Uillean PipesWhen you think about bagpipes, you automatically associate them with Scotland.The origin of bagpipes however are nowhere near the Highlands of Scotland but presumably lie somewhere in the Middle East, in ancient Mesopotamia.Thanks to troubadours (traveling musicians) the instrument reached several places throughout Europe. The Romans also played a major part in the distribution of the bagpipes. The Roman army used to The French Musettemarch to bagpipe music. Some historians even suggest that Emperor Nero was a piper himself. The Romans introduced the bagpipes into Scotland. In those days Scotland was known as "Caledonia". In Scotland the bagpipes started to lead a life of their own, but the pipes developed in different ways in other countries are the Musette in France, the Gaita in Spain and Portugal, the Zumarah in Egypt, the Uillean pipes in Ireland, and many more.


Top picture, Uillean Pipes.
Bottom picture,The French Musette (Van Dyck)

Other areas covered are:

  1. Pipe Bands
  2. The Great Highland Bagpipes in Scotland (Piob Mohr)
  3. The Highland Dress
  4. The Components of the bagpipe.
  5. The Scottish Society of Southeastern Wyoming.
  6. The Ft. Collins Pipe Band.

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Find out information about the bagpipes as an "instrument of war"