Reproduction two-drone war pipe

Reproduction of a two-drone war pipe possibly made by Robert Glen of the firm of J. and R. Glen, Bagpipe Makers. This instrument was acquired by Dr A. Duncan Fraser.

John and Robert Glen were the proprietors of a bagpipe-making and musical instrument repair business in Edinburgh in the late 19th century. The business was founded in 1827 in the Cowgate, moving later to North Bank Street, Edinburgh, by their father, Thomas McBean Glen (1804-1873), who in 1833 described himself in the business directories of the city as 'pipe and flute maker'. His sons, John (1833-1904) and Robert (1835-1911), took over the business in 1866. In 1911, the premises moved to 497 Lawnmarket where it survived as 'J & R Glen, Highland Bagpipe Makers' until 1978.

Dr Alexander Duncan Fraser MD (1849-1920), born in Lochgilphead of an Inverness-shire family, graduated in medicine from Edinburgh University in 1874 and subsequently practised in Northumberland, Skye and Falkirk. His lifelong hobby was playing the pipes, studying the history of the bagpipe and its music, and collecting ancient and modern bagpipes 'of all nations'. In 1906 he published a book, Some Reminiscences and the Bagpipe, in which many of the instruments in his collection were illustrated. Some of his collection was donated to the Royal Scottish Museum in 1947.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-579-533-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: The Bagpipe Collection
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1947.97
• Date: Late 19th century (date of manufacture)
  
• Material:
• Dimensions:
• What:
• Subject:
• Who: Dr Alexander Duncan Fraser (collector)
  John and Robert Glen, Highland Bagpipe Makers
  Reid School of Music, University of Edinburgh (place of display)
  Robert Glen (possible manufacturer)
  
• Where: Scotland, Edinburgh (possible place of manufacture)
  
• Event:
• Description: Reproduction two-drone war pipe.
  
• References:
  • Baines, Anthony,. Bagpipes. Occaisonal Papers on Technology 9, Oxford Press, 1973. 
  • Cheape, Hugh,. The Book of the Bagpipe. Belfast: Appletree Press, 1999.
  • Langwill, Lyndesay,. A Dictionary of Musical Wind-Instrument Makers and Inventors, 6th Edition. Edinburgh: 1980.
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• Related Records: