Shakespeare on bagpipe and bagpipes, musical taste, likes and dislikes

bagpipe and bagpipes, likes and dislikes and musical taste“Some men there are love not a gaping pig;

And others, when the bagpipe sings i’ the nose
Cannot contain their urine.”

(Merchant Of Venice, act 4, sc. 1)

Tips for use.  Perfect repartee should you dislike the subject instrument and be asked about your related opinion. With some artistic license you can apply the same caustic aspersion to any dis-likeable music – e.g. “…there are some, when the hard-rock band begins to play, cannot contain their urine.” Hard-rock lovers, be not dismayed – it was just an example.
The bagpipe was already a popular instrument in the Roman army, according to the Latin historian Procopius. And Nero was equally one of its practitioners.  Tradition says the it was the very same Roman army that introduced the bagpipe into England. A 15th century Welsh poet had the pleasure of hearing it by played at a Saxon wedding. The poet was not impressed,

“Each roared with throat at widest stretch
For Will the Piper – low born wretch
….
He stares – he strives the bag to sound:
He swells his maw – and ogles round;
He twists and turns himself about –
With fetid breath his cheeks swell” out… etc.

The bagpipe was usually played in rural areas. It reached its height of popularity when Madame Pompadour (mistress of King Louis XV), played its French bellows version called the musette – an instrument that became the harbinger of much French popular music, even today.

Take a look at the web-page describing the book “Your Daily Shakespeare”, 1390 pages filled to the brim with over 10,000 situations you may find yourself in or involved with, attuned to the perfect Shakespearean repartee that will get you on the stage or at least out of the water – besides making you  a winner of verbal contests. “Your Daily Shakespeare” has been described as the most unusual, useful and unique book of Shakespearean quotations. Nothing similar exists or has ever existed.

And if you like this website why not subscribe (see last menu item to the right)? You will get automatically any new blog as well as any other information and novelty that will be forthcoming, including a system to effortlessly (yes) remember hundreds of Shakespearean quotes by heart while having fun in the process. You can also chat with me – please go to the chat-page. And I promise, no sales calls, trade leads, venomous schemes, hidden plots, Machiavellian conspiracies, commercial ploys, psychological tricks, leads exchanges, barter proposals, suggestions or offers of any kind imaginable (and unimaginable).

In the play. Shylock finds arguments (with Bassanio), to have his forfeit paid, the famous pound of flesh culled from Antonio. He wants flesh because it is his whim, much as likes and dislikes are arbitrary, witness the bagpipe example  

Image Source:  http://www.soyouwanna.com/bagpipes-1255.html

This entry was posted in After Dinner Quotes, Amusing Shakespeare, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Chances Quotes, Insults Shakespeare-style, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Presentation Ideas, Shakespeare on Music, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.