BRIAN BORU IRISH PIPE BAND - BAGPIPES: Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band 40th Anniversary - Bagpipes

Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band - Bagpipes

Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band 40th Anniversary - Bagpipes

© 2003 Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band (656613346624)

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Highland Bagpipes and Drums, Fiddle, Accordion and Uilleann Pipes.

notes

This St. Paul bagpipe company performs all your favorite Irish pieces, from Kelly to Wearing of the Green to Minstrel Boy. A beautiful, soaring version of Amazing Grace is one of the highlights, as well as lively pieces accompanied by fiddle, accordion and uillean pipes.

BIO:

The Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band was established in 1962 to preserve and advance Celtic piping, drumming, and dancing. We are one of the oldest existing pipe bands in the Upper Midwest. Over the years the Brian Boru Band has become a fixture in parades, celebrations, dances, and an increasing number of private festivities. We play for local, regional, and national events, adding a sense of tradition and spirit of pageantry to every program in which we participate.

Our distinctive Irish uniforms -- the saffron kilt, black tunic, and black cabeen (beret) with green or red plumes -- are modeled after traditional Irish pipe bands. A number of the band members wear the original brass buttons from uniforms of the Irish Volunteers, the very units involved in the historic Easter Uprising in Dublin, 1916. Officers of the Brian Boru Band, recognized by the distinctive red sash worn across their left shoulder, choose the tunes you hear.

Some of the music performed by the Brian Boru Band came out of that fierce era of Ireland's past. Other pieces are more modern, and many are much, much older -- ancient reels and airs, timeless ballads and war marches, and lively, lighthearted jigs.

WWW.BRIANBORUPIPEBAND.COM


MORE ABOUT THE BAND.....

The Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band
by Ari McKee

Article originally appeared in the Irish Gazette.

The phrase "local band" is almost a synonym for short-lived. Bands these days seem to be composed of a sparingly talented group of youngsters who met in metal shop or rehab and are known as "The Screaming Death Tobaggans" for a few fleeting weekends, their gig dates buried deep in a couple of City Pages club ads. They break up, regroup, splinter, and usually fade into ordinary life- decades from now their kids may never have known their mommy or daddy was a musician.

But there's another kind of local band. The members are either seasoned professionals or learning students, the performance attire requires shoes and brass polish, and there's been no monkeying around with the name for thirty-eight years. Which, when you think about it, is really a drop in the bucket when you realize they play instruments that have been around for upwards of three thousand years.

This is the culture of the bagpiper, and the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band is the upper midwest's most senior ambassador to this unique world of sacred music and just -as-sacred traditions. Established in 1961 by accomplished pipers, it continues week by week and year by year with some of those original members, many newer members and even the children of original members. The uniform is the same- a saffron kilt (tartan is for the Scots) and black wool short jacket. Some of the pipers sport original buttons from the Irish troops who participated in the Easter Uprising of Dublin in 1916. The music is largely the same- lively jigs, triumphant marches, familiar airs and wrenching ballads, but each generation has added both newer and less well-known historic pipe tunes to keep everyone on their toes. Some of the pipes themselves are old and ornate, some are new and shiny, but all play the same nine notes held aloft by the wail of the three drones. The combination of these twelve elements can create, in the right hands and lips, the fearsome shriek of the war pipes or the keening moan of a love lost.

Training those hands and lips to create such magic is another story, however. These days it falls to Pipe Major John McCormick to mold the next generation of brave but few bagpipers. The Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band offers free lessons to entice men and women to take on the not-inconsiderable challenge of learning the bagpipes. Many have attended classes over the years and have stayed, bearing the complaints of loved ones and neighbors (amplifiers, hah!), and eventually overcoming the frustration involved in learning the temperamental and high-maintenance instrument. The reward, after all, is not just beautiful music, but an immeasurable connection to one's Irish roots. If you remember something when you're downtown next Wednesday, remember this: the pipers were there even before good Saint Patrick was.

So, in its quiet way (well, maybe quiet is the wrong word), the Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band continues on its historic path. You'll see them heavily this month in Saint Paul, Minneapolis and greater Minnesota, but also throughout the performance season at various games, fairs, parades and festivals. Don't miss them, but if you do, I'm pretty sure they'll be doing it again next year.

reviews

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  • great cd
    author: Duane Pischke

    Found them browsing around looking for music one day, and a great find. If you like the bagpipes and drums sound, you won't go wrong with them. And CD Baby delivered it fast and in perfect condition :)

  • Great CD
    author: Patrick

    Exactly what I was looking for. Sounds like they are playing right in front of me.

  • Celts and those who love them
    author: Melody Burkholder

    This is an excellent good CD of the music that makes the pipes so good. These guys are wonderfull in thier performance, and make me wish I could hear them live! I loved the sound of the ranked pipes... actually gave me goosebumps.

  • One of the best recordings of bagpipes
    author: Stephen Chappell

    As close to live as you can get,the tone of pipes was awesome(ie the chanter & drones) especially tracks three and five.I have a lot of bagpipe music,this is clearly one of the best.Only downer was the ending of Amazing Grace;the sound studio turned the song down at the finish.The Pipers' need to close out themselves!!!!!

  • Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band 40th Anniversary
    author: Phil McGill

    The tunes played were great! The bagpiping was outstanding!! Good job people!! I look forward to your next CD. Oh, CD Baby is fast and on the ball!! I will recommend you!!

  • This is great
    author: Ryan

    This is a great cd to have in the truck as I cross the country. I would recomend it to anyone and the service was great. I can't wait to see these guys live!!!

  • Great CD
    author: Gina

    6-1-07; What a great CD, it's a must buy!! I'm very pleased with my purchase and "cheers" to the pipe band for such wonderful music! Oh and thanks to CD Baby!!!

  • Great CD! Fast Shipping!
    author: Joel

    A full and rich bagpipe sound! Play it loud! A great way to express your heritage!

  • author: LuAnn

    Great CD - I can't stop playing it!!!!!!!

  • You will not be disappointed in this CD.
    author: Maureen (a fine Irish name)

    This is a great collection of music by some truely talented artists. Each tune is a gem. I particularly like Steam Train to Mallaig, and look forward to the techno version on the next CD (hint, hint). CD Baby is fast and communication with customer outstanding. ENJOY!

  • Great music for the piper in all of us!
    author: Lester G. Milroy III

    This is an excellent CD that inspires all pipers. Truly a great pipe band and excellent tunes played in this CD presentation. I am waiting for the next CDs by the band and will purchase it without delay!

  • AWESOME
    author: Jason

    This is one of the best Pipe Bands I have ever heard play. I look forward to any other Cd's that they decide to put out. Thank You!

  • author: tom connolly

    This is the CD that I would play to put me in the mood for any St. Patrick's Day celebration. The first track of this CD is probably my favorite. Every pipe band plays this number in the boston St. Patrick's Day parade. Looking forward to their next release. Thanks so much, Tom

  • Great
    author: Zack

    This CD was great. Personally I find it difficult to find Irish Warpipe bands and CD's, so this group and their CD were exactly what I was looking for. The music is great, the Warpipes sound wonderful, and reveals a authentic Irish feeling. Erin Go Bragh.

  • Brilliant!
    author: Stan Sanders

    This CD has become my entrance music. I arrived to work and pull into the parking lot with the pipes blasting on my stereo, everyone knows I'm here. I come home with the same flourish, the wife and kids know I've arrived. Fantastic quality on the CD, some great music.

  • This band is truly all about the music
    author: Catherine L. Tully

    This 40th anniversary CD is a terrific compilation of expert playing, and the music can really be described as "full" as the sound seems like it is coming from all around you on many of the tracks. As anyone who has heard a pipe band live can attest, there is nothing quite like the sound that they produce. Luckily this is preserved well here and although it isn't right in front of you, it is the next best thing. You'll hear favorites, such as Wearing of the Green and a lovely version of Amazing Grace that shines out Irish style as it plays; the last track on the CD. The 12 songs seem to fly by and leave you wanting more, but that's fine, I doubt this group will be disbanding any time soon! If you love the sound of the good Irish bands that march in a parade, this is the perfect CD to pick up

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