Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-05-20
AGE OF THE BAGPIPE.
1T DATES FROM TWO CENTURIES
BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ERA.

Almost Exclusively the Favorite In
strument of the Scotch Highlander.
Effect of the Bagpipe in War.
The bagpipe is an instrument of IN
doubted antiquity, in one or other of its
forms; this has been proved in many ways |
A representation of pair of bagpipes was
found in the ruins of Tarsus, which dated |
at least two centuries before the Christian /
era; they resembled in many ways our
modern bagpipe, and each consisted of |
pipe and blow-up skin. 1t is very doubtful |
whence the bagpipe is derived; some people |
maintain it had its origin in Italy, others |
in Greece, and others again say the Danes
first played it. But some very reliable au- |
thorities on the subject, including Mr. |
Penant, who has given us some very good |
proofs, assure us that Italy or Greece is the |
probable place. but that blowing it by
means of the mouth was first introduced
by the Danes.
Queen Elizabeth was very fond of it, and
In the court she retained special piper
Inrthe Highlands the earliest notice of the
bagpipe was about the year 1894, and we
find nothing that might lead us to imagine
that they were used before that time; and
even nearly hundred years later the bag
ruly and boisterous noise Gas indeed some
people have the bad taste to think it does
SO stilD that in the year 1880, in the town
of Aberdeen, the magistrates forbade the
piper playing either night or morning
In the streets, sit being an incivil forme
to be usit within sic a famous burghe,
and being often found fault with ais well
be sundrie neighbours of the toune as be
strangers"
But shortly after this time the bagpipe
came into general favor, especially in the
Highlands, and the Highlanders got so
fond of it that it was heard everywhere in
Scotland, and from that time has become
almost exclusively a Scotch instrument
A number Of European countries have got
their special kind of bagpipe, but the
Scotch, Irish, Italian and German are the
principal ones. The Irish bagpipe is CT
great antiquity. We hear of them in the
year 1470, and they seemed to have been in
use long before that time, but whence they
got their origin it is not certain. There are
two kinds of Scotch bagpipes-Highland
and Lowland. The Highland pipes are the
loudest kind of bagpipes, and when played
in room the noise they make is almost
deafening. They are, however, played a
great deal ON the hills, and sound well
there.
were familiar in Scotland the pipes were
heard a great deal in the Lowlands of
Scotland and in England. Now the bag
pipes are rarely heard in England, and not
often in the Lowlands of Scotland, while
in the Highlands they are to be heard near
ly all day long. -
1t is very amusing to see how the bag
pipe is sometimes taught in the High
lands. A well known tutor, who disaains
to bother his head about minims, Croft
chefs, etc, says: Here, Donald, man, take
your pipes and gle us a blast-so. Very
well, indeed; but what is sound, Donald.
without sense? You may blow forever
without making a tune of it, if don't tell
you how the queer things on the paper
must help you. You see that big fellow
with the round open face; he moves slowly
from that line to this, while you beat one
with your foot and gle a long blast. If
now you put leg to him you make two of
him, and he will move twice as fast. If
you blacken his face he will run four times
as fast; and it, after blackening his face,
you bend his run or tie his leg, he will hop
eight times faster than the first white
faced fellow / showed you. Now, Donald,
whenever you blow your pipes, remember
that the tighter those fellows legs are tied
the faster they will run"
ingenious, and l daresay' very effective;
although question whether it would coin
eide altogether with musicians idea of
''time'
The attachment of the Highlander to his
national music when played ON the bag
pipes is extraordinary; instances of this
have often been noted. Thus at the battle
of Quebec, in 1850, the British troops were
retiring in great disorder, and the general
complained to an officer of the bad conduct
of his corps Sir" he said gravely, ''you
did very wrong in forbidding the pipers to
play this morning. Nothing encourages
the Highlanders much on the day of
action; nay, even now it would be of use. "
LET them blow like the devil, them" re-
piled the general, eff it will bring back the
men,"
The order was then given to play some
well known Highland pioroch, and no
sooner had the soldiers heard the sound
than they formed themselves in the rear
with wonderful alacrity.
A number of people dislike the bagpipes;
some really dislike the sound of them. To
these / have nothing to say. l suppose
they cannot help it; it is their misfortune,
not their fault. There are others who
laugh at the bagpipes-laugh, not because
they really dislike the sounds they emit,
but because they imagine they ought to
laugh.
The following quotation from Mr.. Nc
Donald's preface tc the Ancient Martial
Music of Scotland is well worth reprint
ing, and with this / will close. Speaking
of the Highland bagpipes he says:T'' In the
halls &c iGv and in the scenes of mourning
it has prevailed it has animated her war.
riors in battle and welcomed them back
after their tolls to the homes of their love
and the hills Of their nativity. Its strains
were first sounded on the ears of infancy,
and they are the last to be forgotten in the
wanderings of age.
Even the Highlander will allow that it
is not the gentlest of instruments; but, when
far from their mountain homes, what
sounds, however melodious. could thrill
round their heart like the burst of their
own native pipe?' Again he says: "Need