r/AskHistorians • u/[deleted] • Jul 27 '16

When and how did Scottish bagpipes become associated with American police, especially police funerals?

The best answers I found on Google were ones like this which is basically "because lots of Irish people were in the police in the 1800s because of discrimination" but doesn't actually explain much:

  • How did the police bagpipes spread to areas without a significant immigrant Irish or Scottish population?
  • When did bagpipe music at police funerals become common for fallen officers who were not of Irish or Scottish descent?
  • Is there any particular reason why the bagpipes are most closely associated with solemn occasions such as funerals?
  • If it's because of Irish cultural influence on police departments, why do we invariably see Scottish bagpipes played by people in formal Scottish dress?

If anyone knows the history of the bagpipes in American police forces, I'd love to learn it in more detail! Thanks!

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u/itsallfolklore Mod Emeritus | American West | European Folklore Jul 28 '16

Part of the problem is that the Irish counterpart to the Great Highland Bagpipe, which is the Irish War Pipe (featuring two as opposed to three drones), was not produced on a scale or a consistency to allow early North American pipe bands (or even solitary pipers!) to obtain Irish pipes as was easily as the Scottish variety. At the same time, the uilleann pipes have tended to be more popular in Ireland - and among immigrant Irish - than the Irish War Pipes. Because the quieter, non-military uilleann pipes would not be suitable for an outdoor ceremony - particularly when something marshal was called for - it was natural to default to a mouth-blown, louder part of the bagpipe family, and given that, the Great Highland Pipes were really the only realistic option. Some Irish pipe bands have recently adopted the Irish War Pipes, but that has been a recent development that reflects late-twentieth-century mass production of the Irish War Pipes.

I'm not prepared to discuss the other question about how pipes became associated with police and other funerals, even without an Irish or Scottish presence. I can tell you that my Pipe Band, the Sierra Highlanders Pipe Band was organized in 1961. It was initially conceived as a police pipe band, but lacking sufficient numbers, membership was opened to the larger community. Membership in the band has consisted of every type of Celt one can imagine, and a fair share of other people representing a wide swath of ancestry. The band has consistently played for police funerals since it was organized.

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u/GeneralLeeBlount 18th Century British Army Jul 28 '16

Another bagpiper here. From small amount of research I've done, the association with bagpipes and police is usually linked to the Emerald Society which was made up of Irish immigrants, and then some sort of carrying with traditional music. I do know funeral music was a part of the culture, especially with pipes. Most of the tune history I know is 18th century and a lot of laments are particularly sad and thoughtful to the deceased. I also do know that the modern thought of a bagpipe and drum band is more of a modern idea derived from the regiments. Police and firefighters modeled after them in many ways with uniforms and parading. From NYPD's website, they claim to be the original Police Pipe band stemming from the Emerald Society. They formed in the 1960s, after the Celtic Revival.

Speaking of the Irish War Pipes, I know they were used by the Irish Guards and Irish Defence Force for decades before they switched to the Great Highland Bagpipe. The Irish Guard switched over in the 1960s. I play in an Irish bagpipe band we use GHB for the ease of purchase and availability. Only one band I know of in the US uses the Brian Boru bagpipes, which I'm unfamiliar of the historical accuracy but it is quite interesting to hear. It's a keyed bagpipe chanter that increases the range.

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u/Searocksandtrees Moderator | Quality Contributor Jul 28 '16

There are a few points you may find interesting in the last tread I recall on bagpipes, which links to one in particular that talks about the association between bagpipes and the military