: a wind instrument consisting of a reed melody pipe and from one to five drones with air supplied continuously either by a bag with valve-stopped mouth tube or by bellows—often used in plural
This is a wind instrument that consists of two or more single- or double-reed pipes. The reeds are vibrated by wind caused by arm pressure on a skin or cloth bag. The pipes are held in wooden sockets tied into the bag, which is inflated either by the mouth or by bellows strapped to the body. Melodies are played on the finger holes of the melody pipe, or chanter, while the remaining pipes, or drones, sound single notes. Bagpipes existed by c. 100 ce. The early bag was an animal bladder or a nearly whole sheepskin or goatskin. Bagpipes have always been folk instruments. An important related instrument is the Irish union (or uilleann) pipes.
Examples of bagpipe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebThe keen of bagpipes, a three-volley gun salute and a bugle sounding taps pierced the air of a small Pennsylvania town on Friday as hundreds gathered to honor an ex-fire chief who was shot and killed at a rally for former President Donald Trump.—Michael R. Sisak, Maryclaire Dale, TIME, 19 July 2024 As the bagpipe escorts fell away from the path, other musicians appeared farther down—a flutist, a harpist.—Ellyn Gaydos, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2024 As Irish patriotism in the U.S. grew, annual parades of bagpipes, drums and dancing became the norm.—Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 And between the five hourlong productions, bagpipe music filled the Echo Park space.—Julie Seabaugh, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for bagpipe
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: a musical instrument played especially in Scotland that consists of a bag for air, a mouth tube for blowing up the air bag, and pipes which give a sound when air passes through them—often used in plural
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