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•For lovers of bagpipes
•A history of Scotland's collection, one of the finest in the world
•For musicians and musicologists
•For historians and lovers of Scottish culture

We are in something of a Golden Age for the bagpipe but apparently, an explosion of popularity for the instrument also occurred around the 12 century. And statuettes of bagpipers have been found as early as Roman era archaeological digs in England.

    Museum curator and expert on Scottish culture Hugh Cheape's dense and delightful presentation on Scotland's national instrument leaves no stone unturned in exploring this instrument that had obscure beginnings as a reed pipe blown in the mouth or with air fed from a bag of animal skin. The bagpipe, we learn, has been played all over Europe and still thrives in Eastern Europe, in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East as well as in America. Noting that "Gaelic possess the oldest vernacular literature in Europe," in one chapter Cheape traces the piper's role as an accompaniment to poetry and other forms. He provides detailed descriptions of style of manufacture of bagpipes, their fittings and decorations (ie., silks and ribbons, bone and ivory), as well as of key historical figures that played a role in the evolution and popularity of the instrument and of the complex harmonic overtones of the music.

    Illustrations come from the National Museum of Scotland's repertoire of over 1,800 items - each with its own unique design, sound and story, along with color illustrations of delightful costumes of pipers from various periods. In addition to Scottish and British bagpipes there are kindred instruments from other countries, examples of sheet music and ephemera that reflect the character of the tradition. This is NMS's first history of this instrument and the package includes a CD showing the bagpipes.

    Author Hugh Cheape is principal curator in the National Museums Scotland and a leading authority on the history and material culture of Scotland. One of his most popular books is He wrote the Book of the Bagpipe and Tartan: The Highland Habit.