Pan Pipe Buskers

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 02:29 PM

I saw Atacamenos busking on the Dufferin Terrace in Quebec several years back. It was the summer festival so there were buskers all over the Old Town that week, but they were my favorites. Them and this funny juggler from Calgary. I bought their CD and have enjoyed it since. I never knew that this was some kind of worldwide cultural phenomenon till I read this thread.

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 07:06 AM

Actually, I can't remember seeing any for years, have they all gone home?

RtS

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: GUEST,Oldie
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 04:01 AM

Please don't tar all amped buskers/panpipers with the same brush!
I play panpipes - own make - and have a small (15 watt)amp for backing tracks which I keep turned down as low as I can to avoid disturbing shopkeepers and other buskers. I have played all over Britain and the Continent.
A lot of my repertoire is classical music, which is not solo; I mean, even Pavarotti needed backing!
I use a variety of backings: orchestra, church organ, midi, and myself on guitar for pieces like Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)and Cavatina ("Deer Hunter"). I also play weddings etc.
I too have my work cut out avoiding the mostly too loud-amped, M.O.R. South Americans.
I also sometimes get out my guitar, and do classical/beatles/cohen/drake/taylor/simon/gershwin/jobim/zep covers
etc.
There are one or two other "solo" panpipers, like Andreas Gmelin, who is a genius (and also uses backing!)

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: bubblyrat
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 05:05 AM

People of my age might be more used to South American music,having been exposed,back in the 'fifties / 'sixties to the wonderful sound of Los Trios Paraguayos----how I thrilled to the sound of the Peruvian Mountain Harp in "The Bell Bird" !!
   As to the Pan-Pipe stuff ? Well, I quite like it,if properly played and un-amplified ; I have seen a few really good bands,and a lot of dreadful ones.One of the best that I saw were performing in Paris (Montmartre) some years ago,on the steps of Sacre Coeur.I did own a CD of Andean music for many years ; it sounded very authentic,and included (inevitably) El Condor Pasa,but the musicians were,I discovered,not South Americans at all, but European musicians who played professionally for Ballet Rambert !! I wonder how many Peruvians have played with the Bolshoi ? !!

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 01:09 PM

I didn't want to revive the thread just for this, but since it's here... the other day my son was watching old episodes of South Park online. I find this show strangely attractive and repulsive. They have some funny/crazy story ideas, but they're layered with such a crude and mean sensibility that I mostly can't watch it. One such funny story idea -- the "Pandemic" and "Pandemic 2" episodes:

Pandemic: Pan flute bands are everywhere. The world is suffering from a "pandemic". The boys decide to cash in and form their own band. Unfortunately, just at that point the bands are outlawed. The Department of Homeland Security rounds up all the bands and the boys are to be shipped off with them to Guantanamo, or maybe South America.

Pandemic 2: the Startling: Giant guinea pigs are running amok. It turns out the pan flute bands were protecting us all. The boys have to save themselves... and the world.

The last part of the second episode is all you really need to see...

~ Becky in Long Beach this week

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: GUEST,Bob Kinzett
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 10:25 AM

Years ago, I heard a busker in Wellington, New Zealand. It was an "Andreas Gmelin". I bought one of his tapes "Panpipes and Organ". I have never heard anyone else play panpipes as beautifully as him, and I'm wondering if a) he's still around, and b) is any of his music available for purchase, or on the web. The one tape I had of his wore out years ago and I have never been able to find a replacement...

Does anyone have any advice?

Bob

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: breezy
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 02:51 PM

Please, do not encourage them.

They are so too LOUD

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: Jack Campin
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 03:22 PM

Google for "Andreas Gmelin" and you can find recordings for sale.

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 08:03 AM

Well, we always enjoy South American pan pipe groups, and always buy a CD from them.

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 08:41 AM

Just spent 18 days in Peru. Lots of Panpipes, flutes and son. Amazing music being played all over Peru. Seems to be a living tradition. The posh bands in hotels play some pop, some classical and some old and strange. Bands in the High Andes tended to play more old and strange
L in C

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 08:52 AM

There are all sorts of ways the panpipes can be played. Try Gheorge Zamfir on YouTube for exquisite classical panpiping.

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: GUEST,wobflob
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 07:24 AM

In Copenhagen a few years ago I counted six identical fake Red Indian bands, all plastic feathers and azo-dyed acrylic clothes, all miming to the same music and with identical rigs - Mackie mixer, JBL sepakers, AKG microphones.

Then in Lisbon a few weeks ago there was another lot in one of the big squares, drowning the place with more mimed tripe and the Big Chieftain character with the biggest panpipes dropped his panpipes while trying to reach a nose flute in time for a nose flute solo and the music kept playing so I went over and wolf whistled into his mic and.....nada - a completely un-amplified wolf whistle limped across the square.

I came across this thread after trying to Google for the Instant PanPipe Band Kit from the Acme Corporation that these guys must obviously be getting from the same place. I want in on the action - they obviously make a fortune. And if the moron of a German woman who went over to the ones in Lisbon and put her hands together and bowed (I kid you not) is anything to go by, they probably receive regular sexual favours for their efforts, too.

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 10:00 AM

The others only play for tourists and the market, whereas I play music people really like. Therefore, frauleins and donors, please queue here.

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 May 13 - 06:13 AM

I have just come across a cassette that gives an address for the "fair trde" shop that started it all:

Tumi (Latin American Craft Centres)
8-9 New Bond Street Place
Bath
Avon BA 1BH
UK

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

...so now you know where to direct messages of thanks, or perhaps not.

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: Jim Martin
Date: 06 May 13 - 06:52 AM

I actually like the music but I don't like the way they do it during the Sidmouth Folk Week - they don't seem to be part of the Festival at all!

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: GUEST,Henry Piper of Ottery
Date: 06 May 13 - 08:15 AM

There NOT part of the festival,!!   they just turn up and play all day to their repetative backing tapes, hogging the spaces that other local entertainers could be using,
last year they stopped for a "Lunch Break" went off to a Cafe, leaving there masses of equipment in the care of a minder thus reserveing there space for their next 5 hour marathon.,

Subject: RE: Pan Pipe Buskers
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 May 13 - 08:32 AM

They seem have moved to Bristol. New details: http://www.tumi.co.uk/