The bagpipe’s popularity was also boosted when Scottish Pipers were military trained in the 1st and second world wars. Thus, the world’s biggest producer of the instrument is Pakistan, where the industry was worth $6.8 million in 2010. Many Commonwealth and Ex-Commonwealth Nations now swap their indigenous bagpipes for the Highland Bagpipes in Military events. It has become well known worldwide mostly down to Scotland’s famous Highland Regiments in the expansion British Empire. Although the Scottish Bagpipe is part of a family, it has developed its unique sound and music through centuries of piping families work and dedication to the art. The bagpipe has a vast family, with most countries from India to Sweden to Libya to Portugal having their own variety. Nazis threatened by the Polish national identity represented by the bagpipe, ordered the Polish people not to play their version. It is interesting to note that bagpipes have been banned - in Poland during the second world war. However, the bagpipes never were forbidden, and his death was not to do with his profession. Two years later, Highland Dress including tartan, was also banned and in 1745 a piper James Reid was captured and sentenced to hang for treason for taking part in the Rebellion. “in his or their custody, use, or bear, broad sword, poignard, whinger, or durk, side pistol, gun, or other warlike weapon” It outlawed people in some parts of Scotland from having In 1746, The Disarming Act came in to curtail Jacobitism and bring peace to the Highlands. The politicisation has led to a misconception that the pipes were banned in Scotland. The song “My Bonnie” was written and sung by the Jacobites who could pass it off as a love song when sung around their rivals. Bonus Fact, Bonnie Prince Charlie did not take the throne and fled to France. Whereas in the Highlands pipers occupied a more serious position in society, the instrument became more associated with war, replacing trumpets to inspire highlanders into battle.īut by the 18th Century, it had become an icon of Scottish National Belonging, becoming linked to the Jacobite Movement and later the Jacobite Rebellion where Catholic Charles Stuart (otherwise known as Bonnie Prince Charlie) tried to take the throne from Protestant James II. In the Scottish Lowlands, pipers became a regular part of bands of travelling musicians, performing at weddings and fairs and soon took over the harpist place as musician of choice. From the 16th Century onward Highland pipers are referenced more regularly in documents and literature from the time. However, in 1528 a piper in Scotland witnessed a legal document indicating some degree of social status. In fact, hilariously Melrose Abbey has a carving of a pig playing the bagpipes! Given the timing of carvings it is reasonable, although probably not a popular opinion, to assume that the tradition came up from the south. The first unquestionable depiction in Scotland is in Rosslyn Chapel and Melrose Abbey’s carvings from the 15th Century. However, it would fit when the Normans came to the island, who definitely did have pipes at the time. Looking at it, it is a little of a stretch to say it is definitely a bagpipe. The earliest evidence of the pipe in Scotland is on St. The Romans used the original pipe band against the Celts! The Celtic horses bolted, threw their riders, and the Roman Army rushed in. He did this by asking his pipers to hide and at the prearranged signal, all play at once. The story tells of Caesar, in an effort keep the Roman casualties to a minimum, decides to ambush the Celts. Here comes the first blasphemous piece of history - in the form of the Legend of Caesar’s bagpipes’ during the conquest of Britain. It is widely thought that the bagpipe, whether an Egytian or Hittite invention, was then passed onto the Greeks who then gave it to the Romans.Īnd that is where the first written records of pipes with bags came from - it is written that Emperor Nero of the ancient Romans could “play the pipe, both by means of his lips and by tucking a skin beneath his armpits”. However, the Hittite although lesser known were great inventors, known for their fast chariots, and could have just invented it themselves. The Hittite did have a lot of trade with Egypt so it could have been passed on from the Egyptians. I can’t however seem to find a photograph of this, but did find a carving of this description from the Hittite empire that was around at the same time as the ancient Egyptians but in what is now Turkey. I’ve read about an ancient Egyptian carving, showing a street musician with what seems like a bagpipe chanter and bag under the left arm. It is speculated that pipes came about as far back as ancient Egypt. Before you feel like I’m entirely ripping apart Scottish culture, let’s talk about the history of the bagpipe.
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