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The Great Highland Bagpipe

From shortbread tins to the Royal Mile, rugby games and highland weddings, the bagpipes have long symbolised Scottish identity. But where did they come from and what are they for?

From shortbread tins to the Royal Mile, rugby games and highland weddings, the bagpipes have long been a symbol of Scottish identity: but where did they come from, what are they for, and who writes their music?

With pipers Simon McKerrell and Brighde Chaimbeul, Tom Service explores their history against the backdrop of global piping traditions from Sweden to Macedonia, Spain and Hungary. What's the difference between the ceol mhor and the ceol beag? Are modern pipes more likely to be made from goat or gore-tex? And how did they make their way into everything from AC/DC to Eminem, and Berlioz to Bach? Tom is on the case...

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Fri 5 May 2023 16:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Various Artists

    The Three Peaks of South Uist

    Performer: ScottishPower Pipe Band.
    • MONARCH.
    • CDMON 874.

  • The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment

    Scotland the Brave

    • DELTA MUSIC.
    • CD-6228.

  • Patrick Mor MacCrimmon

    Lament for the Children

    Performer: Pipe Major Angus MacDonald.
    • Lismor.
    • LCOM-5143.

  • AC/DC

    It's a Long Way to the Top

    • RUNE GRAMMAFON.
    • RCD-2057.

  • Tears for Fears

    Shout

    • EMI/Virgin/Universal.
    • 7243 5-20265 2 4.

  • Marshall Mathers

    Bagpipes from Baghdad

    Performer: Eminem.
    • Interscope.
    • B00192-M9FC.

  • Unnamed Composer

    Tornala Maika

    Performer: Br矛ghde Chaimbeul.

  • Dora Stratou

    Gaida

    • Seven Seas.
    • GT 5024.

  • Luigi Nigro

    Tarantella alla Ionnuvucchia

    Performer: Luigi Nigro.
    • Ethnica Records.
    • TA002.

  • Balint Sarosi

    Dudan贸ta II (Bagpipe Song II)

    • Hungaraton classics.
    • HCD 18260.

  • 罢谤盲诲

    Gaidarski Melodii

    Performer: Gaidarski Melodii.
    • Balkanton.
    • B.

  • Trad.

    Lament For Donald Doughal Mackay

    Performer: Roderick J. MacLeod.
    • LISMOR.
    • LCOM 5177.

  • Kate Bush

    The Sensual World

    Performer: Kate Bush.
    • Polygram Tv/Sony Tv.
    • 565441 2.

  • Depeche Mode

    Judas

    • Mute.
    • CD Stumm 106.

  • The White Stripes

    Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn

    • XL.
    • XLCD-271.

  • Wings

    Mull of Kintyre

    • Virgin.
    • VTDCD-137.

  • Jean鈥怭hilippe Rameau

    La Danse

    Conductor: Teodor Currentzis. Performer: Musica Aeterna Orchestra.
    • Sony.
    • 88875014502.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Messiah

    Conductor: Neville Marriner. Performer: Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
    • EMI CLASSICS.
    • 5689532.

  • Hector Berlioz

    L' Enfance du Christ Op.25

    Conductor: Colin Davis. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Tenebrae.
    • LSO Live LSO0606.
    • LSO0606.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no. 104 in D major H.1.104 (London)

    Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington. Performer: Stuttgart R S O.
    • Hannsler Classic.
    • 98995.

  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    An Orkney wedding, with sunrise for orchestra and bagpipes

    Conductor: Ben Gernon. Performer: Robert Gordon. Performer: Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
    • Linn.
    • CKD534.

  • Ulrich Roever

    Highland Cathedral

    Composer: Michael Korb. Performer: Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
    • www.redhotchillipipers.co.uk.
    • rhcpcd-01.

  • 罢谤盲诲

    LAMENT FOR MARY MACLEOD

    Performer: Hugh A. MacCallum.
    • LISMOR DIGITAL.
    • LCOM 9015.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 17 Nov 2019 17:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3
  • Fri 22 Nov 2019 16:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3
  • Sun 25 Apr 2021 17:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3
  • Fri 30 Apr 2021 16:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3
  • Sun 30 Apr 2023 17:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3
  • Fri 5 May 2023 16:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3

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