What is the significance of the lone piper?

[HollyElise]

I've come across references to the lone piper now and again, but i don't really understand it's origin.

Any stories about it would be much appreciated!

thank you.
holly

[Polwarth]

I don't know the origins - but for military funerals for soldiers of Scottish regiments, a 'lone' piper plays a lament.

At the Edinburgh Military Tattoo every year, the last 'act' is when the lights are extinguished down on the Castle esplanade, and then a spotlight picks out the piper, high up on the castle battlements. He looks so tiny, and the sound is amazing. He plays and then the lights go out for a moment.... eerily beautiful. I defy anyone not to be moved by seeing and hearing it.

[HollyElise]

Thank you Polwarth.

Yes... i've seen that on video... i saw a tape at the library one day about travelling to Scotland and they had some clips from the Tattoo in Edinburgh.

I'm wondering, is the lone piper usually associated with sadness?

I believe a lone piper is always associated with a lament for the dead, usually playing a funeral piece such as the Flowers of the Forest

Here's a pretty good rendition of The Flowers Of The Forest.

http://www.bagpipesatbest.com/midi/flowers.mid

[HollyElise]

WOW! Neil, thank you!

[aNonnyMoose]

Originally posted by Neil_Caple
I believe a lone piper is always associated with a lament for the dead, usually playing a funeral piece such as the Flowers of the Forest

I have been at many funerals where this has been played (including my Dad's, he was ex-Argylls, and we arranged it specifically for this reason). The piper usually walks away from the kirk/crematorium doors during the last few stanzas, so that the sound of the pipes fades off into the distance. It can be pretty emotional...