I Had a Dream

[Jonathan]

Last night. I was playing a brand new full set by Master Wooff. Concert pitch. Narrow bore, I'd guess, by the colors of the notes. Ebony, brass, and ivory... Majestic. I don't remember the tune I was playing, but it was a reel; it was somber and joyous all at once. And my god, it was laid-back and swinging, but good. I was playing in a small room that felt like the place where I sleep, but there was wood and brass trim all over, as if I were in a pub, or surrounded by the makings of pipes. The music filled the room like an organ, bouncing off the walls--there wasn't a corner or crack it didn't reach. I was the only person in the room, yet I could feel the presence of others who were listening and enjoying the magic of this music with me. I played the tune again and again for hours, transforming it with each repetition, but maintaining its elegant form.

I woke up in the middle of the tune and slowly became aware of the fact that it was only a dream. I had a sense of longing and, perhaps, even a touch of anguish. However, the disappointment of this realization was far outweighed by the transcendence experienced within the dream itself-- an experience I can't imagine ever forgetting. Now I ponder the nature of reality as a few of my most powerfully moving experiences have occurred within the dream world. At least two of those have involved piping.

Pipes, you are such a harsh mistress, but I suspect that if it were any other way, you wouldn't be capable of such beauty.

[glands]

You're an awesome flautist!!! Sorry to learn you're having nightmares of playing reeds....though I can understand the desire to play the set you mention!

[Jonathan]

Thank you, sir. I have had nightmares of playing reeds, but this wasn't one of them. I was at a birthday party with a bunch of jazz musicians and Lindy hoppers last night. One of them, a class string bassist and great friend, is also a devoted piper. At one point we talked piping for all of a minute. A bunch of stuff happened after that, but I guess those few words brought on the dream. What a magnificent set that was.

[deisman]

Nice dream and you are an excellent writer too. Wish I had a dream like that!

[ennischanter]

I wish I had a dream like that!


P.S. Were you playing a C set?

[john]

I was staying on the west coast of Ireland once and had a dream where an air drifted up from the sea and into my sleeping consciousness. I was very frustrated not to have any recollection of it the next day because it sounded very simple and beautiful and I didn't know if it was an original tune or not. That's the closest I ever got to writing a melody I'm afraid.

[chaos97]

^could it have been Port na bPúcaí?

i've honestly had a few dreams like that myself. not just pipes but also song compositions and such. the most amazing things seem to come out in dreams. it kinda makes me wonder if its all traped down in the subconscious somewhere, but with intense searching, practice, and mastering it becomes more easily 'tapped into.' i sometimes feel like Beethoven's 9th might have came from a place like that.

[Jonathan]

Yes. The real music comes out when one forgets where they are and even what they're doing, as if they are merely a conduit. That's when the subconscious mind gains more footing and the magic happens. I wish there were more time to think and talk about all this. Thanks for indulging me, pipers.

[PJ]

I used to have dreams like that, but then I stopped eating cheese before bedtime.

[ennischanter]

Yes. The real music comes out when one forgets where they are and even what they're doing, as if they are merely a conduit. That's when the subconscious mind gains more footing and the magic happens. I wish there were more time to think and talk about all this. Thanks for indulging me, pipers.

Hyup!


You're lucky to have a dream like that! Last night I experienced sleep paralysis! But then again it was kinda cool.......

[geoff wooff]

Evil chuckling..... bit of snoring... reading this.... little smile!!

[rorybbellows]

I had a dream where the pipes came alive and tried to strangle me. The drones wrapped around my neck and the regs sat up like snakes,the tuning pins flicking in and out like the snakes tongue ,spitting and hissing . Other times I have bad dreams.

RORY

[Jeff Cullen]

Surely you are familiar with Tartini's Dream?

[pancelticpiper]

Wonderful, Jonathan. Your description is moving and poetic and I can almost feel it myself.

I can't remember ever having a dream concerning music. I do have a strange recurring motif, discovering that something valuable to me is damaged. I might look in the mirror and see some cracked teeth, or look in the garage and see the tyres of my car slashed, or open up my pipecase and see the blackwood all termite-eaten, or open up my flute case and see the wood split.

I did have a dream recently where a younger version of myself and a young woman were sitting on the grass on the front lawn of some house chatting. It was just after sunset and the air had that wonderful feeling of warmth and coolness all at once. There was that pleasant smell of fresh-cut grass and the air was sweet. I had the most intense feeling of happiness and well-being. Then I awoke. Who was the woman? What were we talking about? Where were we? I have no clue. But the glowing happiness stayed with me long after.

[CHasR]

<<pinch!>>


sorry, just *had* to...