Not a pipe question, but a Band Question.

[popeyefireman]

I play the Bass drum in our band, wasnt hard to pick up as I use to play a lot of insurments in High School. I know am picking up the Chanter, but still really love the bass. My question is this: Can anyone tell me the exact reason why the base drummer wears a furr cap over his uniform. I have been wanting to Get a Black bear I took down a while back made into one, but I wanted to know exactly how it is worn and the purpose. I think it would add a lot to the Band and in the Pheonix Area when the Fire department gets together for there Mass Bands I wouldnt be the only Bass drummer with out one.

[smokenpipesjim]

IF I read your question correctly m Your asking why / about the traditional Lepard type skin / or fake one in the highland pipe band tradition ...?


It stems from the traditions of the Highland Regiments and they're details overseas and specificly to parts of Africa, The Indian Subcontinent when the sun always shown on the Empire !! regiments when in country still kept they're traditions and each regiment had its various trophies from these deployments along with any battle honors ( sometimes one in the same) often such items were Gifts from the Raj etc.. in the victorian period bass drums had leather straps and were most likely not terribly comfortable compared to the ridgid rigs we see these days.. and there was also wear and tear on the drummers dress tunic to consider... these days the skins are just an added item to "Full Dress Military" which many Fire Service and often Police service bands wear because they are all about the "full dress" representation rather then just a pipe band.. Often these bands have played some memorial service to fallen members .. Hope this helps even if its late.:o