Scottish traditional musical instruments

Bagpipes, as an ancient musical instrument created and played by early human beings, are an instrumental culture with a long and excellent history, which can be traced back to early human civilization. Some historians believe that bagpipe music originated in ancient Egypt, but at that time it was just an ancient musical instrument in the form of simple melody flute and bass flute. Since then, people have attached an air bag bellows made of animal skin to the piano body, and a blowpipe has been set on the bellows bag, thus developing into the most basic bagpipes we see today. According to historical records, the Greeks and Romans once played bagpipes of this shape, and later bagpipes spread all over the European continent. But historians believe that before the Romans invaded Scotland, the Celts were the first to master this instrument.

In the highlands of Scotland, bagpipes have a unique history of development, and bagpipes in Scotland originally belonged to war music. The music played by bagpipers is used for marching, gathering highland people, fighting and mourning the dead. Bagpipe music also belongs to peace music. It is used to dance Strathspey, play dance music harmoniously with violin and accordion, and celebrate and courtship. It once replaced the Scottish favorite harp. The original Scottish bagpipes consist of air bag bellows, melody flute, hair dryer and fixed pitch bass flute. This basic form continued until AD 1500, when a second bass flute was installed on the piano. About 200 years later, the third bass flute tube appeared on the bagpipe body, which is also the largest bass flute tube we have seen now.

In A.D. 1745, before the Scottish people revolted against the tyrant, playing bagpipes was strictly prohibited by the law at that time. At that time, the college that taught bagpipes was forced to close, and some families of hereditary bagpipers were displaced. From then until many years later, the existence and development of bagpipes have been in serious crisis. In other parts of Europe, this law will lead to the decline and extinction of bagpipes, but fortunately, this cruel law was abolished just when artists were about to forget how to play bagpipes again. In order to save bagpipe music, artists began a large number of folk collection activities, and even some music circulated orally among ordinary people was recorded by artists. Because of this, later generations will see and appreciate the publication of hundreds of precious bagpipe music works.

Today, in order to revive bagpipe music, people of insight in Scotland began to hold bagpipe playing competitions in London, Edinburgh and wherever possible. At the same time, in the British army, more and more soldiers began to realize the value of bagpipe music, and bagpipes began to become the favorite musical instrument of soldiers in the army. This move undoubtedly promoted the progress and development of bagpipes. In Scotland, it is inevitable that this ancient tool civilization can be passed down. Nowadays, bagpipes are well known and played by people in all parts of the world, and Scots also feel the precious spiritual wealth left by Celtic ancestors through bagpipes. When bagpipes echoed in the mountains and valleys of the Scottish Highlands, the Celts really found their soul's home. In the lingering and mournful melody, we approach the mottled European music civilization and feel the infinite charm of Scottish music totems and bagpipes.

Every August, the International Cultural Festival will be held in Edinburgh, and there will be a grand finale at the closing ceremony: in the starry night sky, against the lights of Edinburgh Castle, thousands of soldiers wearing traditional Scottish tartan skirts began to play Scottish bagpipes in unison. Gradually, the musicians stopped playing one by one, and finally only one musician was left, playing selflessly until the end of the song. This kind of mood is similar to the movie Bridge of Death, in which the candles go out one by one at the end of the dance.

Don't forget that the song Auld Lang Syne in the movie is a Scottish folk song.