[modeleng] Re: it's a bit quiet here...


The origins of the pipes in Scotland are uncertain.  Some say it was a Roman 
import.  Others believe that the instrument came from Ireland as the result 
of colonization. Another theory is that they were developed there 
independently.  Historians can only speculate on the origins of the Scottish 
clans' piob mhor, or great Highland bagpipe, but the Highlanders were the 
ones to develop the instrument to its fullest extent and make it, both in 
peace and war, their national instrument.

As a musical instrument of war, the Great Pipes of the Highlands were 
without equal, according to historians.  The shrill and penetrating notes 
worked well in the roar and din of battle and pipes could be heard at 
distances up to 10 miles.  Because of the importance of the bagpipes to any 
Highland army, they were classified as an instrument of war by the Loyalist 
government during the Highland uprising in the 1700s.  After the defeat of 
Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745, kilts and bagpipes were outlawed, the pipes 
being classified as instruments of war.

Never has an instrument been so loved by a people and yet so feared by their 
enemies as the Highland bagpipes.  The pipes are a symbol of strength, the 
salve of the soul, and the prize of Clans.

The Scottish Bagpipes are thought to date back to about 100 AD.  Their true 
origin is uncertain, but the Scottish Highland bagpipe is the most familiar 
throughout the world.  They became popular in Scotland during the 15th 
century.  The English crown so feared their stirring effects on the Scottish 
population after their defeats in the 189th  Century that the playing of the 
bagpipes was forbidden upon pain of imprisonment or death.

When the Black Watch was first formed in 1739, each Company maintained its 
own individual pipers.  Scotland was at that time still Scotland.  The Black 
Watch was formed by the English Hanoverian King, of companies of men from 
the Highlands to "Watch" the Highlanders  Thus the name "Black" - for dark 
use, and "Watch" - for watching the Highlanders.

It was not until the Napoleonic wars that drummers were introduced and 
together with the pipers formed what is now known as the Pipes and Drums of 
the Black Watch.  Throughout the history of the Black Watch, pipers and 
later the Pipes and Drums have remained an integral part of the Regiments 
and as such, have played an important part in its victories and battle 
honors.  Pipers were to be seen leading the Black Watch and other Regiments 
in action many times since their inception.  It is no longer unusual to find 
an American who plays the pipes and, indeed, several units of the American 
Army and Navy and Air Force have their own pipe bands, and have had for more 
than 40 years.

The Black Watch Pipers now wear the Royal Stuart Tartan, the official tartan 
of the Royal Family, an honor bestowed on the Regiment by Queen Victoria in 
1889.  Nowadays, they also wear the Black Watch Tartan.  The Black Watch 
tartan is an adaptation of the Campbell tartan.




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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jesse Livingston" <fernj1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 2:33 PM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: it's a bit quiet here...


> Al, The Romans brought the bagpipes to what would become Jolly Olde 
> England.
>
> Jesse Livingston (not Livingstone)
>
>
> Well, now, isn't it true that the Irish invented the
> Bagpipes?
>
> Al Messer
>
> MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST.
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to,
> modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject 
> line. 


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