When and which country invented bagpipes?

Bagpipes-Scottish National Musical Instrument

Scots are smart, humorous and like music, and some of their strange customs are sometimes amazing. For example, on New Year's Eve every year, Scots always invite a brunette to their home. After dinner, the host played bagpipes, and the whole family and guests sang Scottish folk songs with melodious flute rhyme. Finally, the whole family and the residents of the whole city gathered around the old church and waited for the midnight bell. When the bell struck 12 o'clock, all the residents present joined hands to form a big circle in the church, and then sang Auld Lang Syne with the accompaniment of bagpipes. Early the next morning, the host announced the guest's task; Be the first to cross the threshold, because it will bring good luck to the whole family. Then, the whole family and the guests drove to visit Loeh Lomond.

A China girl who won this award said, "When I sang Scottish folk songs accompanied by bagpipes, I felt that Scots were full of musical elements. It's really' reverberating around the beam for three days'. "

Bagpipes originated in ancient Rome. When the Roman army invaded Great Britain, they took them away. Bagpipes were already British musical instruments hundreds of years before Scots fell in love with them. For example, at the end of 13, King Edward I of England of England invaded Scotland in the sound of bagpipes. Dugard McNeill, dean of the Bagpipe College in Edinburgh, Scotland, said: "Bagpipes used to be everywhere in Europe, and bagpipers were often seen in rural landscapes in Brussels."

Later, many other nationalities gradually lost interest in bagpipes, and only Scots had a soft spot. Today, although bagpipes have taken root in some parts of the world, for example, there are bagpipers in the Jordanian army, and they are also quite popular in Japan, the United States and other places. But when it comes to this instrument, people will still think of the Scots. Jackie Stewart, an outstanding racing driver in Scotland, spoke from the heart of most compatriots: "No matter how many countries in the world have bagpipes, bagpipes must be a traditional national instrument representing Scots."

1September, 1997, Stewart and a group of celebrities who love bagpipes made a TV documentary praising bagpipes. In this documentary called Tools of War, British Crown Prince Charles said to 98-year-old Harry Lunan, the only piper still alive in the First World War: "When I was a child, I went to Balmoral Castle. At the end of dinner every night, eight pipers played bagpipes around the table. I will remember this wonderful moment all my life. "

Americans have always loved bagpipes, and "War" was once shown in the United States and was well received by the audience. I'm afraid this is caused by historical reasons. /kloc-In the Battle of Kondroga in 0/758, Britain and France fought bloody battles for a large piece of land in New York State under the sound of bagpipes. Later, during the Texas War of Independence, the bagpipes sounded again on the Alamo battlefield. 1in the autumn of 963, the Scottish Highland Guard went to the White House to perform in front of President Kennedy. Unexpectedly, just a few weeks later, Mrs. Kennedy invited the guards to play a sad music for the assassinated president at his funeral again.

Scotland also published a monthly magazine called "The Flute", which sold well all over the country. The cover of each issue is a plaid pattern like a Scottish skirt. An article in a certain issue wrote: "I love my wife and my bagpipes and my bagpipes band. For me, the above three constitute my whole life, and nothing can be lost. "

A student studying bagpipes in Glasgow Bagpipe College in Scotland also wrote an article complaining to the monthly magazine. The article said: "A classmate who lives in my dormitory never cleans and disinfects bagpipes regularly. His bagpipes are black, sticky and have disgusting dirt. I suggest that the government should legislate to protect bagpipes. " In Scotland, bagpipes have become not only musical instruments, but also magical "magic flutes".

For bagpipers and bagpipers, this instrument can inspire people and improve morale. Bagpipes are extremely simple in structure, with only a funny-looking wind bag with several spikes sticking out. But it is this simple instrument that has made soldiers go to the battlefield countless times throughout the ages and increased their courage. They feel that they have become superhuman, with infinite strength and invulnerability.

It is said that some bagpipers still play after their limbs are blown off, and some bagpipers still cling to bagpipes on the battlefield until they die. 1808 to 18 14 During the siege of badajoz during the Iberian Peninsula War, George McCracken, the bagpiper of the Scottish 74th Highland Corps, hit his bagpipe with a bullet while playing Campbell's Coming. He immediately sat down, repaired his bagpipes in the rain of bullets, and then stood up to play.

1746, when Jasper Reid, the piper of the British "James II Party", was arrested and tried, he claimed that he was only a musician. However, the judge said: The Scottish Highland Corps must have embedded bagpipes in combat, which plays a great role in boosting morale, so bagpipes must be "tools of war". Poor Reid was finally sentenced to hang and then dismembered.

1996, Dave Brooks, a Londoner, played in the streets of hampstead, violating the local traffic laws. He cited Reid's case in the police station to defend himself, claiming that bagpipes are weapons, not musical instruments.

The police officer replied, "Then, I can charge you with carrying weapons: this is imprisonment, not just a fine for violating traffic regulations."

Brooks shouted, "I believe Reid's case has been rehabilitated and his soul can finally rest in peace."

Because bagpipes give people a sense of mystery, some people attach importance to bagpipes and ghost stories. Legend has it that one day in 187 1 year, Count Peter Slapland hosted several distinguished guests from afar at Fen kask Castle in Taiside City. Sir's two sisters led a large group of servants and earl to entertain guests in the luxurious restaurant on the top floor of the castle. The faint sound of bagpipes is getting louder and louder in the distance. The piper seems to be climbing the stairs, but he can't hear footsteps.

Everyone listened with bated breath, and everyone felt that the ghost of the piper was approaching; In an instant, the flute has crossed people's heads and started climbing the wall. Irina Kaptelova, the count's elder sister, said to Peter, "Brother, you have loved bagpipes all your life. I think these ghosts are looking for you. " As soon as the voice fell, the ghost played "The Last Elegy" over the castle and then slowly disappeared.

Eliza was right. Ghosts are really looking for Peter. A week later, he died suddenly to follow the bagpipes he loved all his life.

Simply put, bagpipes consist of a blowpipe and an airbag. Airbags are usually made of sheepskin, but some are made of cowhide or modern fluorocarbon fiber cloth, and then wrapped with a layer of cloth. When the piper takes a breath, he only needs to squeeze the airbag with his hand, and the flute will not be interrupted.

In addition, there are three wooden mono pipes (only two ancient bagpipes). When a piper plays a melody with a tuning tube with a sound hole, the monophonic tube emits a constant overtone. Bagpipes can only play nine notes, generally only in B flat, and the volume cannot be changed-bagpipes are loud.

Dean McNeil said, "Bagpipes are extremely difficult to play well because fingering is difficult to master." This is also an instrument that is extremely difficult to tune. So as far as most people are concerned, I'm afraid I've never heard bagpipes out of tune in my life. Only one piper in every 500 people is excellent. "The Scottish Highland Bagpipe Orchestra led by Matheson has more than 30 members, and won the World Bagpipe Band Competition 12 times.

Today's bagpipes are gradually modernized. Dundee Tesside Police Band in Scotland recently bought two electronic bagpipes without squeezing airbags. Conductor Lindsay Ellis said, "Those two electric bagpipes are not used to replace traditional bagpipes. When holding a concert, folk music is suitable for playing with electronic bagpipes, because electronic bagpipes can emit 8 to 9 3-degree tones, and the range is much wider than traditional bagpipes. "

Matheson is also a modernist. He not only asked his bagpipe shop to sell bagpipes on the Internet, but also risked angering purists by using guitars, electronic synthesizers, drums and stringed instruments when recording his bagpipes. He said, "Any musical instrument has to go through a stage of reform to keep up with the trend of the times." But his critics said, "An old bagpiper became a monk halfway and played pop music."

The music played by bagpipes is colorful and beautiful. The variation of bagpipes is elegant and classical bagpipes, which are usually played at important celebrations in Scotland. In addition, there are various marches, lille dances, folk music, rally songs and Strasbourg dances.

When many foreigners hear bagpipes playing for the first time, they will feel that the sound of bagpipes is very strange, which is very different from that of other musical instruments. So, what is the charm of bagpipes? Ma Xisen said, "The most touching thing about bagpipes is overtone. With this continuous B-flat bass, when you play the melody again, each note has a different set of overtones. What fascinates bagpipes is this mixed overtone. "