Galgorm LOL 239 has issued a public service announcement warning members about the dangers of improperly defrosted fifers.
With the Twelfth approaching, the Lodge’s advice is that all fifers should be removed from cold storage in good time and allowed to defrost gradually over a period of three to four days.
The warning follows concerns that inadequate preparation can have unfortunate consequences for both the individual musician and the wider musical sound.
Three to four days. No shortcuts.
According to the Lodge’s guidance, a fifer must be given sufficient time to return to normal operating temperature before being expected to perform.
Attempting to use a fifer straight from the freezer is strongly discouraged. The resulting symptoms can include an unusual walking pattern, difficulty maintaining coordination and a tendency to play out of tune.
In more serious cases, the affected fifer may struggle to distinguish between the start of a tune and the end of the previous one.
A matter of musical safety
The Lodge is urging members and fifer handlers to take responsibility for proper preparation.
Three to four days should be allowed for the defrosting process. Rushing the procedure could compromise the quality of the music and place unnecessary strain on the rest of the musicians.
The announcement has prompted renewed discussion about whether specialist fifer storage facilities may be required in the future. For now, the existing advice remains straightforward.
Prepare your fifers responsibly. A properly defrosted fifer is a happy fifer.