Scotland (3) Higland Musik and games

High land iMusic and Ga mes

The Highlancls and Islands of Scotland have been the focus of Gaelic culiure for hundreds of years. Although ihe language itself is littlc spoken today, the legacy ol the Gaelic lifestyle lives on in the musie and actieities of the people. The bagpipes, a traditional Highland instrument, are an important pan of Scotland’? identity around the world. and the Highland Games are an amalgamation of the Gaelic etistoms of musie, dancing and contests of strength.

The blow-pipc -s

used ro mllacc the h:«g by blowing air, as cuntinubusly as possible, mto the pipę 5 mouthpiece.

The chanter pipę has eighi faiger-hole.%, used to pluy the linelbdy.

The bag, madę In.rni aninnil hide, is inHatcd by airfroni the blow-piptf. the air is ilien expdtcd under pressure ap-plied by the pipers elbow.

! N T R O D. w C I N G HO T I. A N D

A piper's hat    Pibroch is The classical musie of the

is madę imdi- ptping teorld Played by solo pipety. tionally froin rbese slow, rnelancboly turtes produce oscncli feaihers. u haunłing sound tbat is easier on the ear (hem the almost discordam sound agroup of hągpipers niakes.

The drones Ol bordurs". lin; Ule Ulice pipr.? that. gjve the pilch They are pifched on .i fixed notę. one bass and ihe oiber iwo hijjhei-Cch ai intrr.'vii. or a filth

THE BAGPIPES

Bagpipes have been the traditional sound of the Highlands for many centurie? and are thought to lvave been introduced to Britain by the Romans. After the Baltle of Culloden in 1746 chcy were banned for 11 years, along with Highland dress, for inspiring the 1 lighlanders to rcbel against l-nglish rule. The pipe.s have now hccome one of the most recognized emblems of Scotland.

Accordions hdfO accompamed ceilidhs ever sińce the dancas began in the crofting communities oj

*0>!l:sh High-

HfjPflii kmds and islands.

Ceilidh bands arc an allernatipe to the solo accordion as accotnpu nimen t for tba modem ceilidh (a Gaelic wordfor “eisir") The bands instruments usitałly include fiddles, accordions andpenny whistles.

The harp is Jrisb w angin hut nas introduced to Scotland in the l8CX)s: The dar sach", as u is known. has enjoyed a rev: val in recent years

TRADITIONAL GAELIC MUSIC

Musie has always fcatured strongly in the Highlands'

Gaelic conununities. Solo instruments include the harp and accordion, and ceilidh bands arc still common.

Re-enactirig Highland battles

is popu lar witb modem-day ciansmen to commemurdte tbeii tiiręfatbers 'fight-Jorfiree doń/ The ahove occasion was tbe 25Uth annwersaty of the Battle of Ctdloden, wbere over ?_t000 Highland warnors died.

Highland dancing is an importar.r part of the Games, and the dartces aften hcwe symbolic mmnings- for instance tbe cipcie in a red represents the cirdeoflife. In tbe sword dance, the feet stop nitnbly over tbe stoords withoul taucbing (hem

Tossing the caber is

one of tbe most famo ns l lighland sports, and rcr.pt i res strength and skfil. Tbe athiele must run witb the tree trunk and toss ii so that U ftips óver 180° and lands ver-lically. straigbt ahead.

HIGHLAND GAMES AND ACTMTIES

As weU as musie, the Highlancls uf Scoi land are famo u s for thei-r Games. The first Games i.ook place many luindreds of years ago, and may havt ser/ed a miii my pur-pose by allcwing dań chiefs to elidóse the strongest men froin those competing in contests of stręngih- Highland Games are łicld annuaily ac Braemar Cseep38J, as well as at Oban and Dunoon, ameng others. Anolher actiyiiy in the High lands is the re-enaccmem of past battles and rebellions

The Highland Games (or Gatherinys) as tbey areplapid today datefrom the 1820s. The most comrnon contests and euents are tossing the ca ber. weight shifting, piping, stngmg. dancing and throwing the hammer. ‘Jhe result is a cacophany of sound and actimty, which can be weru-behmng to a jirst-Lime spectator.

Throwing The hammer

tniKilues reuoluing on the spoi to gather speed, wbite swinging the hammer (a weight on tbe end of a long pole) around tbe head, be-fore Unmching it a cross the field. Tire uńnneris the con-testant whose hammer ren che$ the furtbesł distance.

Weight shiłting is a Stworę test ofstrengtb and stamina. Tlęre, the man stands witb bis hack to a bar, over which be must throat tbe huge weight. Tbe bar is raised after each successfut attempt. uńtU only one person is lefi in tbe competirion.