397 - Has Bagpipe Pitch Gone Too High? (Dojo Conversations Ep 67)

Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

Do bagpipes seem sharper in pitch than they used to be? That's because they are... This week, Andrew and Jim answer a listener question about why bagpipes have become sharper over time. We look at the history of pitch, how it affects tuning to mix and match old chanters and new reeds, and also at before a left turn into the implications of rising pitch for competitions (for better or worse). Plus, will we ever figure out the magic pitch that will help us make first contact with aliens? Listen in to find out! This week, we cover: 00:00 Opening Thoughts on Competition and Aliens 00:21 A Morning Chat: From Sickness to Bagpipes 01:09 Listener's Query: The Sharpness of Bagpipes 02:31 Exploring Bagpipe History and Pitch Evolution 07:50 The Science and History of Musical Pitch 16:17 The Bagpipe Pitch Debate: Tradition vs. Modernity 20:51 Judging Bagpipe Competitions: Pitch Preferences 28:54 Concluding Thoughts on Bagpipe Pitch and Future Directions