The sound of bagpipes has stirred the hearts of millions, with it’s mournful dirge that tells of sorrows, glories, and the love of freedom.
But in these days of political correctness, the silencing of the pipes may become the latest casualty of the nanny state and of a large clueless European Union bureaucracy that dictates with little opposition and with few ways to oppose their actions politically.
The London Times tells us why:
From this month, pipers must adhere to strict volume limits or risk breaking European Union health and safety laws. Bands have been ordered to tone down or wear earplugs to limit noise exposure to 85 decibels….
But the pipes, being a woodwind instrument, can’t be played quietly (for example, if you don’t blow through a whistle hard enough, you won’t get any sound). And hearing “protection” distorts the ability of the musician to hear the nuances of the music.
The pipers are not the only ones facing regulations that make it impossible to play their music: Classical musicians have had to eliminate some louder compositions, limit the time spent in rehearsals, and do all sorts of intricate sound measurements in each theatre to see if they meet regulations.
“Composers should bear in mind that they are dealing with people who are alive, and not machines,†said Mr. Nordwall of the Bavarian orchestra.
Nordwall, who censored one piece of music because of the regulations, says he didn’t have a choice in censoring the music, yet critics point out that many musical compositions by Strauss and Wagner also are too loud to be played under present regulations.
And don’t think those regulations can be ignored:
An HSE spokesman said: “If an employer discovers an employee has been exposed above the exposure defined in the regulations they must take action.â€
So there you have it: A faceless bureaucrat in another country who was never elected by those he dictates to and who doesn’t speak the same language now has the power to make a regulation, and no one can say no.
As a result, the Pipes are muted and certain music is now forbidden. All in the name of “safety”.
Of course, the ones who will be limited the most will be rock bands, who play even louder than bagpipes.
But of course, rock musicians have discussed ear protection for years, and many figure it should be a voluntarily thing.
And it is a sad day when the pipes that long sounded out to remind the Scots of their freedom are silenced, along with a little bit of their own freedom.
For who is there to say “no” when European Union bureaucrats regulate all sorts of things in everyday life that used to be considered part of living a life of freedom?
Presumably the bureaucrat’s next step will be regulating stereos and earphones so that they can’t be turned up above a certain volume…whoops, they already did that too.
Dang. There goes my IPOD.
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Nancy Reyes is a retired physician living in the rural Philippines. Her website is Finest Kind Clinic and Fishmarket.
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12 users commented in " The Silencing of the Bagpipes "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThe regulation of the volume of the pipes is something that indicates bureaucratic government run rampant. As a Scot-Irish descent American…there is nothing better than the soulful sound of loudly playing bagpipes. The EU and all government for that matter needs to stay away from non-effective regulations regarding the use of celebratory music and regulate what is most important to living a qualitative human life.
Long live the bagpipes! Play them loudly as a reminder of global freedom!Hugh McNichol
I think I would prefer to wear myself out enjoying bagpiping and other adventures than live forever under a sterile regime.
It’s not going to happen folks, so get a life and get over it.
I’ve linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms.blogspot.com/2008/04/re-silencing-of-bagpipes.html
It’s about time that hte UK seceded from EUrope.
Let those who wish to be ruled by the idiots in Brussels, go live there. England and the rest of the UK are surely capable of governing themselves by now.
Get the EU thugs out of our lives.
Let the pipes play free!
I have played the pipes for more than 20 years now, most recently in Iraq and Afghaistan.
Tell the troops fighting the Global War on Terror that they can no have the Pipes because it is too loud – Good Luck with that!
The troops enjoy the pipes for a variety of personal reasons, and it is the pipes they prefer to hear as a trooper is laid to rest.
I take great pride in playing for the lads, no matter where they are from or their Nationality and from their reaction, I am sure that they enjoy it too.
It is clear that the bureaucrats have too much time on their hands when they go to implementing laws to limit freedoms of those who fight for freedom or support those who fight for our freedoms instead of looking on how to defend those whose freedom are being threatend by violent extremists.
As for me, I will continue to pipe for those who defend our freedom!
Cheers!
U.S. Army Piper
Master Sergeant
Special Operations
well you goofy europeans gave up your guns what would you expect? but, what more could we expect from a group of countries wsho havn’t figured out central heating or decent water pressure. I suppose this will mean you have to say fuck off very quietly
I do not see what the problem is. The EU will shortly come out with a list of approved instruments to accompany the the EU book of approved compositions, followed by the EU songbook.
Socialism is a wonderfull construct.
My father played the pipes for years, and he has not suffered one iota from them. There is no better sound than a pipe band in full swing. I have been to the Edinburgh Tattoo twice so far, and I am of direct Scottish descent. The sight of the Pipes and drums crossing the drawbridge and emerging thru the portcullis had the hair on the back of my neck standing up, and I was speechless. Have those idiots in Brussels ever even heard a Pipe Band? Thank goodness that Australia is not governed by such imbeciles. Come on England, where has your British bulldog spirit gone? My husband was English thru and thru, but he loved the bagpipes after I introduced them to him.
What did our ANZACS fight for but our freedom??
European Union bureaucrats can get the gallows for making such regulations for all i care
I mean those European Union bureaucrats
The pipes have suvived the Britsh rule that the playing of the bagpipe was tantamount to treason, punishable by death. Then they realized that nothing could stop the Scottish Soldier that fought to the sound of the pipes. I pity the fool that attempts to part the Scottish people, from their national instrument, The Great Highland Bagpipe!
FREEDOM of the BAGPIPES will prevail!
The european nitwitts werent complaining when the Scotts and the Canadians piped their way onto Normandy beach!
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