LINKS & RECOMMENDED READING

Bagpipes: A National Collection of a National Instrument

In "Bagpipes: A National Collection of a National Instrument" Dr Cheape explores the history of bagpipes as represented by the collection in National Museums Scotland. Based on a 'national collection of the national instrument' now assembled in National Museums Scotland, this book offers an account of the musicology of the bagpipe in its European context, including the remarkable influence of the Baroque on Scotland's musical traditions. From modest beginnings, the collection is now of international significance and numbers over 1800 items. Bagpipes broadens the collection with examples of kindred instruments from Europe, the tools of turnery and manufacture, a selection of bagpipe music and ephemera, to reflect the character of the tradition.

Also included are sections on piping dynasties - pipers, poets and shennachies, how the bagpipe came to Scotland, the pastoral and new bagpipe, taste and humour - the Union Pipe of Scotland and Ireland.

Existing records are meagre for the evolution of the bagpipe in Scotland and perceptions of the 'national instrument' having depended on a stereotype Great Highland Bagpipe assumed to have a continuous history from a distant past. The evidence, as far as it goes, suggests that Scotland adopted a 'great pipe' from the European bagpipe tradition and made it, through the strength of the Gaelic language and its music, very much its own.

Dr Hugh Cheape, formerly Head of the Scottish Material Culture Research Centre, National Museums Scotland, was largely responsible for building this definitive bagpipe collection. He is now a Lecturer and Course Leader in the University of the Highlands and Islands. Dr Cheape has published many articles on Scottish history, and his books include the ever-popular Tartan: The Highland Habit.

Price: £15.99
ISBN: 978-1-905267-16-3

Author: Hugh Cheape
Paperback: with CDROM insert / 112 pages c.60 colour illustration
Dimensions: 245 x 188mm

http://www.nms.ac.uk/bagpipes.aspx

Publication Date: 9 May 2008

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