Bagpipe Facts
Bagpipe Facts
|
Interesting Bagpipe Facts: |
---|
Before becoming famous in Scotland the bagpipes had been played for possibly thousands of years in Turkey, Asia, Africa, the Persian Gulf and some places in Europe. |
English pipers tend to refer to the bagpipes as 'a stand of pipes', 'a set of pipes', or 'the pipes' as opposed to 'bagpipes'. |
Bagpipes have several parts including the air supply blowpipe, the bag, the chanter, the chanter reed, and the drone or drones. |
The chanter is the melody pipe which can be played by the piper, while the drone or drones provide a constant note. |
The bag of the bagpipes can be made of a variety of materials. The type used often depends on the environment as they must be air-tight and water absorbent to last. Material used ranges from sheepskin, elk hide, cow hide, and kangaroo hide, to Gortex (substitute for animal hides). |
The reed can be made from water reeds, plastic, metal, animal antlers, or brass. |
The pipes can be made from wood, or plastic. |
Although there are not many bagpipes today that existed prior to the 1800s there are a few examples that suggest they have existed since ancient times. A sculpture that dates to 1000 BC shows bagpipes. Other references to the bagpipes exist in written form dating to the 2nd century AD. |
The Scottish Great Highland bagpipes gained popularity when the British Empire expanded and included Highland military regiments, especially during WWI and WWII. |
Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK use the bagpipes today in their military ceremonies. The bagpipes are also commonly used in police services as well. |
While commonly used in traditional music, the bagpipes have also been used in less traditional music genres such as metal, hip hop, punks, classical, and rock. |
In many places around the world the bagpipes are referred to as gaida. |
The Great Highland bagpipe is classified specifically as a double reed woodwind instrument. |
Some traditional bagpipes were made with ring caps of elephant ivory that makes it difficult to take the instrument to countries where ivory has been banned. |
Bagpipes were deemed a weapon of war at one time because they were used to scare away enemies during battle. |
In 1560 and in 1746 the bagpipes were banned in Scotland. |
Nero, the ancient emperor of Rome, is believed to have played the bagpipes while Ancient Rome burned. |
Scotland the Brave is said to be the most commonly played song on the bagpipes. |
Related Links: Facts Music Instruments Facts Animals Facts African Blackwood Facts Laburnum Facts |