The bagpipes are a specific class of musical instruments. Bagpipes are essentially aerophones that make use of enclosed reeds that are fed from a constant stream of air that comes in the form of a bag. The greatest visibility internationally for these Bagpipes come from the Great Highland variety from Scotland and the Uilleann Pipes from Ireland, but there are Bagpipes that have been found historically all throughout Northern Africa, Europe, Caucasus and the Persian Gulf.

The term bagpipe or bagpipes is equally correct both in the singular and the plural sense of the word. Pipers is a term that is most commonly used to refer to pipe players rather than bagpipe players however.

A typical set of bagpipes will minimally consist of an air supply, a chanter, a bag and a drone in most cases. Most sets of bagpipes are also going to have additional drones and sometimes additional chanters as well in a variety of different combinations. These chanters and drones are traditionally held into their places using stocks, which are connectors that affix the various pipes to the bag, which is the air reservoir.

The Air Supply - The most common means of supplying air to the bag is simply to blow into a blowstick or a blowpipe. In some situations, the player will need to cover up the blowpipe's tip with his or her tongue while inhaling, but in the case of modern blowpipes, there is usually a non-return valve that is affixed in order to eliminate this particular need.

A further innovation, cooked up in the 16th or the 17th century, was the use of bellows to supply the air to the bag. In these pipes, which are often called coldpipes, the air is not moistened or heated by the breathing of the player, and what this means is that bagpipes that are bellows-driven are capable of using reeds that are much more refined or more delicate in nature. The most famous of these particular pipes are the Northumbrian smallpipes from Britain, the uilleann pipes from Ireland and the Musette de Cour, from France.

The Bag - The bag is a reservoir for air that is air tight and is capable of regulating the flow of the air while the player is breathing or pumping air into the reservoir. This allows the player to maintain a continuous sound for quite some time. There are a number of different materials that are used for these bags including the skins of native animals such as dogs, sheep, goats and cows. More modern bags are made using synthetic materials, including Gore-Tex for example.

The bagpipes instrument is a truly interesting instrument. While not on the top ten list of instruments to play, it is still quite worthwhile to learn more about this intriguing and historically important instrument.

Photo Credits: Random_fotos

Originally posted 2009-09-11 03:11:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

• Brief History for Double Bass or Stand Up Bass The Double Bass or Stand Up Bass is the largest and the lowest pitched of all bowed string instruments that is used as a part of the modern symphony orchestra. The stand up bass is a standard member of the symphony orchestra's string section as well as smaller string ensembles......
• Althorn 101 Known primarily as the althorn, the alto horn has a number of names and classifications. The althorn is also regularly known as the tenor horn or the althoorn, and it is classified as an aerophone as well as a brass instrument. There are a number of instruments that are related......
• Brief History of the Accordian The accordion is a potable acoustical musical instrument that is box shaped, and is derived from the hand held bellows-driven family of free-reed aerophone instruments. The accordion is sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays this particular instrument is known as an accordionist. The accordion is played......
• Wind Instruments Guide 101 pt 1 Wind instruments are actually known more technically as being aero phones. Wind instruments are capable of producing a sound when the column of air within them is set into motion or vibration by way of either a reed or the lips of the player. The tuning of these instruments is......
• Many Names of the Didgeridoo The Didgeridoo is also known as the didge or the didjeridu, and it is a wind instrument that was originally developed more than 1,500 years ago by the indigenous Australians in northern Australia. It is still used across the globe as well as in Australia, and has many names. It......

Related Websites

• Snowboarding Glossary Continued Poptart - This involves airing from fakie side to forward side while in the half pipe without any rotation. Poser - This is someone that behaves as if they are better than they actually are. Pre-Peg Fiberglass - This is a stiff piece of fiberglass that is treated using epoxy......
• Build Your Own Sports Memorabilia Collection Some people begin to create a sports memorabilia collection to create a hobby, and other people decide to put together a sports memorabilia collection for the sole purpose of eventually selling their memorabilia off later. Some people, then, specially build up their sports memorabilia collection full of specifically chosen items......
• Tennis Glossary pt6 Error - This is a shot that did not manage to make it across the net, or that landed out of the court, and this will result in a loss of the point. Face - This is the racquet's flat area, one that is formed by way of the strings......
• Rancho San Marcus Golf Course, Santa Barbara, CA Phone: 877-RSM-1804 Website: http://www.rsm1804.com Course History: Robert Trent Jones designed this idyllic course and it was later renovated by its current owner, Ty Warner. This is an award winning course that has many distinctions and has been honored by Golf Inc. Magazine. It is easy to see what all......
• Pasatiempo Golf Club  The Pasatiempo Golf Club is located in: Santa Cruz, CA Phone: 408-459-9155 Website: http://www.pasatiempo.com/ Course History: The course was designed by Marion Hollins and Dr. Alistair MacKenzie. Its name means "relaxed passage of time" and there is no better way to describe this course. It is very rich in history......

Online Stores

• Signs - Construction Building Materials & Supplies Green Construction Store
• Openers & Closers Doors & Fixtures Building Materials & Supplies Green Construction Store
• Hooks Fly Tying Materials & Tools Fly Fishing Fishing
• California Player Piano Acoustic Musical Instruments
• Cyber Player Piano Acoustic Musical Instruments

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.



Categories:

Acoustic Musical Instruments, Bagpipes, Instrument History

Tags:

aerophones, africa europe, air reservoir, bagpipe players, Bagpipes, bellows, blowpipe, blowpipes, caucasus, chanters, drone, drones, musette de cour, northern africa, northumbrian smallpipes, persian gulf, pipers, return valve, uilleann pipes, what this means