Bagpipes is one of those words that tells it like it is. It’s a bag with pipes attached.
Bagpipes, as a musical instrument, can boast a long history that predates their strong association with Scotland. [Ed: The sound they make also tend to make people cry.]
A set of bagpipes consists of a bag (air supply), a chanter (from the Latin cantare, "to sing” … the part of the bagpipe upon which the player creates the melody) … and usually at least one drone (the pipe through which the sound travels). The most common method of supplying air to the bag is through blowing into a blowpipe. The bag is an airtight reservoir that holds air and regulates its flow via arm pressure, allowing the player to maintain continuous, even sound. The player keeps the bag inflated by blowing air into it through a blowpipe or by pumping air into it with a bellows. Materials used for bags vary widely, but the most common are the skins of local animals such as goats, dogs, sheep and cows.
Their origins can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia or the Eastern Mediterranean, with depictions of pipe-like instruments appearing as early as 1000 BCE. These early versions likely evolved from simple reed instruments combined with animal skins or bladders used as air reservoirs. The Romans contributed to the development and spread of bagpipes, with their version, the tibia utricularis, noted in writings such as those by Suetonius, who mentioned Emperor Nero’s fondness for playing the instrument. [Ed: Just keep him away from anything with strings.]
By the Middle Ages, bagpipes had spread throughout Europe and developed into a wide variety of regional forms. Countries like Spain, Italy, France and England saw the rise of their own distinctive bagpipe traditions during this time.
Bagpipes likely reached Scotland between the 10th and 13th centuries via cultural exchanges with mainland Europe. By the late medieval period, they had become an integral part of Scottish life. The Great Highland Bagpipe, the most famous version today, became particularly prominent as from the 16th century, serving as a symbol of Scottish identity, often accompanying troops in battle and symbolising defiance and pride.
Scottish and Irish immigrants later carried bagpipes to the farthest reaches of the globe, including North America, Australia and New Zealand. Today, they are used in diverse musical contexts, from traditional folk performances to modern pop and rock collaborations, e.g. Paul McCartney's "Mull of Kintyre" and AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)”.
In modern times, bagpipes remain deeply symbolic of Celtic identity and tradition. They are celebrated in events like the Edinburgh Tattoo, Highland Games and cultural festivals worldwide.
Postscript
Queen Elizabeth II’s day would begin with the sound of live bagpipes. A musician with the title “Piper to the Sovereign” travelled with the Queen and would play the bagpipes at 9:00 am for precisely 15 minutes within earshot of her window every single morning.
Story Idea: Dom Knight
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References
wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagpipes
bbc.com/news/articles/c8440zkdjkzo
townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a40313730/queen-elizabeth-alarm-clock-bagpipe-player
Images
1. Piper Richard Cowie. Photo credit: Cumbria Freemasons
2. Medieval bagpiper at the Cistercian monastery of Santes Creus, Catalonia, Spain. Photo credit: Man from Skopje, North Macedonia playing the Gaida
6. Bagad of Lann Bihoué from the French Navy
7. Piper at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, 2022
8. Video: Mull of Kintyre, Paul McCartney's Wings, 1978
