Bagpipes, only a people like the once-ultra conservative Scots, would be so keen about preserving shrill irritating to the ear bagpipes! Far as I can tell, they are the only people and their Hibernerian kin the Irish and Iberian Spanish) on earth who play them, and make such a big deal of them.
I have tried to trace the origin of bagpipes, so far, I have not been successful. It would solve the issue of their true origin.
“Their” true origin. What I meant was if we knew from whence came the bagpipes we would know the true origin of the Scots and Hibernerian types.
Bagpipes are played as traditional instruments in Anatolia, Poland, Persia, the mountains of central Italy, northwestern France, and Romania (and probably other areas that I don’t know about). The instrument dates to neolithic times and was once common all across Europe.
And I wouldn’t call the pipes shrill. I love a good pipe tune. If I were wealthy I would have my own personal piper.
Oh, and the Berbers in North Africa play the pipes too.