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University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, April 8, 1986
Bagpipers strike traditional chord
The distinct sound of bappies echoes through the woods of Marvin Grove on a spring evening. People stop, turn and search for the source.
Sitting in a cradle of tree roots is Swain Wheeler, Lenexa senator, praetor.
"I love it," Wheeler said. "I love the music. I do love it."
"There is something about it, and I don't really know why, but when I hear it played well it moves me. It stirs something in my soul."
When the weather is right and dusk is approaching, Wheeler said, he can imagine himself sitting in the Scottish highlands instead of Marvin Grove.
Wheeler, who is a member of the Kansas City Caledonian Pipe Band, became interested in playing the pipes about $2^{1/2}$ years ago after seeing the band at the Renaissance Festival.
Dave Johnson, president of the band and a corporate lawyer from Overland Park, said most people work with him after seeing a pipe band play.
"I started with this band working out the legal aspects during its formation $4\frac{1}{2}$ years ago," Johnson said. "Then I just started mining."
Jon Hartstock, the band's pipe major, formed the band in 1893 after he left the Kansas City St. Andrews Pipe Company, involved the same way John did.
"I fell in love with the pipes in 1958 after seeing the world-renowned Black Watch Pipers of Scotland," Hartocks said.
Since then, Hartstock has built a name for himself in the piping world. At one time he was the North American piping champion and he has played for Queen Elizabeth II.
It takes about two years to learn to play the pipes, which are no harder to play than any other reed instrument. Harder is better, good instruction is hard to find.
Wheeler said the pipes were a "bloody hard instrument to learn to play." But he and Johnson began with no previous musical experience; they couldn't even read music when they started.
The Kansas City Caledonian Pipe Band offers free instruction to anyone interested.
"We'll teach anyone, but we especially encourage students between 10-14 years old to get started," Hartock said.
Wheeler said, "If anyone is interested in piping, I don't think there is a better band to learn from than mine. They are just nice people. I don't think I have ever belonged to a nicer group. It's fun and we have so much fun doing it."
Johnson agrees. "The togetherness aspect of the group is what gives me enjoyment," he said. "And it's a nice way to unwind from work."
Piping isn't just an idle fancy of a few people in the area. Besides the Kansas City Caledonian Pipe Band, three other bands are based in Kansas City: the Kansas City St. Andrew's Pipe Band, the Ararat Shrine Pipe Band and the Sons of Erin Pipe Band.
'It's said that a piper is married to his pipes and lives in sin with his wife.'
--- Jon Hartsock
Pipe major
Kansas City Caledonian Pipe
Band
Band
Also, the Midwest Pipe Band Association comprises more than 20 bands, Hartscott said. The association sets rules for band competition during events such as the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day parade, the second largest in the country behind the New York city parade, and Kansas City's annual Highland Festival, which is scheduled for June 15.
One thing all pipers share, Wheeler said, is a deep love for the tradition and style of Celtic music.
"I don't know why, but it's something that really addictive," Wheeler said. "I absolutely love it." But the answer is not easy for Piper. It takes it very seriously.
Hartsock said some people had an almost monastic attitude toward the pipes.
"It's said that a piper is married to his pipes and lives in sin with his wife." Hartsock said.
Wheeler said learning the pipes also took financial dedication. He said pipes, which had to be ordered from Scotland, cost between $500 and $3,000, depending upon the amount of ornamentation.
Wheeler ordered his from Gillanders and McCleod, in Forfar, Scotland. The company is considered the Stratividae of bagpipes.
All of the company's pipes are handmade in the old tradition and are made in the same building the company used 500 years ago.
Neither the pipes nor the music has changed much through the years, where
"It's not the prettiest music in the world a lot of times," he said. "It doesn't appeal to everyone, but I like it." He can also or two piping tunes of some kind.
Sean Wheeler, Lenexa senior, practices his baggies in Marvin Grove. He said Wheeler is a member of the Kansas City Caledonian Pipe Band, that when he played there he imaged him was sitting in a grove in Scotland.
Wheeler receives personal instruction from Pam Klockseim, a member of the band from Kansas City, Mo. The band gives free instruction in Scottish piping and drumming.
Story and photos by Craig Sands
Dave Johnson, president of the Kansas City Caledonian Pipe Band, plays the pipes while Joni Hastocks, pipe major for the band, tunes them. Hastocks tunes each set of pipes by ear every time the group plays.
Two admirers kiss Wheeler in Westport after the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Kansas City. Mo. Wheeler said women were unusually attracted to a man wearing a kilt.