Hew Morrison Collection > Piobaireachd

l6o Piobaireachd : its Origin and Construction
to go between the bag and the outside cover to absorb the substance
that comes through the bag. By this means the sleeve of the piper's
coat as well as the outside cover are kept clean.
Lower Tuning Slide. — The big drone is the only one that has two tuning slides. The
lower is the one most often used in tuning the drone.
Mouthpiece.— The part of the blowpipe which is held in the mouth, usually made of
vulcanite, ivory, or silver.
Middle Drone. — The tenor drone, 20| inches long, between the big and outside
drone.
Neck oj Bag. — The narrowest part of the pipe bag where the chanter and its stock
are inserted.
Outside Bagpipe Cover. — A covering usually made of tartan or velvet, to put the
sheepskin bag into.
Outside Drone. — The tenor or small drone farthest away from the big drone, or
shoulder on which the bagpipe is held. It is 20J inches long.
Practice Chanter. — The instrument which the pupil begins with, and on which all
tunes are played to commit them to memory. Made of ebony or
African blackwood, and mounted with ivory or silver. It has got an
upper and lower part, a reed, and eight holes which produce nine notes
the same as the bagpipe chanter does.
Pipe Bag. — The portion of the bagpipe that holds the wind, so as to give the performer
a rest from continual blowing, and by the use of the arm supplies a
regular pressure of wind on all the reeds.
Ribbons. — A narrow piece of tartan silk which is attached to the three drones to
cover the cords that join them together. One ribbon is placed on
the top and the other below the drones, both of the same length, and
a portion is draped from the tops of the large and outside drones.
Rosin.— The solid substance left after distilling the oil from crude turpentine, and
used for covering the hemp that is put on reeds and drone joints.
Small Drones. — The two tenor drones that accompany the chanter of the bagpipe,
and are tuned in perfect unison with low A.
Stock Holes. — I. The holes cut in the bag into which the stocks are inserted.
2. The holes in the stocks into which the upper portion of the drones,
the blowpipe, and the chanter are inserted.
Testing Corks. — Four corks made of rubber for the purpose of testing the bag to see
that it is air-tight. Rubber is the best material for making the corks,