Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-06-04
AGE OF THE BAGPIPE.
1T DATES FROM TWO CENTURIES
BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ERA.

The bagpipe is an instrument of I'M
doubted antiquity in one or other of its
forms; this has been proved in many ways.
A representation Of a 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 a special piper.
In the 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
pipe was considered to make such an I'M
ruly and boisterous noise (as indeed some
people have the bad taste to think it does
so stilD that in the year $780, in the town
of Aberdeen, the magistrates forbade the
piper playing either night or morning
In the streets, "it 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 OF
great antiquity. We hear of them in the
year 1870, 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 a room the noise they make is almost
deafening. They are, however, played
great deal on the hills, and sound well
there.
At the time when the harp and horn
were familiar in Scotland the pipes were
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 disdains
to bother his head about minims, Croft
chefs, etc, says. Here, Donald, man, take
your pipes and gle us a blast-so Very
we'll indeed; but what is sound, Donald.
without senseS 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 long blast. II
now you put a leg to him you make two OF
him, and he will move twice as fast. II
YOU blacken his face he will run four times
as fast; and If, after blackening his face
you bend his run or tie his leg, he will hoI
eight times faster than the first Whit
faced fellow showed you. Now, Donald
whenever you blow your pipes, remembel
that the tighter those fellows legs are tieC
the faster they will run"
This way of teaching is no doubt very
ingenious, and | daresay very effective
although question whether it would coin
eide altogether with a musicians idea o
slime"
The attachment of the Highlander to hi
national music when played on the bag
pipes is extraordinary; instances Of thi
have often been noted. Thus, at the battl
of Quebec, in l760, the British troops wer
retiring in great disorder, and the genera
las., IL e. or, - . ha1 Inc
Of his corps. Sir" he said gravely, ''yo'
did very wrong in forbidding the pipers t
play this morning Nothing encourage
the Highlanders so much on the day O
action; nay, even now it would be of use
LET them blow like the devil, then" re
piled the general, IF it will bring back tn
men"
The order was then given to play som
well known Highland pioroch, and n
sooner had the soldiers heard the SCUM
than they formed themselves in the res
with wonderful alacrity.
A number of people dislike the bagpipe
some really dislike the sound Of them. I
these | have nothing to say. | suppo'
they cannot help it; it is their misfortun
not their fault There are others WI
laugh at the bagpipes-laugh, not becaui
they really dislike the sounds they emf
but because they imagine they ought
laugh.
The following quotation from Mr. M
Donald's preface to the Ancient MART
Music of Scotland" is well worth reprir
ing, and with this will close Speaker
of the Highland bagpipes he says: I'm q
halls of joy and in the scenes Of mournir
it has prevailed; it has animated her wa
riors in battle and welcomed them ba'
after their tolls to the homes Of their 10
and the hills Of their nativity. Its strai
were first sounded on the ears Of infanC
and they are the last to be forgotten in t
wanderings Of age.
Even the Highlander will allow that
isnot gentlest of instruments; but, VIII
far from their mountain homes, VIII
sounds, however melodious, could thr
round their heart like the burst Of thu
own native pipe" Again he says: "Ne
It be told here to how many fields
IT, l..