Colin lives in Hollywood, California, where he’s a professional bagpipe player. But does he play the bagpipe or play the bagpipes? Either is correct, although most bagpipers use the plural form. Bagpipe music consists of a skirl, the “shrill, wailing sound,” and the bourdon, or “drone,” a term also applied to “the tall, low-pitched stopped pipe on a pipe organ.” Before he hangs up, Colin gives us a taste of his skills and skirls. You can see and hear more at his website, including him riding a 10-foot-unicycle while piping, at Kilted Colin. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “The Pipes, the Pipes are Calling”
Hi there, you have A Way with Words.
Hello, this is Colin calling from North Hollywood, California.
Hey, Colin.
Hi, Colin. How you doing?
Hi.
Terrific. How are you two?
All right. What’s happening?
Okay, so I’ve got a pretty niche question for you.
I’m a bagpiper. Typically, I actually use the instrument in a slightly different fashion than most people would. And I actually play those bagpipes or bagpipe on a 10-foot unicycle.
I’m sorry.
You play the bagpipes on a 10-foot unicycle.
You’re not the guy who also dresses up like Darth Vader, are you?
No, believe it or not, that is a different guy.
Okay.
But anyway, after all the years that I’ve been playing, I’ve never known the right way to say the instrument. For example, it has three pipes coming out the top, but it is also a singular instrument, which then begs the question, is it called a bagpipe or is it called bagpipes? When referring to myself playing, should I say I play the bagpipe or I play the bagpipes?
Bagpipe, singular bagpipes, plural.
Okay, I’m going to answer your question, just get it out of the way, and then I have questions for you. All right, so pipers, as far as I understand it, I’ve met some pipers before. You usually prefer the plural because you have more than one pipe. You have the three pipes on top, therefore, and you have one bag, but three pipes. Therefore, it is you bag pipes. You play the bag pipes. However, both are correct, and you can say whichever you please. But pipers in the community generally prefer to play the bag pipes with an S.
I see.
How about that?
Interesting.
So my question for you is, can you do an amazing Skirl for us? S-K-I-R-L. This is the shrill sound. Can you just, like, make your pipes shriek and wail for us?
Oh, I mean, that’s what I do pretty much on the regular.
On a unicycle. Are you, like, holding your pipes now? Like, I’m imagining, like, Dr. No and the cat.
Yeah, I treat it well. Treats me well. Are you going to play for us? I thought you guys would never ask.
Yes, thank you for sharing that traditional Scottish ballad with us.
Yeah, you’re welcome.
So, Colin, I’m just curious. Do you ride your 10-foot unicycle around your neighborhood playing the bagpipes? Or where does this occur?
So I actually perform a one-man circus comedy show. And I do the bagpipes on the unicycle. And I also do some acrobatics and juggling. And funny dancing, and I wrap it all up into a nice, neat little package and present it to the world.
Oh, that’s lovely.
Kilted Colin is the name of this act, I guess, that I perform.
Kilted Colin.
Well, thank you, Kilted Colin. That was lovely. Thank you for sharing your music with us, and thank you for asking your question. And call us again sometime.
Sounds like you lead a mysterious and interesting life.
Yeah, it is definitely a different path than most leads, and I’m very fortunate.
All right.
Bye-bye.
Take care of yourself.
Thanks, guys.
Thank you.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
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