BAGPIPE

wind instrument, which has been known from a very early period throughout Europe and Asia; was common in Germany and England as early as the XV. cent.; is referred to by Chaucer, Spenser, and Shakespeare; and is still used in Italy, in Southern France, and in Great Britain (Ireland, Scotland, and North umber land). The Highland b., which is now the most f, consists of an airtight leathern bag, a wind-tube for blowing, three wooden pipes called drones, and the chanter, a pipe with notes, which produces the melody, the compa consisting of nine notes only. In playing, the drones point over the left shoulder, the bag is held under the left arm, the blowpipe is taken between the lips, and the fingers manipulate the notes of the chanter. Occasional ‘flourishing’ or ornamental notes introduced by a player are known as warblers. The Irish b., with a much more elaborate chanter, is a very sweet-sounding instrument, but is now rarely met with. who ruled Armenia from 885 till overthrow by Turks. XI. cent., and continued in Le er Armenia till 13875 and in I merit i a, Georgia, till 1810.