HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:00:20
They came from New Zealand, from Canada, and from Zimbabwe. The St. John's College pipe band traveled over 5,000 miles to compete in Scotland. Obviously, you're feeling quite nervous, but we are feeling quite good. We are feeling quite confident that we're going to win, hopefully.
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:00:44
One of the judges was a veteran piper, Robert Mathieson. It's the music that captivates you. The traditional music seduces you. And even in the youngsters now, playing traditional music and wearing the kilt is cool. It's no longer all about the pop music and the rock music. [TRADITIONAL MUSIC]
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:01:05
The bagpipes are a symbol of Scotland, a proud proclamation of Scottish identity-- [MUSIC CONTINUES] --loud, often moving, and instantly recognizable. [PIPE NOTES] Steven Blake is the director of Scotland's National Youth Pipe Band. We watched on as he gave a lesson to learners of all levels, some of them absolute beginners. So we're going to go F, E, and F. Ready? I'll just give you a shout. So don't worry about the rhythm yet. So F. [ALL PLAYING NOTES TOGETHER] That's perfect. Let's give that a go together. Three, four. [PIPE NOTES] Very good. You should honestly stick to this. [HIGH-PITCHED NOTES]
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:02:05
Afterwards, he gave me a private lesson. At first, it seemed like I might be a star student. That's it. So blow, blow, blow. [NO SOUND] Keep blowing. That's it.
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:02:20
Until, that is, I had to get a sound-- Keep blowing.
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:02:23
--any sound-- Blow, blow, blow.
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:02:24
--out of the bigwig. [INTERMITTENT SOUND] Excellent. [LAUGHS] OK. Very good. I think you've been a very good sport about it. [LAUGHTER] Do you want me hold him for a second? It's such hard work to get a tiny sound. [WHEEZING LAUGHTER] You did very well though. I think i might have to stop for a second. [LAUGHING] [EFFORTLESS NOTES] And this is how it's supposed to go. It's hard to believe today, but bagpipes almost died out in Scotland when the British government cracked down on rebellious Scottish clans in the 1700s and tried to suppress Highland culture, including banning civilian men from wearing tartan. But as regiments of Scottish soldiers began to play a key role in British colonial conquests, their pipers went with them.
NARRATOR:
00:03:31
The pride of the North, giving London an unforgettable thrill.
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:03:35
Now the bagpipes are often associated with the British military and the royal family. [BAGPIPE ELEGY] A pipe band accompanied the late Queen's coffin to her funeral in 2022. Where do these bagpipes come from?
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:03:54
Professor Hugh Cheape is an expert in the history of bagpipes. He told us their origins can be traced back over 2,500 years. Where? Iraq, Southern Iraq. That's where the excavation found this evidence of an early form of pipe. So you're saying the origins of the Scottish bagpipes are in Iraq? Well, shh, don't speak that too loudly, because that's a long way from Scotland.
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:04:26
The bagpipes may be an import, but they're also a Scottish export. And they've even been married with other musical traditions, like this Indian piper, known as The Snake Charmer, who plays Scottish tunes Punjabi style. The Uplanders are an American pipe band, drawn from high schools in California and Wyoming. They spent three years rehearsing for the World Championships and fundraising to pay for their tickets to Glasgow. Their pipe major is Martha Hill, who also teaches many of the young musicians. What do you love about it? I love how unique it is. I love the sound. It stirs something in people. When they hear it, it just stirs a lot of emotions. And I just love it.
HOLLY WILLIAMS:
00:05:24
A Scottish icon that speaks to people from many different cultures and traditions. For CBS SaturdayMorning. Holly Williams, Glasgow, Scotland. OK, love everything about this piece, especially Holly trying this. And her reaction. And her reaction. I've never seen her laugh that hard. Did she get an ice cream pain or something? I don't know, but now I really want to try to see how hard that is. Yeah, it is hard. When I was traveling through the Middle East, I heard the story of it being from Iraq. And I remember telling people in America. And they're like, no. They're like, no way, no way. So finally, Holly Williams brings the education to the forefront. I know. I love that. Also, the pipe band from the top from Zimbabwe, they actually won their category in the Youth World Championship. They came in first in the Novice B section. So it was the guys at the top there. I love it. Holly, keep at it. Yo can do it. I believe in you. We do. We do.
