This article defines a number of terms that are exclusive, or whose meaning is exclusive, to piping and pipers.
A
Arm Strap
When playing a bagpipe, this attaches the player's arm to the bellows allowing the player to control them. Argyllshire Gathering An annual highland games, held at Oban, Scotland every August which attracts the highest level of competition from around the world. Competitions are held for (i) the Open Piobaireachd, also known as the Clasp; (ii) The Highland Society of London's Gold Medal for Piobaireachd; (iii) The Silver Medal for Piobaireachd; (iv) Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel Competition, or the Silver Star; (iv) individual event competitions for Grade A & B March, Strathspey, and Reel; and Hornpipe & Jig. Winners of the Gold Medal compete in subsequent years in the Clasp competition. A similar event is held at Inverness, Scotland, (the Northern Meeting) which is held usually two weeks later, in September of each year. Attack In pipe band terms, attack describes the process of getting the band from a non-playing state to a playing state. In competition, the attack is often believed to set the scene for the performance that follows and therefore great emphasis is placed on it. The most common method is for the drummers to place two rolls, each lasting for three paces. On the beginning of the second roll, the band strikes in their drones and at the end of the roll, play a two beat introductory note, usually E. The attack is generally considered to have finished when the band has settled into their introductory tune, typically a few bars in.
B
Back D
The note played by the thumb hole of the Uilleann pipe chanter. It has a distinctive haunting quality, subtly different from the rest of the scale. Backstitching An ornament in Uilleann piping. The stitch is two staccato gracenotes played above the main note pitch; backstitching is the process of playing several of these stitches on a series of melody notes. Bag Seasoning Seasoning a bag keeps the leather supple, while allowing it to absorb moisture and keep the bag airtight. Bag Cover The pipe bag is often covered with a cover, mainly for decoration but possibly also to help the player keep a grip on the bag while playing. Materials can include corduroy, velvet, or wool. Barking/Popping On the Uilleann chanter, the effect created by playing a staccato note while simultaneously lifting and replacing the chanter on the leg. Also known as barking, as this is the sound created. Tuning Bead Northumbrian pipe drones incorporate a tuning bead and/or slide which allows the player to raise the pitch of the drone by a whole tone to play in other keys. Biniaouer Biniaouer means piper in the Breton language. Binioù Binioù means bagpipe in the Breton language. Binioù-Bras Binioù-bras means Great (Highland) Bagpipe in the Breton language. See Pib-Veur. Binioù-Ilin Binioù-ilin means Uilleann Pipes in the Breton language. Binioù-Kozh Binioù-kozh is the traditional Breton Bagpipe. Birl Onomatopoeic name for a Highland bagpipe embellishment on low A, consisting of two very fast taps or strikes to low G. Blade The vibrating element of a bagpipe reed. Reeds can be single or double; generally speaking, chanter reeds are double and drone reeds single. The blade is also known sometimes as a tongue. Blowpipe The pipe through which the bag is inflated. Bombarde A shawm-like instrument traditionally played in duet with the bagpipe in Brittany. Bottom D The lowest note available on an uilleann chanter. Called Bottom D to avoid confusion with the two higher Ds available. It is obtained by lifting the chanter off the leg. Bridle (On a double reed for a chanter) A strip of copper about 1/8" to 3/16" wide and 2" long with slanted edges used to control the aperture of the two blades of a reed. (On a reed single reed for a drone) A few winds of hemp or else some sort of elastic band to control the length and position of the vibrating tongue. Brien Boru Pipes A 20th century attempt to create an instrument similar to the Highland bagpipe, but with an extended range that could handle popular Irish melodies. Several bands were formed, one or two of which still exist.
C
Canntaireachd
A system of non-lexical vocables, whose purpose is to encapsulate piobaireachd in a form which can be written or spoken while maintaining the precision normally offered only by written music. One of the most important sources in piobaireachd, the Nether Lorn manuscript, is exclusively written in canntaireachd. Ceòl Beag Literally meaning little music, a Highland bagpiping term referring to, essentially, anything that is not piobaireachd. The term is of relatively recent origin. Chanter