The Beast
Bagpipes are not a recent invention. They've been around for a long time, longer than there've been people in the area now known as Scotland.
I like to think that the first musical instrument was a drum. Find a hollow log, a stick and off you go! The second musical instrument in my fantasy world was a bagpipe. Find an animal skin, a hollow tube or two, make a reed and off you go! And of course, is there any doubt that when the first piper and drummer got together, the first band was established? There might've been an initial argument over who selects tunes, sets the tempo, interprets expression, but that was sorted out quickly enough once the piper started calling him/herself "Pipe Major."
Today bagpipes are found all over the world, not just Scotland and Ireland. Playing a bagpipe with its haunting, ancient sound stirs a genetic memory, a molecular recollection of our shared ancestry, which makes the bagpipe an instrument for all people, not just old white men.
There is a lot of good information about bagpipes on the web. Here are a few links to get you going in the right direction.
I think you will find Bob Dunsire's Bagpipe Web Directory an especially great resource. If you can't find it there, it might not be worth finding.
