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Parts of a traditional Bagpipe
as used by the Jervis Bay (Memorial) Pipe Band...
«Courtesy Henderson Imports.»
The manufacturer of Naill bagpipes is David Naill. They are made
in Minehead, Somerset, England. Naill chanters have won more prizes than any
other chanter on the market since their introduction in 1977. As a result of
working with top competing pipers in Scotland and abroad they have increased
their product line to include chanters, practice chanters, small pipes and
accessories. Engraving on the sterling silver models represents the finest in
silverwork, all are hand carved.
The Scottish Small Pipes are the
quietest of the Scottish cauld wind bellows pipes. They are made of Scottish
woods, usually yew, thorn or plum. These pipes are ideal for indoor playing,
either solo or with other instruments.
This bagpipe was commissioned by members of the Danish group Suleskaer. They
wanted a pipe developed suitable for Danish music, based on illustrations in
the book 'Sackpipani Nordan', which contains a chapter on the Danish pipes.
Throughout Northern Europe there are many depictions from the sixteenth century
of the mouth-blown bagpipes with two drones of equal length. These have been
the inspiration for design.
The McCrimmon family evolved Highland Bagpipe music from a fairly uncomplicated movement consisting of a few variations to the complex structure of the piobaireachd. This classical music is an art form, which can compare to the music of any other country and most of it was composed a hundred years befor the piano, without any form of written notation.
It would be difficult to ever know where the McCrimmon came from but a few theories do exist. Some believe that they came from Ireland. The links between the two countries were strong and the distance is not great. In 1595, Rory Mor MacLeod went to Ireland to fight for the O'Donnels. It is said that MacLeod brought back with him Iain Odhar MacCrimmon. But, there are no indications that Ireland has any form of music even remotely resembing piobaireachd.
Another possibility is that they came from the island of Harris. The MacLeods owned the land during the 12th century.
The most shocking theory is that they came fron Italy. This would suggest that MacLeod, on a grand tour of Europe, may have heard an Italian piper of great ability and brought him back to Skye.
It does not matter where the MacCrimmons
came from; it is sufficient to say they were responsible for the changing of
pipe music forever!
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All pages © Heritage Resources and New
Brunswick Community College - Saint John.