Scotland

  • Has not been an independent country since 1707—it is a constituent part of the UK

  • End of 18th century—many Scots forced off the land by the English gentry owners (The Clearances 1790-1845)

  • Some Scots migrated to northern Ireland and stayed (the Scots-Irish)

  • Others moved through Ireland to North America – they provided the backbone of Appalachian culture in the US (and Canada) – bluegrass and early country music


Highland Bagpipes –

  • A reed aerophone

  • Has drone

The Parts -

  • Parts consist of the airbag, a blow pipe (to fill airbag), three drone pipes, and a chanter pipe (for melody)

  • Pipes are made in sections allowing tuning

How They Work –

  • The bag is carried under the left arm

  • Player fills the bag with air through the blow pipe

  • Constant arm pressure on the bag pushes the air through the other pipes

  • Fingers of both hand play the melody on the chanter pipe

The Highland Pipes - A Folk Instrument –

  • The highland bagpipes illustrate the concept of “folk instrument”— instrument parts were obtained locally

  • Airbag was originally made from skin, stomach, or bladder of common farm animals (goats, sheep)

  • The pipes were originally placed into the natural opening or holes of the animal (leg holes for example)

Musical characteristics of pipes

  • Loud, strident, nasal tones

  • Constant drone pitches

  • Melody - highly ornamented with short quick notes (grace notes) played by fast finger flicks on the chanter

  • When played in bands for marching – usually have snare, tenor, and bass drums

Types of music

  • Song tunes

  • Dance music—jigs (6/8 or 12/8 compound meter), reels (quick 2/4), marches (4/4), waltzes (3/4), polkas (2/4), sword dance

  • Most have a beat and meter – especially the dance tunes

Cultural Identity

  • Highland pipes are linked to Scottish identity visually and aurally

  • However highland pipes can only be traced back to sixteenth century – the 1500s

  • Pipes are traditionally associated with military divisions (battlefield), family clans, and martial and festive occasions

Pipes in North America—

  • Associated with cultural festivals, clans

  • Also associated with first responders (fire and police departments), parades and funerals

  • In the United States the pipes are also associated with celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in parades—although it is an Irish holiday – probably because of ist ties with first responders, and the police force has strong Irish roots on the east coast

  • The most famous song – Amazing Grace (song melody probably originated in North America not Scotland, words written by English poet and clergyman John Newton in 1772, published in 1779) )

What are 2 songs he plays from popular culture and 2 sound effects that he makes with the pipes?

  • star wars 

  • an ambulance 

  • If you know you want me song 

  • made for loving you kiss 

  • amwenbowae awenbowae