French Bagpipes !

**Ancienne Alliance** · 2nd July 12, 05:33 AM

Presenting my French Pipes, also called Grande Bourbonnaise or Musette du Centre, or Cornemuse Française.

They are of different sizes do they can play in different keys.

They can even be played in the hospital....

In Italy...

on different occasions …

in Scotland...

They have 2 drones : one shoulder or erected drone, and another one parallel to the chanter.
As some of you have probably noticed, I play left handed (long story...)

Best,

Robert

**tulloch** · 2nd July 12, 05:57 AM

Great photos. Thanks.

**KiltedDixon** · 2nd July 12, 03:13 PM

I would really like to hear you play. Do you have anything on youtube?

**Laird_M** · 3rd July 12, 12:12 AM

One argument I've been having with people for a LONG time is that the pipes are not uniquely Scottish, though undoubtedly most prominent in Scottish traditions, so its nice to see some alternate pipes.
Nice pics, and I second KiltedDixon...

**English Bloke** · 3rd July 12, 02:29 AM

They are likely pre Roman and originate from Persia (Middle East region). First mention of them in British Literature is Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" written around 1380. The Great Highland Pipes are uniquely Scottish (although Irish War Pipes are close) but are undoubtedly an adaptation of those early bag and chanter with drones instruments, as opposed to a Scottish invention,... This is in common with most other pipes around the world.

My wife knows a Turkish bagpiper although his instrument (called 'Tulum' in Turkish) is nothing like the Highland pipes in either appearance or tone.

This is not my wife's friend but is a picture from Hurriyet (Turkish Daily News) posted to show the look of the Tulum.