The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15
Not An Exclusively Scottish Instru-
menf.

Kate Fields Washington: The bagpipe
Is not, as is generally supposed. an exclu-
siveIy Scottish instrument and unknown
10 other nations. 1t is. indeed. the national
instrument OF Scotland, but II Is also that
of the Hin countries in India, and Is still
popular among the mountaineers OF fur~
key, Roumania, Bulgaria, Hungary. Italy.
and Sweden IL was known in China CEN
turtles ago, and is yet TO be heard al Thib-
ct The Persians had a bagpipe. and so
had the Egyptians. and In the British
museum may be seen a set Of small pipes
without the bag, OF the time OF Moses
II is certain that the bagpipe was In
use among the Hebrews and Greeks, and
IL is supposed the Romans borrowed IL
from the latter. The Greeks learned its
use from the Celtic races with whom they
came in contact. the music OF the pipe
having always had a peculiar fascination
for the Celts.
In its primitive state the instrument con-
sisted OF simple chanter and drone With
bag attached. The pipe called the chanter
is a kind of oboe, tube with eight holes,
and is handled like that Instrument. The
drones are pipes that sound each only
one continuous low note.
The music proceeds from the chanter
and drones, whose mouthpieces are In
serted In a leather bag. which the player
| initiates by blowing with his mouth
through a tube. the wind being forced out
by pressing the bag under the arm. Dur
/ ing the sixteenth century another drone
was added, and from the early part Of the
eighteenth century TIL the present time
all Scotch bagpipes have three drones.
The music played on the bagpipe is call
ed the pibroch. and has wonderful pow
or in exciting the martial instincts and nj
larity OF the Scottish Highlander. To an
American it's rythm is so irregular and Its
notes I'm stirring pieces appear TO be so
iumbled that he can hardly reconcile his
cars to them but IN ,se who understand
pipe music affect to discover in we'll
composed pibroch the initiative sounds OF
march. conflict, and pursuit and all the
movements Of a desperate fight.
Although not the most tuneful OF instru-
ments, no sound, however melodious, can
thrill the hearts Of HighIande-s. whether
Scottish, Swedish or Indian. like a burst
Of their own wild native pipes. On the
battlefield IL has animated those who fol-
lowed 1t to the intensest frenzy. When
all other music has been drowned by the
confusion and carnage OF the scene II
has been borne into the thickest OF the
fight. where its followers could be always
found struggling iereely to It's strange.
wierd notes.
And not only on the field of battle, but
on their return from foreign campaigns,
It has welcomed them back to the homo
of their loved ones and the hills Of their
nativity IN strains that recalled the mem
cries Of the past as no other music could
do.
Many remarkable instances have been
recorded of the effect OF the pibroch on
the Hghlanders OF Scotland. When they
marched across the desert sands OF Egypt,
beneath the burning sun, under command
Of Sir Ralph Abercrombie. at the begin
ming of the present century. weary, foot
sore, short of water, the pipe struck up
'LOchaber No More" Tears filled the
eyes of many stern soldiers as the plain
tive melody filed the air, and first one
and then another faltered I'm the march
and Jagged behind.
one of the officers, on noting the men
falling out, ordered the pipers to play the
"Cameron's Gathering" The tune worked
Ike magic. The stirring memories of
thousand years were aroused. the stray
glers fell into line again, the ranks were
closed and all marched resolutsly forward
TO yictory.-St. Paul Pioneer Press.