Sorry, I couldn't resist replying to pcnd5584's visions of bagpipes playing A.G on Top of the Pops, which was in 1972!
I was a member of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Military Band (non bagpipes). Although the No1 hit was before my I joined I did spend 16yrs with them, so I do know about some of the difficulties pipers encounter in playing the pipes.
Its not easy to control 3 drone reeds plus the chanter reed, tuning can become a problem just like any reed stop.
Yes they are very loud close up, and even I at times would have liked to put them all in a swell box and close the shutters but listen to a good band, albeit from a distance it might change your mind.
As for Amazing Grace even we used to slip in the odd 7th or 9th if we thought we could get away with it!!
I don't care much for the Glasgow kiss either-Scottish wife for the last 23 years-OUCH!!
Martin