A Short History of the Bagpipes

 
The bagpipes are one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, so much so that their actual origin and age remain unknown. Emperor Nero apparently played the pipes and not the fiddle whilst Rome burned. Even today, variations of the Scottish pipes are used in France, Spain, Italy, India, Ireland, Russia and Greece. However, no country has integrated the 'pipes' more into their culture than Scotland.

The 'Great Pipes' or 'Highland Pipes' have ancestral Scottish origins. The Scottish Pipes are believed to date back to around 100 a.d. However, it wasn't until the 15th century that their use became widespread. Their actual origin is uncertain, but what we do know is that the Scottish pipes are now the most famous pipes in the world. Nowadays pipers play the pipes - the term 'bagpipers' is seldom used. Indeed, even amongst Scots, the bagpipes are now affectionately known by just one word, 'the pipes'.

Traditionally, the bagpipes were viewed as a solo instrument that galvanised Scottish warriors and terrorised their opponents. The English banned the use of the bagpipes upon pain of incarceration and death following their defeats at Bannockburn and Killicrankie in the 18th century. It was the soul-stirring effects of the pipes on the Scottish army and local population that the English army feared most of all.

What are the pipes?

Consisting of a leather air bag, the Great Highland Bagpipe is manufactured with sheepskin. Inserted and bounded into it's airbag are 5 pipes; the mouthpiece and chanter on which the notes are played, plus a further three. One of the tubes through which the air exits is the one which the piper uses his fingers to produce the melody - by uncovering and covering the holes. A short pipe with 8 holes, the chanter has one hole for the piper's thumb and a further 8 for the fingers. A total of 9 notes, from a low G to a high A, can be produced on the Highland pipes. The remaining 3 pipes produce 3 notes. The first being the bass, known as the drone pipe, whilst the other two produce tenor notes.

A piper uses one of the 5 tubes, known as the blowpipe, to force air into the bag. Music is produced by forcing the air from the bag through the other pipes by using the pressure of the pipers arm.

A competent piper will have the ability to transform this limited range of 8 notes using trills and grace notes into something much more attractive. It's the wailing of the drones produced by trills and grace notes, that produces the ever familiar lilting 'skirl' of the pipes.

The bagpipes require expert skill in their product selection, carving and assembly. The drones, which must be flawless, are crafted, preferably from ebony or African blackwood. Matured for 15 years, the wood is then drilled and carved. Following this, the chanters and drones are stored for several more years and examined regularly for any signs of warping. Any piper will tell you that the slightest warp will mar the tones produced. On conservational grounds, plastic now tends to be used instead of ivory. On a positive note this has helped reduce the price of bagpipes and make them more accessible for beginners. However, even now a really good set of pipes can cost well upwards of a thousand pounds.

Scottish Piping music

It was not until the 16th century that music began to be written for the Scottish bagpipes - the strathspeys, reels and pibroch - that now familiarly comprise a piper's repertoire. Before this date, the roaming lone bagpipe player had to make do with playing variations of traditional tunes and folk songs. It was the famed MacCrimmons, pipers to the MacLeods of Skye, who wrote most of the music for the Highland pipes. The MacCrimmons had a piping school near Dunvegan on Skye and firmly believed in the principle that it took 7 generations of pipers and 7 years study to produce a great player.

In more modern times, the leading bagpipe school in Scotland has been and is still based at Edinburgh Castle. It is renowned for teaching the pibroach, the true classical music of the Scottish pipes. The pibroach makes significant demands on a pipers technique and it's repertoire consists mostly of tunes that were composed by the MacCrimmons and more recently, regimental pipers.

Until the 1830's every piper used their own musical symbols to record piping music. After that date, pipers began to write their music in standard musical notation.

Scottish regimental piping:

Every Highland regiment in the British Army has always had it's own pipers and pipe bands. Each regiment has it's individual repertoire of marches, retreats, strathpeys and reels. There is immense pride and competition amongst such regiments in terms of the music played by their pipers and certain tunes are jealously safeguarded as their own. Likewise, history indicates that the ancient Scottish clans had a similar attitude towards their pipers and piping music. In the era of the great and the small clans, for example, the Cameron's wouldn't allow their men to play the 'Campbells are Coming'. Likewise, the Seaforth Clan banned their pipers from playing the 'March of the Cameron Men'.

Probably, the most famous of all the piping regiments is the Black Watch who incidentally wear the Royal Stuart tartan - an honour bestowed on them by Queen Victoria in 1889. Pipers have oft led the Black Watch and other Scottish regiments into battle over the last 2 centuries and are an enduring symbol of national pride - immortalised through paintings and song.

Want to take up the pipes?

Most bagpipe manufacturers will tell potential buyers that it takes 6 or 7 years of intensive practice to become a good player. However, such warnings do little to deter new recruits though. If you are genuinely interested, it's worth considering joining a pipe band and learn the pipes as you progress through the ranks. The vast majority of the pipers and Pipe Majors in our ranks have learned their profession by following this route - and we certainly recommend the team route to success!