Set of drones from a Highland bagpipe

Set of Bagpipes with the chanter bearing the maker's name, Duncan McDougall, Breadalbane. The pipes were said to have been played at the Battle of Waterloo by George Mackay and at George IV's entry into Edinburgh in 1822 by James Mackay. The dimensions and style of finish of these drones is very different from those in use today and suggest that they were probably made in the early to mid 18th century.

The Highland bagpipe of Scotland is a universally recognised musical instrument but historically, in the last 2-300 years, only one in a variety of bagpipes growing out of the rich piping and musical traditions of the British Isles.

Though its precise origins are still obscure, it seemed to arrive in the Highlands in the 15th or 16th centuries and was adopted as the principal musical instrument after the clarsach of the Gaelic clans. By the late 18th century, the Highland bagpipe had emerged in more of less fixed form with chanter and three drones, the style and embellishment becoming a matter of fashion as well as standardisation with a uniformity being required for band playing and competition. By the early 19th century professional bagpipe makers were offering different sizes of Highland bagpipe such as 'Full-size', 'Half-size', 'Reel' or 'Lovat Reel Pipe' and Miniature.

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