About the Pipes
Bagpipes are an ancient instrument, with roots in the ancient Mediterranean. Today you will find a variety of types of bagpipes and pipers in several regions. The most familiar pipers are descendants of Celtic people, particularly Scotland and Ireland, but including France and Spain. In fact I had a French neighbor who loved the pipes, having grown up in Brittany, France.
The Great Highland Bagpipes
I play the great highland bagpipe (GHP) or, commonly, “bagpipes.” The great highland bagpipes are called piob mhor in Gaelic, which means great pipe. This is perhaps the instrument most people think of when they hear “bagpipes,” although pipers may play many other types of pipes.
Highland bagpipes have a very distinct sound and volume. Therefore they are best suited to outdoors and larger indoor spaces. Pipes are both a solo and ensemble or band instrument.
The Highland bagpipe comprises a chanter on which the piper plays the tune, three drones, a blowpipe and the bag. The drones include two tenors and one bass, tuned to the A on the chanter. A piper blows into the bag, filling it and keeping a full, constant pressure to sustain steady air flow through the four reeds. The piper’s rhythmic fingering on the chanter creates the music.
About the Scale of a Bagpipe
There are just nine notes to work with on the chanter. The pipe scale is not a standard western scale. It goes from a low G up the scale to a high A (G, A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A); the C and F are sharp – making it a Mixolydian mode. This limits what can be played on the pipes, particularly in terms of music not originally written for pipes. (People sometimes asked a piper to play pop or rock songs on the pipes. Some fit but some do not.)
The tonic A roughly equates to between a B-flat and B of other instruments. Modern chanters tune higher but specially made B-flat chanters enable a piper to play together with other instruments.
Another interesting aspect of the highland pipes is that they have just one volume level and no stops. So there are no dynamics. Consequently it depends on the piper making note changes in time, articulated with grace-notes and more complex embellishments, to make the music!
Other Bagpipes
Irish uilleann pipes are the most notable of other Celtic bagpipes. Movie soundtracks often include them (even Braveheart); uilleann pipes also produce a wonderfully evocative pipe sound, softer than the GHP. The piper can stop the chanter, and the chanter has two octaves. A bellows rather than blowpipe drives the air through the pipes. These days you may hear a variety of other pipes including Scottish small pipes, border pipes, shuttle pipes, Northumberland pipes, and so on, available in different keys.
The great highland pipe developed in Scotland around the 15th century. It grew in prominence later through its use in the Scottish Highland Regiments of the British Army, a tradition that carried it forward as other pipes waned in popularity. Happily today there has been a resurgence of interest in Celtic music. This includes the great highland bagpipe and many other kinds of pipes as well. Just as in the 20th century, so today pipers continue to expand the Highland pipe repertoire.
My Own Pipes
For bagpipe geeks: I play David Naill ABW (African blackwood) pipes, which are among the best pipes made today (the best in my view!). My Naills are decorated with silver ferrules and slides and imitation ivory mounts. For solo work I play a Naill blackwood chanter with either a MacPhee or G1 chanter reed, a Kinnaird bass and ezee tenor drone reeds. The bag is cowhide, by Gannaway. I also have a 1960s-era set of Grainger and Campbell pipes, with a Kron medalist ABW chanter (and Gannaway bag).
I also play a beautiful set of blackwood Scottish Small Pipes, crafted by E.J. Jones. These mellow pipes are suited to smaller indoor spaces and fireside playing.
Contact me:
404-434-7998