Northumbrian Small-Pipe
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The Northumbrian Small-pipe is a type of bagpipe dating from the 17th century. Sound is produced in a similar way to the highland bagpipe, but air is blown into the bag by bellows, not through a mouth-blown pipe. The small-pipe has a variety of key and finger hole patterns. The sound it produces is quiet and crisp, which makes it suitable for indoor playing.
| Family |
| Woodwinds |
| Pitch range |
| Just under two octaves. |
| Material |
| Animal-skill bellows, with velvet cover ; wooden pipes ; and cane, metal, or elder reeds. |
| Size |
| The bag is about 18 in (46 cm) long ; the chanter is 17 in (43 cm) long. |
| Origins |
| The Northumbrian small-pipes derived in Northumberland, England from the French court musette toward the end of the 17th century. |
| Classification |
| Aerophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of a column of air. |
| And also... |
| The Dukes of Northumberland always employ a personal piper. This is a tradition that stretches from the 18th century to the present day. |
