Assembly Resolution No. 949

BY: M. of A. McGowan

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 10, 2024, as Bagpipe Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes great pleasure in celebrating
those musical instruments of historic and artistic significance which
have contributed to the cultural enrichment of our communities, Nation
and across the globe; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 10, 2024, as Bagpipe
Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of
International Bagpipe Day; and

WHEREAS, Since it was co-founded by the International Bagpipe
Organization and the Bagpipe Society in 2012, International Bagpipe Day
is held each year on March 10th to bring awareness of the instrument
which can be traced back to the most ancient civilizations; and

WHEREAS, Dating back to 400 B.C. the bagpipe is thought to have
originated in Egypt, with the first players known as Pipers of Thebes;
in the early part of the second millennium, clear evidence of bagpipes
began to appear frequently in Western European art and iconography; they
were also popular subjects for carvers of wooden choir stalls throughout
Europe in the late 15th Century and early 16th Century; and

WHEREAS, This distinct and unique musical instrument also holds a
special place in certain parts of Europe, such as Scotland and Ireland;
and

WHEREAS, A bagpipe is a type of woodwind instrument that consists of
several parts including the air supply blowpipe, the bag, the chanter,
the chanter reed, and the drone or drones; the chanter is the melody
pipe that can be played by the piper, whereas the drone or drones
provide a constant note; and

WHEREAS, Bagpipes have nine notes, but there are no sharps or flats
so there is no need for a key signature; the sound made by just one set
of bagpipes equals between 115 and 121 decibels, therefore, many
bagpipers wear earplugs to avoid going deaf from their music; and

WHEREAS, International Bagpipe Day was co-founded by Andy Letcher
and Cassandre Balosso-Bardin with the International Bagpipe Organization
and the Bagpipe Society; and

WHEREAS, Since 1986, the Bagpipe Society has been actively involved
in bringing together new bagpipe players in order to preserve the
history and practice of bagpipes; later, a conference was organized to
promote the diversity of bagpipes to a wider audience; and

WHEREAS, The First International Bagpipe Conference, which gathered
musicians and instrument makers from all over Europe, launched

International Bagpipe Day worldwide; thousands of pipers around the
world now celebrate the day every year; and

WHEREAS, Bagpipe Day is a perfect opportunity for people to read
about the history of this ancient instrument and its 130 different types
found throughout the world; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 10, 2024, as Bagpipe
Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.