Note triumph

ON a historic day in Verín, Ourense, Álvaro Rúa, a 32 ­ year ­ old bagpiper from Vilela, achieved an incredible feat. He recently shattered the Guinness World Record by playing the longest note ever heard, with a wind instrument, on his Galician bagpipes, according to a national news outlet.

Surpassing the previous record of 1 minute and 23 seconds set by an Indian horn player, Álvaro held a stable sound at a minimum of 80 decibels for an astonishing 13 minutes, 26 seconds, and 95 hundredths.

Álvaro's passion for the bagpipes began at the age of seven when he started his musical journey at the Verín School of Traditional Music. Driven by his love for instruments, he further honed his skills by en ­ rolling in the Vigo Music Conservatory in Pontevedra.

Playing a single, continuous note for more than 13 minutes on the bagpipes posed an extraordinary challenge.

The bag that stores the air in the instrument provided some advantage, although it still demanded immense skill and perseverance.

As time passed, Álvaro faced the challenge of his fingers starting to fall asleep, making the feat even more complex.

Validating the world record required strict adherence to the regulations set by Guinness. Alongside Álvaro, two sound engineers meticulously measured the decibels with a sound level meter. Experienced timekeepers, akin to those seen at sporting events, ensured accurate timing.

To maintain objectivity, two independent witnesses, unrelated to Álvaro, were present to observe the challenge. The entire process was recorded on video, showcasing the musician and the sound level meter's readings from a specified distance.

Álvaro's dedication and training paid off when he remarkably accomplished the feat on his first attempt.

A NEW work by American author Rachel Zemach who lost her hearing aged 10 suggests that many people dislike the word ‘Deaf’ and want to see it replaced.

She argued as she launched her new book The Butterfly Cage that there should be a transition from the word ‘Deaf’ as it originally derived from the words ‘” empty,” and “barren” in Old English.

In addition, when using the word in machines with autocorrect it is often changed to “death” which obviously has negative overtones.

When you ask someone what deaf means they will say “someone who can’t hear.” It’s all about what they can’t do. Even the sign means “can’t hear, and can’t speak,” according to Deaf educator and author Rachel Zemach.

Her preferred alternative then is ‘Sumain’ a French word meaning Your Hand.

The sign for it looks like a flower bud, twisting at the chest and bursting open. It represents the following