There's a time and a place for everything. Bagpipes, for instance. They sound fine in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. They sound appropriate marching through a crowded McCormick's on the same day. Limit one!
Bagpipes sound marvelous every April at the St. John's Episcopal "Kirchen o' the Tartan" service in that huge gothically acoustic space. And, a bagpipe never sounded sweeter than the single piper emerging from dense fog one year at the Houston Open as a tribute to the colorful Payne Stewart who had perished en route.
But, please, not for dinner. A piper has taken up residence at the corner of Lawrence and the 16th Street Mall. And, frankly, it is annoying. If you are trying to enjoy a meal of crepes, a glass of French wine, and friends across the way...you are tested. This piper seems only to know three tunes. And, they play over and over and they echo and echo around between the buildings. We are all for street musicians, but there should be some limits. Pianos, great. Guitars, fine. Peruvian mountain bands, yes. Bongos, close. But, bagpipes, please no.
We find that we are not alone in attitude toward this irritant. There are whole web
pages of jokes about this misguided instrument. For instance: "Why do pipers march while they play?" Answer: "To get away from the sound!"
We should be able to organize our LBBBBB movement, before the carriage horses get really nervous. And then the food, wine and friends will all be better. Until the heavy metal rock group shows up.
Brilliant! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! We believe a new pizza/beer restauran t going in on that block will likely arrange for the removal of the bagpiper. Unfortunately, they may also have speakers on their patio...so we don't really know how it will go. Can you imagine living across the street from that piper corner, though?
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