A beginner’s guide to the bagpipes

They are the soundtrack to weddings, funerals, Burns night celebrations and more. Bagpipes have earned their places as the national instrument of Scotland and holds a special place in the heart of many Scots and the global diaspora.

Today, Jackie discovers the history and cultural significance of the Great Highland bagpipes, which are one of hundreds of types of bagpipes played around the world. She’s joined by Richard McLauchlan, piper and author of The Bagpipes: A Cultural History.

Together, they discuss the role of bagpipes in Scottish history, what makes the Great Highland bagpipes so special, and the surprising identity of the first person ever described as a bagpiper.

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