The bagpipes are a powerful instrument.  When played in tune with star quality and not like a cat being run over by a London bus they’ll grip and thrill your guests… (don’t under estimate cutting corners – I hear the horror stories!)  The Queen has her own piper to wake her each morning, they are routinely paraded at military tattoos and other PR events, and have an unparalleled ability to stir the blood and motivate troops into battle.  They are one of the hardest instruments to play, and require much time and attention to detail; not only in practice, but also in maintenance.  Yet the person who sets out to become a piper should take pride that theirs is a national instrument, worthy of their best efforts and many great pieces of music have been composed especially for them.

The bagpipes are a wind instrument consisting of two or more single – or double reed pipes, the reeds being set in motion by wind fed by arm pressure on an animal skin (or rubberized-cloth) bag.  The pipes are held in wooden sockets (stocks) tied into the bag, which is inflated (through a blowpipe with a leather non-return value) or by bellows strapped to the body.  Melodies are played on the finger holes of the melody pipe, or chanter, while the remaining pipes, or drones, sound single notes tuned against the chanter by means of extendible joints.  The sound is continuous; to articulate the melody and to reiterate notes the piper employs gracing – i.e. rapidly interpolated notes outside the melody giving an effect of detached notes.

One of the oldest instruments known to man

The Scottish bagpipes have been in existence for several hundred years, but their origins can be traced back to as early as ancient Egypt, making them one of the oldest instruments known to man.  Latin and Greek references point to the bagpipes being used in North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Aegean, the Caucasus and the Mari of Russia from c.100.  They came to Europe as early as c.800 and to Scotland as late as 1750.

Today’s developments are largely focused around making the pipes easier to maintain.  Crude hemp bindings are often finished off with PTFE tape, wooden chanters are increasingly being discarded in favour of durable Polypenco plastic, bags are now made of synthetic materials that do not require seasoning, and modern drone reeds use blades that are held rigidly in place by small screws rather than loose-fitting bridles.

An enduring symbol of Scottish Nationalism

The Romans may have introduced the pipes to the British Isles during their occupation, but over the centuries, more than any other group, the Scots have adapted and adopted the pipes as an enduring symbol of Scottish Nationalism. The Bagpipe along with the tartan and the kilt were such powerful symbols of Scottish nationalism that they were banned by the English occupation.

Bagpipes have always been folk instruments, but after the 15th century some were used for court music, and others have survived as military instruments.  This view was recently upheld when a piper who played on Hampstead Heath was ordered by the local council to stop, despite a sizable petition that was conducted among affected residents.  When the case reached court he successfully argued that the bagpipes were not a musical instrument, but rather an instrument of war and were therefore not subject to the legislation!

Other pipers have not been so fortunate; the English feared the stirring effect of the pipes on Scottish emotions.  Piper James Reid of Prince Charlie’s army was executed by hanging at York on November 15, 1746 as a rebel.  At his trial it was argued in his defence that he had “not carried arms,” however, Lord Chief Baron observed that, “a Highland Regiment never marched without a piper… therefore, his bagpipe, in the eyes of the law was an instrument of war.”

Today, the highland bagpipes show no sign of ageing; they have stood the test of time and hold as strong today as they have ever been.