The Scottish Pipe and drum bands have military origins, and as far back as the seventeenth Century there are regimental records that recount the existence of pipers and drummers, usually in small numbers working as private musicians attached to officers of the regiment. In the early nineteenth century, military pipe bands started to become established, and since then the pipe and drum phenomena has developed into the full scale, military style, marching bands, both within and outside the military framework, that we know today.
Nowadays, not only do dozens of Scottish pipe and drum bands exist throughout Scotland, but hundreds also exist throughout the world, where descendants of Scots have settled and have formed together with the indigenous population to maintain their Scottish arts and traditions.
The standard composition of a pipe and drum band consists of between six to twenty five pipers, a section of between three to ten snare drummers, several tenor drummers and one bass drummer. The entire drum section is known as the drum corps. The band is be led by a single person, carrying a mace, who is known as the drum major.
The Pipe and drum band music consists of Scottish traditional folk tunes and dances or highland traditional music that is adapted for the bagpipes, and the tempos include the standard marches, as well as slow Scottish airs and the faster reels and strathspeys.
The melodies and melodic harmonies are provided solely by the pipers with their distinctive chanters and the drones provide a single, harmonic background sound. The rhythmic accompaniment, together with the marching or dancing beat, is provided by the drum core.
Nowadays, not only do dozens of Scottish pipe and drum bands exist throughout Scotland, but hundreds also exist throughout the world, where descendants of Scots have settled and have formed together with the indigenous population to maintain their Scottish arts and traditions.
The standard composition of a pipe and drum band consists of between six to twenty five pipers, a section of between three to ten snare drummers, several tenor drummers and one bass drummer. The entire drum section is known as the drum corps. The band is be led by a single person, carrying a mace, who is known as the drum major.
The Pipe and drum band music consists of Scottish traditional folk tunes and dances or highland traditional music that is adapted for the bagpipes, and the tempos include the standard marches, as well as slow Scottish airs and the faster reels and strathspeys.
The melodies and melodic harmonies are provided solely by the pipers with their distinctive chanters and the drones provide a single, harmonic background sound. The rhythmic accompaniment, together with the marching or dancing beat, is provided by the drum core.