University of Virginia Library

Ubiquitous Bagpiper Plays For Fun, Money

By SARAH HENRY

Solitude in the Holiday Inns
of Alderman Road is a rarity.
But one can find it in the
woods of Observatory Hill of
so one might think. Enjoying
the escape from academia one
fine afternoon, I was
understandably surprised to
discern the sound of shrill
music. Led by curiosity, I
followed the melody and
found a man in kilts, pacing
slowly with his bagpipes.

He introduced himself as
Ronald Zissell, an astronomy
graduate student from the
moors of Connecticut who is
now completing his doctoral
thesis.

Many students have seen
and heard "the bagpipe man"
on his frequent musical treks
around the Grounds, but few
have had the opportunity to
probe the identity of this
wandering minstrel. This is
because Zissell maintains "a
policy of playing more than a
stone's throw from the
dorms." He explained that he
plays "for fun or profit,
whichever comes first."
Because he has accepted funds
for playing at private parties,
he is considered a
"professional," and is excluded
from amateur competition.

How does one become
proficient at playing this
unusual instrument? On
Jan. 12, 1971, Zissell
walked into Stacey's Music
Store in downtown
Charlottesville and purchased
the necessary equipment
chanter, several music books,
bagpipes, and a record entitled,
Beginning Bagpipes, featuring
an authentic Scotsman with
instructions in a strong
Scottish brogue.

Fingering Technique

Zissell first practiced
fingering technique on the
chanter, an instrument similar
to but quieter than the oboe
Next he graduated to playing
the bagpipes, which are much
louder.

A little-known ingredient in
the leather bag of the bagpipes
is bee's honey. "It makes the
tone sweeter and keeps the
leather in good condition,"
Zissell commented. He has
found that "the bagpipes have
their own technical difficulties,
as do any instrument.
Maintenance is the biggest
problem.

"The place for bagpipes,"
he continued, "is obviously in
Scott Stadium. We'll get a
group of pipers together to
play at football games when
the other team has the ball,
thus provoking a fumble."

Actually, this idea is pretty
feasible when you learn that
there are other pipers on the
Grounds, in various learning
stages. The only real difficulty
in forming a University bagpipe
band is in supplying all
members with the same brand
of pipe and reed, perhaps an
expensive project.

Bonnet

Zissell observed that "pipers
are as ageless as the Scottish
tartan, bonnet, and walking
stick." He was wearing a
bonnet (sort of a beret with a
brim) of the Balmoral style,
fashioned for the nobility that
inhabited Balmoral Castle in
Scotland centuries ago. There
are several other bonnet styles
available.

At this point, a pair of
students involved in a heavy
conversation walked by on
their way to the water towers,
and a car rolled out of the
woods, moving in a menacing
and ill-defined path.

Happy Day

It was beginning to look like
old home week or a convention
or Happy Day as we noticed a
few more people moving
among the trees. Alas, solitude
is an ever-diminishing
commodity.

While the afternoon hours
faded, Zissell played The Good
'Ole Song, for all those in
attendance. The bagpipes are
best-suited to this song, as the
tune Auld Lang Syne is an old
Scottish air.

When finished, Zissell
focused on the first star of
evening and mused about his
future, "Considering the
employment opportunities in
astronomy, I better keep
playing the bagpipes."

Zissell:

Aess As A Scottish Tartan