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Piob Mhór (Great Highland Bagpipe)

before ca. 1940
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684
The Irish piob mhór ("great bagpipe") and the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe are today identical and are mostly used in marching bands, both military and civilian. The conical chanter and the drones are based on the notes C (bass drone), g (two tenor drones), and c’ (chanter). The drones have single reeds. Peter Henderson (1851–1903), a pipe maker and music publisher in Glasgow founded his pipe-making business in 1868. After his death it was continued by others under his name. The cover of the bag is the MacGregor tartan cloth.

(Cassandre Balosso-Bardin, 2023)

Technical Description
Conical ebony chanter, 7/1 holes, 2 vents; cylindrical bass drone in 3 sections, 2 cylindrical tenor drones each in 2 sections; conical blowpipe; pipes and stocks have ivory and silver mounts, the silver engraved celtic-style with interwoven bands; bag cover of MacGregor tartan encloses new bag; tasseled cord connects pipes.

Length (Of chanter (including stock)): 17 3/8 in. (44.2 cm)

Length (Of tenor drone): 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)

Length (Of bass drone): 37 in. (94 cm)

Length (Of tenor drone): 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)

Length (Of bag): 23 in. (58.4 cm)

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Piob Mhór (Great Highland Bagpipe)
  • Maker: Peter Henderson
  • Date: before ca. 1940
  • Geography: Glasgow, Scotland
  • Culture: Scottish
  • Medium: Ebony, ivory, silver, leather, cloth
  • Dimensions: Length (Of chanter (including stock)): 17 3/8 in. (44.2 cm)
    Length (Of tenor drone): 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)
    Length (Of bass drone): 37 in. (94 cm)
    Length (Of tenor drone): 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)
    Length (Of bag): 23 in. (58.4 cm)
  • Classification: Aerophone-Reed Vibrated-bagpipe
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Paul and Barbara Krieger Gift, 1996
  • Object Number: 1996.223
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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