Music of Scotland
Bagpipes, Pipers, Drummers and Pipe Bands
A Look At The Music Of Scotland
Author: Gregg Hall
The unique music of Scotland is easily recognized around the
world and has remained a vibrant force to this day while many
forms of traditional music worldwide have experienced a loss of
popularity to pop music. Even with emigration and the influx of
music imported from the rest of Europe and the United States,
the music of Scotland has been able to keep the majority of its
traditional structure and has even influenced many other forms
of music.
Traditional Scottish music even while influential to and being
influenced by both Irish and English traditional music is still
an art form unto itself and in spite of the increasing
popularity of varied international pop music styles it remains a
vital and everlasting Scottish tradition. There are numerous
Scottish record labels and music festivals as well as Scottish
music magazines.
Although many people in the world think immediately of bagpipes
when thinking about Scottish music, bagpipes are not unique or
indigenous to Scotland. Don't get me wrong, bagpipes are a very
important part of Scottish music tradition but they were
actually imported into Scotland around the 15th century from
other areas in Europe where they are still played.
The piob mhor, or Great Highland Bagpipe, is the most
distinctively Scottish form of the instrument; it was created
for clan pipers to be used for various, often military or
marching, purposes. Piping clans included the MacArthurs,
MacDonalds, McKays and, especially, the MacCrimmons, who were
hereditary pipers to the Clan MacLeod.
In modern times bagpipes have even found there way into many
songs in pop music with rockers like Rod Stewart who was
extremely popular in the late 1970's and 80's. He used bagpipes
in many of his popular songs. Another more recent artist whose
Celtic music has been well received is Enya.
If you haven't explored this beautiful music form I urge you to
do so. Scottish music and in particular the Celtic Music of Enya
can be very soothing and stress relieving.
About the author:
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online
and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16
year old son. For Scottish gifts and music
go to http://www.scottishmoors.com
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