St. Patricks Day

This is what I, as the bagpiper walked into, at every bar and every restaurant.

Decades ago I would play in pipe bands during the yearly Baltimore’s St. Patricks Day Parade. Then rasing a family and work limited my activity in those wonderful bands. To keep my skills fresh and continue to perform for others I started to play the pipe in bars and restaurants.
Prior to the day I would arrange with the owners of said establishments to perform a “walk through”. This consisted of myself showing up in full kilt, unexpectedly for the patrons and “walk through” the establishment.

DNA and the bagpipe

Quite often after playing the bagpipe while practicing in a park or after a performance, I am asked if I have Scottish or Irish ancestry. My response is that yes, there is some in my family history, but I do not think that matters much. To everyone’s surprise I relate that one of the finest pipers in Baltimore can trace his ancestry to Poland.

The bagpipe as we know it, is named The Great Highland Bagpipe. It comes from Scotland and is played and enjoyed the world over. This occurred because of the expanse of the British Empire. Follow along with me and I will explain.

The Black Knife

Have you ever noticed a bagpipers knife?
It is the wee knife displayed in the top of their kilt hose.
The name comes from the Scottish Gaelic sgian-dubh. Pronounced skee-ən-DOO
The primary meaning of the term is Black Knife, refers not to the color but the hidden aspect of the knife. It would be carried under ones’ armpit or out of sight until needed. Scotland was a rough and tumble place in ancient history.

Courtesy and etiquette would demand that when entering the home of a friend, any concealed weapons would be revealed. Thus it follows that the knife would be removed from its hiding place and displayed in the stocking top held securely by the flashes.

The 1995 film Rob Roy staring Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange, has Ms. Lange playing Rob Roy’s wife. In order to keep from being blackmailed, Mrs. Roy cuts a rivals throat.

Quickly, silently as this knife was intended to be used, not very lady like but the end was achieved.

When piper Bill Millin crashed ashore at Sword Beach on D-Day 1944, he was armed only with his pipes and the sgian-dubh, or “black knife”, sheathed inside his kilt-hose on the right side.