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The flying of Battle Ensign has been the
RSN’s tradition on occasion to display the Every seaman will know how to use a
identity of RSN as well as showcasing the boatswain’s call to pipe. The Boatswain’s
fighting spirit of the Navy. Call is held in the right hand between the
index finger and the thumb. The buoy lies in
CEREMONIAL PIPINGS (RSN) the hollow of the right hand, the keel braced
against the fleshy pad of the thumb with the
Ceremonies in the RSN are derived from old hole of the buoy looking upwards. The thumb
Customs and Traditions, which demarcate the should press upwards against the keel,
expressions of Respect, Joy and Sorrow. usually just by the shackle, but not wedged
in the shackle, the index finger crooked over
HISTORY OF PIPING the top of the gun. The other three fingers are
used to create the notes by closing and
opening the airway of the hole of the gun
over the hole of the buoy.
The Boatswains Call is held securely and
firmly between the thumb and index finger of
the right hand.
Pipe
The pipe consists of a narrow tube (the gun) To produce a low note the air must be gently
which directs air over a metal sphere (the and relaxingly blown out with your three
buoy) with a hole in the top. The player opens fingers in the raised position.
and closes the hand over the hole to change
the pitch. The rest of the pipe consists of a To make the high and low notes you need to
“keel”, a flat piece of metal beneath the gun control the breathing as much as the curling
that holds the call together. of the fingers. To produce a high note you
must squeeze the air out as a tight steady
The boatswain’s pipe, a special pipe stream whilst the fingers are curled down
instrument, is used to signal commands over the buoy (diagram 2), you also have to
during ceremonies such as the Colours blow harder to produce a high note.
Ceremony and Sunset Ceremony, as well as A good way of describing this is by drawing
to pass commands to the crew. This is known bubbles, a lot of small bubbles to represent
as piping. the high note and a few very big bubbles for
the low note.
