Record

'Burgh Piper'

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attributed to Sir William Allan, early 19th century

Postcard of 'Burgh Piper'.
000-000-579-755-C
© National Museums Scotland

'Burgh Piper'

'Burgh Piper' attributed to Sir William Allan (1782 - 1850), oil on board, early 19th century. William Allan was an Edinburgh artist whose paintings included subjects drawn from Sir Walter Scott's novels. The piper's coat may be a livery provided by the Burgh Council and the 'button' in his bonnet may be a badge of his office. He is playing a set of Lowland bellows pipes.

The Lowland pipes, or Border bagpipe, was a distinctive instrument by the 18th century. It has a chanter and three drones - two tenors and a bass - and sounded and tuned as the Great Highland bagpipe but would generally not have produced such a strident and carrying sound.

A distinguishing characteristic was the mounting of the three drones in a common stock, and the use of bellows strapped under the arm to provide a supply of air. Such a bagpipe would sometimes be described as a 'cauld wind pipe', in contrast to the mouth-blown bagpipe in which the player's breath was hot and lurid. The lowland pipes were the instrument favoured by the Town or Burgh Piper of Lowland Scotland.


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Online ID: 000-000-579-755-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0869: The Bagpipe Collection
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.OD 147
Date: Early 19th century (date painted)
Material: Oil paint and board
Dimensions:
What: Painting
Subject:
Who: Sir William Allan (artist)
The Museum of Piping, Glasgow (place of display)
Where: Scotland, Edinburgh (place created)
Event:
Description: Painting of the 'Burgh Piper' created with oil paints on board.
References:
Translations:
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