Artist Q&A with bagpipe player Master Cpl. Christopher Hermance

Dover Police Department’s Master Cpl. Christopher Hermance is Irish on his mother’s side. That shows around this time of year. Actually, audiences can hear it more than they can see it when Hermance and his 11-year-old daughter Caroline make their way down Loockerman Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Hermance took a break March 5 from his post at the police department to talk about the bagpipes, the parade and, yes, his kilt.

Q How did you learn to play the bagpipes, and how long have you been playing?
A It was just something I’ve had an interest in. An instructor in New Castle was teaching officers and I took the opportunity. That was about seven years ago.
When you learn to play the bagpipes, you really learn two instruments. First you learn the practice chanter [a reed instrument not yet attached to the bag], and you play the notes on that. Once you learn that, and you have a few songs you know, you move on to the pipe.
The bagpipes have a bag, the neck with the chanter, the blow stick, and the three drones: two tenors, the shorter ones, and the bass, the tall one. You’re in this constant battle to keep all your pressures correct, there’s a warble. You’re blowing, squeezing, you’re playing — when you throw in the marching it’s quite a challenge.

Q Your daughter Caroline plays, too. When did she start?
A She started at about 7 years old. She toyed with the violin, but this is the instrument she plays. It’s amazing how fast they learn stuff.
I think this is my fourth St. Patrick’s Day parade and her third. St. Patty’s Day is kind of the Super Bowl. My daughter is part of the unit, so the only thing she doesn’t carry is the sidearm.

Q What are the challenges of the parade?
A If it’s a cold day we might get into a situation where you might not even be able to play. The biggest issue is finger dexterity. Your hands don’t want to work. After a while you could also “lip out,” when the muscles in your lips can’t get a seal around the mouthpiece.
Then the instrument itself can be an issue. I can tune it in here and then go outside, and 20 minutes later it’s out of tune.
The temperature and humidity really come into play.

Q What plaid do you wear when you play?
A The kilt is Wallace Hunting plaid. We chose it because it matches the city patch on our sleeve. Then I wear a Sam Browne belt; Glengarry hat; the sporran, which is the pouch; ghillie brogues, the shoes; flashes, the tassels on the socks; and hose.

Q Does your daughter make fun of your kilt?
A She gives me the same hard time that everyone else gives me. It’s nine yards of wool in that thing. The kilt is heavier than my pipes.

Q How often do you two practice?
A You can’t just put bagpipes in a box and forget about it. You have to play it regularly. When we’re not preparing for an event we probably play about four times a week for 20 minutes or so. When we are we getting ready for something we sharpen our tunes. Yesterday, after Caroline got home from school, we were marching around the block.
This parade is a long hike, we have to prepare.

Q At what other events do you play?
A We play at the Old Dover Days parade, the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, police ceremonies, memorials [and] funerals. Law enforcement and piping itself are connected, everybody comes together for events like the Chad Spicer memorial last fall.
In Kent County, there are very few pipers, and even fewer in Sussex County. There are a few more upstate, where I had to commute every week for instruction. So I go all over the region, representing this agency and the city. It is good to be able to volunteer like that. As for the parade, we’re not out there to compete. We’re just out there to have a good time and represent the department.

Q What will people at the audience hear from you?
A We have two tunes, “The Minstrel Boy” and “Bonnie Galloway.”