Scottish Bagpipes and Dancing - Part 3

After taking a break for lunch, it was the girls turn to shine and show what they could do.

Scottish sword dancing are ritualistic and combative dances that imitated epic deeds and martial skills and are a familiar feature in Scottish tradition and folklore.
In 1573 Scottish mercenaries are said to have performed a Scottish Sword dance before the Swedish King, John III who was Monarch of Sweden at a banquet held in Stockholm Castle. The dance, "a natural feature of the festivities" was used as part of a plot to assassinate the King, where the conspirators were able to bare their weapons without arising suspicion. Fortunately for the King at the decisive moment the agreed signal was never given.

"Sword dance and Hieland Danses" were included at a reception for Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark in 1617 and again for Charles I Charles in 1633, by the Incorporation of Skinners and Glovers of Perth.

Many of the Highland dances now lost were once performed with traditional weapons that included the Lochaber, the broadsword, a combination of targe and dirk (dagger) and the Flail (a type of mace) The old Skye dancing song, Bualidh mi u an sa chean ("I will break your head"), was the winning blow in cudgelling matches throughout Britain, "for the moment that blood runs an inch anywhere above the eyebrow, the old gamester to whom it belongs is beaten, and has to stop."

A combative sword dance called the Highland Dirk Dance still exists and is often linked to the sword dance or dances called "Macinorsair," the "Broad Sword Exercise" or the Bruicheath" (Battle Dance). These dances are mentioned in a number of sources, and may have been performed in a variety of different forms, by two performers in a duelling form and as a solo routine.

Setting the sword at the correct angle before starting.

Scottish Sword dancing is compared to Geommu (also transliterated Gummu, Kommu) a traditional sword dance practiced in Korea. Geommu is performed with special costume, dance motions, and music. The dance is known for its grace in performance. Extra emphasis is placed on the movement of the costuming, notably the sleeves, in harmony with the movements of the dancer. The symbolic use of a Kal, a replica sword, keeps to the militaristic origins of this dance.

Scottish Bagpipes and Dancing - Part 2

Early history of the Bagpipes
In fact, the earliest recorded reference to bagpipes is on a Hittite slab from Asia Minor which has been dated to 1000 BC while by the 1st century AD, bagpipes existed in many countries from India to Spain and from France to Egypt. It's also clear that bagpipes were popular throughout the rest of the British isles prior to their documented appearance north of the border. When, and how, they did first appear in Scotland is a hotly contested topic with competing theories claiming they were either a Roman import or that the instrument came from Ireland.

Little drummer boy.
Components and styles of pipe
In whichever country it developed, the basic bagpipe comprised the same elements: a bag with a chanter (on which the melody was played) and one or more drones (pipes which play a continuous note).

Some examples were mouth-blown while others used a bellows attachment to supply the air to the bag. The bag provided a sustained tone while the musician took a breath and allowed several tones to be played at once.

A Scotchman with a cowboy hat?? What next?

Sporrans come in a very wide range of styles, from simple leather sporrans to those with fur fronts or fur-trimmed and faced with silver or some other metal. Often, the kilt wearer will chose a type of sporran depending on the occasion, with the more elaborate ones being considered suitable for evening wear and the others for casual or all-purpose wear.

Old Mister Sourpuss himself.

The original Scottish pipes probably had, at the most, a single drone. The second drone was added to the pipes in the mid to late 1500s while the third, or great drone, came into use early in the 1700s.

This little girl did not seem to be enjoying herself.

Scottish Bagpipes and Dancing - Part 1

Did you know that bagpipes did not originate in Scotland??

Once a year the high schools in the region have a Scottish Bagpipe and Dancing competition. My grandfather was Scottish and I have always loved bagpipe music so this year I went to take pictures to post. Yes, I know, it is NOT an instrument most people like but the music sure had my feet tapping. :)

Some people had brought this dog with them but I am sure it was a horse disguised as a dog. I have never seen anyhting this BIG!! I can imagine how much food it must eat every day and they are sure to have no robberies at their house!!
There was a nice crowd attending and a great excuse to get outdoors and into the sun for a while.

The inhabitants of the Scottish Highlands were originally of Celtic descent, and a small number of them still speak Gaelic, an ancient Celtic language which is now being encouraged once again in schools. In the southern part of the nation, the people are descended from ancient Scots with liberal inputs by Nordic influences and a bit of Anglo-Saxon.

Each band is made up of only pipes and drums and marched onto the field.

They formed a circle in front of the judges and played their hearts out. As you can see, various tartan of the clans was worn.

The sky was really beautiful with criss-cross clouds in it.

This was "The Boss" for the day. An ex-army fellow.

The original kiltThe feileadh mor was a longer untailored garment, around five metres in length, which was gathered and then belted at the waist to provide cover for both the upper and lower body. From the waist down, the feileadh mor resembled a modern kilt while the remaining material above the waist was draped over the shoulder and pinned there. This upper portion could be arranged in a variety of ways around the shoulders according to the demands of weather, temperature or freedom of movement required. At the end of day, the belt could be unbuckled to transform the feileadh mor into a warm covering for the night. The Gaelic plaid actually means 'blanket'.

Now I wonder, what DO they wear under it?? LOL!!

Each tartan has its own specific style of hose to go with it.

Tartan has an ancient history. The earliest known tartan in Scotland can be dated to the third or fourth century AD. In other parts of the world, tartan cloth has been found dating to approximately 3000 BC. Originally, tartan designs had no names, and no symbolic meaning. All tartan cloth was hand woven, and usually supplied locally. While it may have been true that certain colors or pattern motifs were more common in some areas than others, no regulated or defined "clan tartan" system ever existed.

Tartan was so identified with the Highland Gael that after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the British government, in the Act of Proscription, forbade the wearing of tartan (among other things) in the Highlands, in an attempt to suppress the rebellious Scottish culture.
The judges in the background looking sternly on.

Though clan tartans are the most well known, tartans can represent many different things. Some tartans represent families, towns, district, corporations, individuals, events.