| The image of the kilted bagpiper performing at a | | | | Melodies from any source may be considered based |
| memorial is truly magical. The Scottish Highland | | | | upon their own special relevance to the family. The |
| bagpipes hearken back to ancient times when people | | | | bagpipe chanter can play thousands of tunes with |
| gathered to commemorate the noble deeds of heroic | | | | only a nine-note range. Some modern melodies can |
| lives upon battlefields under the open sky. Today the | | | | be played on the pipes, but many are impossible to |
| pipes are the living legacy of those great traditions. | | | | render properly. Quite often, hymns or traditional |
| They can be used by anyone to create a magnificent | | | | selections are played at the beginning, but the family |
| send-off. You do not need to be Scottish to hire a | | | | saves the best for last: "Going Home," or "Amazing |
| piper. Among the remnants of the British Empire the | | | | Grace" to close the service. Pipes can only play at |
| pipes are still played in many places around the world | | | | one volume level, so the final piece is presented |
| such as: Hong Kong, Jordan, or India. You can find | | | | beautifully if the piper recesses away slowly while |
| pipers throughout the United States just about as | | | | playing, leaving haunting echoes for the listener. |
| easily as upon the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle. | | | | Many locations, such as churches, are wonderfully |
| They have now become a modern tradition for many | | | | suited for playing the pipes. The acoustics inside large |
| cultures--far from Highland glens and misty Scottish | | | | sacred spaces can be very impressive, but the pipes |
| isles. Living in the American Southwest, I have | | | | may also be used in smaller venues. The intensity of |
| performed as a professional piper for hundreds of | | | | volume is mitigated in a small church if it is packed |
| memorial services in Southern Arizona. | | | | with people. The pipes are an instrument of dramatic |
| There are many different ways to utilize the pipes. In | | | | impact rather than long duration, so it is often |
| a funeral service bagpipes can be tailored for a | | | | desirable to play them indoors to begin and then to |
| unique tribute to your loved one. All death is | | | | conclude a religious service. Outdoors the pipes reign |
| considered to be a sad loss, but many memorials are | | | | supreme. No other instrument has the same effect |
| designed to be celebrations of life. These memorials | | | | at the graveside. Many memorials also include military |
| lovingly crown a long well-lived life, unlike services for | | | | honors. The typical fashion is to first have final words |
| situations like a sudden tragedy. Most of the | | | | of benediction, then the folding and presentation of |
| memorials I have piped are for those who passed | | | | the U.S. flag, followed by the bugler playing of "Taps." |
| away in the fullness of time. Anticipating the end, | | | | The service is then completed by a final tribute from |
| they had the luxury of time to make careful plans | | | | the bagpipes. Another significant way for the piper to |
| with their families, plans for specific music selections | | | | participate is by playing while the casket is lowered. |
| including the Highland bagpipes. Scottish bagpipe music | | | | The pipes may also be employed separate from the |
| is diverse; most tunes are not dirges. A good piper is | | | | ceremony for an Irish-style "wake," or party, at |
| prepared to play according to the tone and specific | | | | home. Done properly, the bagpipes will enshrine the |
| circumstances found upon arrival at the service. A | | | | smiles and tears of this significant day in the majesty |
| well-constructed memorial event has room for many | | | | of this ancient and noble tradition. |
| moods. Sometimes sacred selections are ideal. | | | | |
