipe tunes for your occasion or event.
If you wish to make a similar lifelong memory, visit Fred Payne at his website to book him for your event. He can also help you book Scottish dancers or a drum corps and additional pipers as well.
And don’t despair if you live in Reno. Bagpipe player extraordinaire Fred Payne would be happy to book an appearance there as well.