BAGPIPES

Hello everybody,

today's post is going to be dedicated to another landmark of Scottish culture: Bagpipes.

The sound of this musical instrument is so typical that everything can recognise it without hesitating. But I think only few of us actually know how it functions and have only little information about its historic background.

The earliest recorded reference to bagpipes dates back to 1000 BC in Asia. So the bagpipe was not invented in Scotland, contrary to popular belief.

By the 1st century AD, bagpipes existed in many different countries, from India to Spain and from France to Egypt. Is not clear when and how exactly bagpipes appeared in Scotland, there exist competing theories claiming they were either a Roman import or that the instrument came from Ireland.

Regardless of which country lays claim to the development, the basic bagpipe comprised always the same elements: a bag with a chanter (on which the melody was played) and one or more drones (pipes which play a continuous note). Some examples were mouth-blown while others used a bellows attachment to supply the air to the bag. The bag provided a sustained tone while the musician took a breath and allowed thus several tones to be played at once.

While different styles of pipe emerged in Scotland, it is the Highland bagpipe or the piob-mhor 'the Great Pipe', which has emerged as Scotland's national instrument. These pipes are blown by mouth and the bags were traditionally made from the skin of a sheep, although today also other materials are being used. The pipes themselves were originally made of bone or ivory, but hardwood is the modern choice.

There are essentially two types of music played on the Highland pipes: the marches, which were composed for military or social events, and the piobaireachd (pronounced pee-broch) which is the 'symphony music' of the pipes.

During the expansion of the British Empire, the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe was diffused and has become well-known world-wide. This raise in popularity was boosted by large numbers of pipers who trained for military service in the two World Wars. 

In more recent years many types of bagpipes have resurged in popularity (often motivated by revivals of native folk music and dance). And in many cases instruments that were on the brink of extinction have become extremely popular.

Recently, electronic bagpipes have been invented. Some models allow the player to select the sound of several different bagpipes. However, they are not widely used due to technical limitations.

So while they did not invent bagpipes, Scots can fairly claim to have made them their own through keeping them alive as part of their musical tradition and by making them one of the outstanding parts of their culture.

So now just some brief information about the typical scottish bagpipe: The Great Highland bagpipe: Its existence in Scotland was first attested in 1400. It has two tenor drones and one bass drone.

Bagpipes in Scotland are still a widely followed tradition and pipers are often called to play at weddings, birthdays, funerals and town events.

So now just sit back, relax and listen to some bagpipe music here.

And enjoy the beautiful sounds this instrument produces. 

alerei