Posted by Maris on 17th Oct 2023
Why is the Bagpipe so important to Scotland?
Our current blog is inspired by a recent BBC two documentary series, "Phil Cunningham's Pipe Dream," as well as a beautiful interaction with a customer looking for the appropriate tartan fabric to re-cover his treasured pipes. Phil Cunningham's Pipe ambition was a very instructive and amusing series in which Phil (Scottish folk musician and composer) pursues his ambition of composing a brand new piece of music for bagpipes that reflects his investigation of the history of piping both in Scotland and elsewhere.
So, are pipes an essential part of Scottish culture?
The Great Highland Bagpipe has become linked with Scotland and a widely recognized symbol of Scottish culture. This is largely owing to the Highland Bagpipe's use in the British military and pipe bands all over the world.
There's the well-known cliché of the piper on the shortbread tin, but I defy anyone not to fall in love with the bagpipe after witnessing the breath-taking force of hundreds of pipers playing in unison.
I didn't realize how important the bagpipe was to Scotland until I went on a four-month tour to India. I'd start by introducing myself and stating where I was from, but it quickly became clear that Scotland was something of an unknown. "Is that England?" and "The Country with the Bagpipes?" were two frequently asked queries in bad English. People understood exactly where I was from as soon as I could state no and yes.
There are hundreds of distinct pipes in use around the world, with many more lost to history, but the Great Highland bagpipe is arguably the most conspicuous and, due to its popularity, partly overshadows the range of pipes still in use today.
This week, bagpipes went political. What will the future of bagpipe busking look like?
Many bagpiping buskers may be seen near prominent tourist attractions in the heart of Edinburgh and London, giving joy to both locals and tourists. Personally, I find it difficult to convey the feelings evoked by the sound of the pipes, which are associated with so many great occasions, my favorite being my newlywed sister and her husband walking from the church to the reception with our buddy Pete piping her the entire way. This week, Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, effectively banned bagpipes from the streets of London, prompting outrage within the piping community. The pipes have been described as a "repetitive loud sound," and the new rules may imply that once lucrative areas are now out of bounds due to the volume of the pipes. Alastair Campbell, on the other hand, is a big fan of the piper and told the Daily Record:
"Having been a bagpiping busker myself as a student, I am a big fan of buskers in our towns and cities." They bring so much to life. There will always be good and terrible in any instrument, but the disparaging views conveyed in this advise reflect an unfair bias against pipes. I would surely back any pipers who wanted to reform it."
The outcry produced by this story demonstrates how dedicated pipers are to their instrument, and I believe the linkages to Scottish culture strengthen this bond between player and instrument even further.