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~ Universe of Bagpipes ~  |
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With Bonus Audio CD Album |
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"Bagpipes are generally associated with the Celtic fringe of Europe, but one of the richest and most ethnically diverse bagpipe traditions can be found in Central Europe, in the Czech lands and in neighboring Bavaria [Germany]. This tradition once became marginalized and almost disregarded, yet this historic musical form has survived and even managed to renew itself, to develop further on a regional scale - crossing national and linguistic borders. Call of Dudy captures the people and places which are keeping this centuries-old tradition alive today for future generations." (Text from the back of the DVD case). |
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This beautifully produced and directed DVD was created by professional film-maker Jefe Brown, who lives in Prague. Jefe and his crew have woven a rich and unique tapestry depicting one of the most important and fascinating corners of the bagpiping world. Many sorts of bagpipes appear in the course of the film, but the central instrument is the Ceske (Czech) Dudy, also called the Böhmischer (Bohemian) Bock. (The word "Dudy" means "bagpipe" and appears with variations of spelling in many Central European cultures.) The Ceske Dudy happens to be one of our very favorite bagpipes here at The Universe of Bagpipes and in fact is heard on the very first track of our thirty-bagpipe CD, Bagpipes of the World. It has a rich, deep tone but is nevertheless nimble, with a character that is simultaneously haunting and playful (if that makes any sense). Like most bagpipes the Dudy is an instrument of the "common" folk, but its sound can be evocative of something noble and mysterious - perhaps a gathering of tribal kings deep in the ancient forests of old Bohemia and Bavaria. |
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and listen to a short sound sample here on this site. |
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Aside from the specifics of the instruments and the music, this documentary explores cross-cultural aspects of bagpipes and piping. Not long ago we recieved an angry email from a visitor to this site who objected to our inclusion of both the Czech and German names of this bagpipe. This was in reaction to the rocky history, especially during the mid-twentieth century, of the relationship between these two cultures (or more accurately the relationships between their leaders). But musicians in general and pipers in particular, along with their listeners, have seldom respected the divisions erected between cultures, which is something that we here at the Universe of Bagpipes emphasize, and which is at the core of the Call of Dudy film. People can be bludgeoned by cunning lies and lying images into believing this or that about their neighbors, to the point of sending their children off to war. An antidote to such poisons has always been music (thus the cliche about music soothing savage beasts). And for centuries, it was pipers with their many sorts bagpipes, who brought not just entertainment to their far-flung audiences, but also an undeniable and happy reminder of the powerful harmonies that are common to all people and that transcend the petty, sad lunacies of strife and hatred. ~ O.S., 2009 Well. Aside from saving the world, this DVD is a whole lot of fun for anyone interested in bagpipes and piping. We recommend it highly, and we have it available for purchase here. We're sure enough of our opinion that we will cheerfully refund your money if you don't like it. |
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US $27.00 with Free Shipping (First Class Mail - domestic U.S. & Canada; overseas customers, please contact us for postage cost.) |
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Please feel free to contact us by email at bagpipes@hotpipes.com or by telephone at (707) 937-1626 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Pacific Coast time (GMT minus 7- 8 hours), seven days per week. We suggest you do so if you have any questions and especially if you have any doubt about the suitability for you of your intended purchase. We're anxious that you get what you need, and we're not interested in selling you something you don't need! We can accept payment in many different ways from just about anywhere in the world: Credit Cards: We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Expresscredit cards by three methods:
Other Payment Methods: We cheerfully accept personal checks, money orders, wire transfers, bank drafts, cash and so on. Let us know your preferences (or problems) and we'll work with you. The prices on this site are in U.S. dollars and are current. We never issue surprises in this regard. There is no fine print about fluctuating currency exchange rates or such. You may find some lower posted prices elsewhere, but you will also find dealers who don't update their sites, and/or who add qualifiers to their stated prices, and/or who do not actually stock what they sell, and/or who provide little if any real customer service. Not here. We can offer modest discounts on quantity purchases of some items - feel free to inquire. We stock what we sell. Occasionally there are unpredictable runs on items, and/or short re-supply delays. If an item is going to be out of stock for more than a few days you will find a notice to that effect at the top of this box. Fine bagpipes and bagpipe accessories are made in small lots by meticulous craftspeople, not mass-produced & warehoused, and buying them should not be viewed like zipping down to the 7-Eleven for a six-pack. Feel free to ask us to reserve items for you, even if you're not quite ready to order - it will help us, and avoid a possible delay for you. Domestic (US) Shipping: We usually ship the next business day after an order is received. We normally ship by U.S. Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation, except for small items such as reeds and CDs which are normally shipped First Class. Standard shipping costs are listed with each item's price. We do not attempt to profit on shipping and charge no "handling" fees or such. Our packages are insured by a private company (DSI Insurance) so no signature is required on delivery of most packages. (This also means packages can be left if no one is home - a good thing for most people, but if that might be a problem please let us know.) Priority Mail has been very reliable and fast, taking three days or less to cross the country. If faster shipping is required we can provide Express Mail (two days from here to most US locations) or Federal Express - but be aware that these services are pricey. If you are ordering more than one item, please contact us for shipping costs, which will be less than the total of the respective amounts. We guarantee delivery and in the very rare event of a lost or damaged shipment, we send a replacement first and worry about the insurance etc. later. We ship to APO and other military addresses at no extra charge. International Shipping: If you're not in the US or at a US military address, please email us for shipping options and costs. We ship something overseas just about every day, so we can offer advice based on experience. We send most medium-size packages (practice chanter outfits, electronic pipes, Kitchen Pipes, etc.) by postal Global Priority Mail, which costs only very slightly more than ordinary airmail and is safe and fast. We stand by everything we offer, as do the manufacturers and our suppliers. We sell only properly made, high-quality items in the first place, so problems are altogether rare. In the unlikely event of any difficulties, you will be dealing with us on an immediate and personal level. If necessary, we will deal with the maker or distributor of the item on your behalf - we are a major customer of most of them, and have a bit of clout. We (and the makers of the items we sell) are keenly interested in maintaining our hard-won reputations for quality and excellent service, and we do whatever it takes to keep our customers happy! (707) 937-1626 From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific Coast time (GMT minus 7 - 8 hours), seven days per week. To Order by Email: bagpipes@hotpipes.com We try to answer all email within a few hours - rarely, a day at most. If you don't hear from us, something's wrong - try giving us a phone call. To Order by Mail: please send your payment to: Oliver Seeler Universe of Bagpipes P.O. Box 447 Albion, California 95410 Please make your check or money order payable to Oliver Seeler. To Order On Line by Credit Card:  Click on the above logo To Order Using:  Go to your PayPal account and initiate payment to bagpipes@hotpipes.com Always feel free to ask questions and thanks for your interest! |
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