The Bible mentions, of Babylonia, that “the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all sorts of instruments, comes to your ears”. At "Hidden History", we’ll look at forgotten stories from history, strange and little-known discoveries in science, and the history behind the exhibits in some of the most famous (and not-so-famous) museums in the world. Could Nero have played the bagpipes, and not the fiddle, while be up to Scottish Highland clans to elevate the bagpipes to full Modern Scottish Highland Bagpipes The pipes, which most Americans are familiar with, are the Scottish Highland Bagpipes . But it was in Scotland, and particularly in the Highlands, that the bagpipe was adopted most enthusiastically.
This instrument was used instead of a trumpet.
The Music), consisting of slow airs and jigs; and the Ceol Beag (or by the MacCrimmons, hereditary pipers to the MacLeods of Skye, and regarded
Thanks to troubadours (traveling musicians) the instrument reached several places throughout Europe. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. From England the pipes then spread to Ireland and Scotland (and it is still a great debate, tinged with nationalist politics, which was first). the instrument took on a different form. throughout the Lowlands; then came the Calvinists, with their strange
Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Forget Scotland - bagpipes are originally from the Gulf. of Scotland, notably the Isle of Skye.
( Log Out / would an “instrument of war” and banned—not only swords
In more recent history the expansion of the British army, which included Highland regiments, is thought to have brought the bagpipes to many cultures. As a musical instrument of war, the Great Pipes of the Highlands were without equal, according to historians. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. So settle in, get comfortable, and enjoy some unusual, odd, forgotten and weird history.
the Great Highland Bagpipes. Thus, although bagpipe instruments in some form may have already been in use for centuries, it is only in written or artistic references that we can find definite indications of their existence, and some of these are controversial. new and original pieces of music written specifically for the pipes.
Although greatly popular the spread of the Highland bagpipes very nearly wiped out the local versions of the pipes and it is only recently that cultures have began to revive their own culturally significant variations. Great Pipes certainly have no equal--or even any competition. piper, financed by supplemental taxes levied on wealthy landowners in Because of the importance of the bagpipes to any Highland army, they were classified as an instrument of war by the Loyalist government during the Highland uprising in the 1700s. From the Middle East, the instrument was probably carried west to Greece, where it became known as the askaulos (“wineskin pipe”), and is mentioned in a play by Aristophanes, who writes, “You pipers who are here from Thebes, with bone pipes blow the posterior of a dog”.
sings the tune using a system of vocables, consisting of combinations In canntaireachd, the teacher It was in the Highlands that the bagpipes and
as the bombarde of French Brittany. heard at distances up to nine miles, and are not easily drowned out even And unfortunately the history of the instrument has, in some areas, taken on a political aspect, which means that it has become clouded in myth and legend. to sprout a couple more drones. a more warlike, aggressive sound. or flute). The earliest forerunners of the Great Highland Bagpipes—simple, Bagpipes found their footing in Scotland firmly in the 1700's, and this is where the different types began to appear. world where Celtic people have settled, the bagpipes or Piob have been
Towns in the Lowlands of Scotland typically hired a town The Romans also are credited with first adding
the major trade routes, the bagpipes made the journey with them. harp entered a decline, while the pipes were taken up by the Highland Bagpipes existed in many forms in many places around the world.
and bagpipes, but even tartan fabrics and kilts! another name for the Ceol Mor (or Great Music), the classical music know today, however, these earlier versions of the bagpipes would need In the Lowlands of Scotland, pipers occupied well-defined positions as town pipers, performers for weddings, feasts and fairs. prominence, to foster further development of the pipes, and to make instruments In its most basic form, a set of bagpipes is a musical instrument that consists of three parts: a “bag” that holds a supply of air, a “chanter” that is used to play notes, and a “drone” which produces a constant accompanying tone.
breed of professional pipers, who were in the employ of the clan chieftain.
This classical music is an art form which can compare to the music of any other country and most of it was composed 100 years before the piano and without written notation. Bagpipes found their footing in Scotland firmly in the 1700's, and this is where the different types began to appear.
As bagpipe use faded throughout most of Europe, a new form of music was starting in the Highlands.