The Bagpipe

The Great Highland Bagpipe is Scotland’s National Instrument and has a long and honourable history dating back to the beginning of civilisation and is one of the oldest instruments played.

It originated in the Middle East and probably came into being in ancient Egypt where a simple cane pipe was blown. These early pipes used materials with a natural bore such as corn stalks and bamboo cane.

The Roman bagpipes represented a major innovation with the addition of a skin bag fitted with a blow pipe to act as a reservoir for the air.

Throughout the Middle Ages and still in it’s simple form it became the favourite instrument of the wandering minstrels who provided much of the music in those days.

As time passed by many forms of the bagpipe developed in Europe and the instrument became more sophisticated drones were added one by one playing a continual tenor note then later a base drone was fitted.

Unfortunately early in the 18th Century making merry in the open air declined because more elaborate instruments were developed and the bagpipe died out over most of Europe.

In Britain its history followed the same fate except in the Highlands of Scotland. This provocative instrument with its notorious haunting sound appealed to the warlike spirit of the people and was perfect to fit into the clan system.

Regrettably, after the rising of 1745, playing the bagpipes was forbidden in Scotland and hereditary families of Pipers were flushed out.

Fortunately, it’s playing was allowed again before the art of doing so had been forgotten. Its survival was made certain when Highland Society’s were set up in Edinburgh and London and Pipe music became the favourite of the Scottish Soldier.

Needless to say, the Highland Bagpipe has become increasingly popular as the years pass by and are now played throughout the world.

Anyone who sets out to learn the bagpipes should take pride in the fact that this is a noble instrument with great traditions and supreme in its own place; the open air.

It is capable of playing great music and much great music has been composed for it and therefore worthy of our very best efforts. For this we require 7 fingers, 2 thumbs and interest in the bagpipes of all the requisites the last named is the most important.

Enthusiasm can make up for a lot and those who are prepared to practice regularly will inevitably become a first class piper.

However, we must make sure that initial enthusiasm may not die but deepen within our very being.