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Bagpipe quiz
Bagpipe rockers the Red Hot Chilli Pipers have helped us create a music quiz with a difference. Can you name that tune?
Ever wondered what Lady Gaga would sound like on the bagpipes? Well now you'll get the chance to hear it for yourself.
Scotland.org has teamed up with world famous bagpipe rockers the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and the College of Piping in Glasgow to bring you a music quiz with a difference.
We gave the Chilli Pipers nine pop and rock songs and invited them to put their very own ‘bagrock’ spin on them. We’re now challenging you to 'Name that tune’.
No strangers to playing modern music on Scotland’s national instrument, the Chillis were the perfect candidates to help us out. Formed in 2002, the band have become famous for their unique covers of rock and pop tracks and unconventional takes on traditional tunes.
The group have since become an international success, taking their ‘bagpipes with attitude’ sound to audiences around the world from New York and Germany to Beijing and India.
Chilli’s founding member and Musical Director Stuart Cassells took time out from his busy schedule to talk to Scotland.org.
He said:
“We always get a great reception from international crowds. We’ve played numerous times across Germany and the USA, but have been just as well received in China and Taiwan.
“What makes the audience enjoy the shows is the fun we have on stage. People love that. We have fun performing and people appreciate that and enjoy the music. “
Stuart said that the Chilli’s unique spin on traditional piping is helping to introduce the bagpipes to a new generation.
“The bagpipes are now more popular than they’ve ever been. We try to show how versatile the instrument can be, and how much fun you can have playing them.”
“The bagpipes are now more popular than they’ve ever been. We try to show how versatile the instrument can be, and how much fun you can have playing them.” Stuart Cassells, Red Hot Chilli Pipers
We asked Stuart what’s so special about the bagpipes.
He said:
“The bagpipes are part of Scotland’s national identity, and are played at all major events including weddings, funerals and Hogmanay. The best thing about them is how much emotion they evoke. They can make people very happy but also make people feel sad. It’s a powerful instrument.”
Those taking part in Scotland.org’s ‘Name that Tune’ quiz needn't worry about feeling sad, though, as all of the songs included are sure to get the toes tapping.
Fellow Chilli Piper Dougie McCance, who took on the task of interpreting the songs for the pipes, said:
“Some of the songs were a little bit of a challenge to play on the bagpipes but we’re confident that we’ve managed to put that unique Red Hot Chilli Piper twist on all of them. We hope people enjoy guessing what they are.”
Next up for the Red Hot Chilli Pipers will be the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Glasgow International Piping Festival in August. This will be followed by appearances at the Milwaukee and Rocky Mountain Colorado Irish Festivals in August and a tour of Germany in November.
Try out the quiz now and see if you can name that tune
College of Piping
Glasgow’s College of Piping was established in 1944 and is the oldest institution teaching Scotland’s national instrument. For more than 65 years it has played a key part in keeping the traditions of piping alive, teaching students from both Scotland and overseas.
Students can learn the art of the bagpipe via a three or four year degree course. As well as providing teaching on site in Glasgow, the college also offers summer teaching programmes in New England and California, USA, and an annual winter school in Germany. It also offers a range of online lessons.
Principal Robert Wallace said:
"We are delighted to be part of this endeavour. It will help raise awareness and the profile of the bagpipe internationally."
The College in Glasgow’s West End also contains a piping museum housing the most important collection of piping memorabilia in the world, and includes historical artefacts, memorabilia and manuscripts.
Each month the College publishes the Piping Times, its award-winning magazine. It also publishes and distributes a large selection of tutor books, manuals and historical writings on the bagpipe and its music. Its Tutor Book 1 is the industry standard training manual for the instrument and has sold more than 35,000 copies worldwide, making it the biggest selling piping book in history.
A registered charity, the College keeps its lessons as affordable as possible by subsidising them with profits from the College Shop.
Think you know your bagpipes?
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