Two Pipers
Contrary to popular belief, the bagpipes are not of Scottish or Irish origin.
Two Pipers
The Oxford History of Music (available from Amazon.com makes mention of the first documented bagpipe being found on a Hittite slab at Eyuk. This sculptured bagpipe has been dated to 1,000 BC.
It was a crude instrument comprised of reeds stuck into a goatskin bag.
Instrument sophistication grew with time. The reeds were replaced with the hollowed leg bones of animals. Holes drilled into the bones allowed the musicians to vary tones and pitch. These werelater replaced by ivory and plastic parts. The animal stomach or bladder "bag" was later replaced with leather and now Gortex.
Village musicians used the pipes along with drums for:
1. Entertainment, an effort to brighten an otherwise drab existence
2. Contributions to facets of community life, such as rituals and cerimonies
3. Burials (especially for warriors), of major importnce because people were deeply religious
4. An instrument of war, calling and rallying- considered so important and disturbing that the English banned both the Scots and Irish from playing them at any time.
The Romans carried bagpipes along with their trumpets and drums, and are credited with spreading the popularity of the instrument throughout Europe. The pipes reached their highest level of popularity during the 14th century and could be found in nearly every village. The pipes form we know today began appearing in the late 16th and 17th centuries, with decorated chanter and drones. Dynasties of pipers emerged, such as MacCrimmons, MacKays, MacGregors, and Cummings, who performed the duties of official piper for their patrons through successive generations and who sustained and generated the music of the bagpipe until the wake of the Jacobite wars of the 18th century. The Highland bagpipe survived by virtue of the growth of empire and standing armies and these influences standardised the instrument and styles of playing.
When most people think of bagpipes, they are thnking of the Great Highland Pipes. The modern piipes consists of several parts:
1. The bag, usually made of animal skin, especially elk hide, but Gortex is also popular since it lasts longer
2. Blow pipe, used to supply air to the bag through a valve to keep the flow one way
3. Chanter, the melody producing pipe played with two hands
4. Bass Drone, the first and larger of the drones
5. Two Tenor drones, both tuned together (hopefully)
It is customary for the piper to dress in traditional attair. This can vary greatly, however, depending on the event and the piper. The basic "outfit "would consist of:
1. A kilt, made of wool and woven into a specialized tartan pattern. These are highly specialized for each clan and vary by season. Technically the word "plaid" means blanket, or the strip of pleated cloth worn over the shoulder, but the terms "plaid" and "tartan" are sometimes interchanged
2. A shirt, formal or informal (jacobite) with or without tie
3. A jacket, dress type or informal, or militarty-type tunic
4. A hat, tam, Balmoral, or feather bonnet
5. Waist belt with dirk.
6. Sporran, informal or dressy, or military type
7. Knee hose with flashes and "sgian dhub"
8. Shoes, dress with "Ghillie Brogues" with or without spats
| Jacobites | Feather Bonnets | Pipers Marching |
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