: 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.
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As Irish patriotism in the U.S. grew, annual parades of bagpipes, drums and dancing became the norm.—Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025 The half-mile parade, in its 70th year, kicked off around 12:15 p.m. to the sounds of bagpipes and drums played by members of the Chicago Police Department.—Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025 She’s got green spirit Amid the bagpipes and the Irish dancing, Fischer was crowned at the Minnesota Music Cafe on Tuesday.—Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2025 So on Saturday morning, the 41st holiday parade got under way in Alameda County’s Dublin with bagpipe and high school bands and plenty of floats, cars and revelers decked out in green.—Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bagpipe
: 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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