Why do "Irish" American Pipe Bands wear Scottish regalia?

Question

Why don't they wear Irish? having taken part in quite a few St Patrick's day parades, I have been surprised at how much "Irish" American bands look like Scots and at times even like Scottish soldiers from the British Army, and yet they (not all) claim to dislike the British. Take for instance the headdress for the Irish it is the Caubeen, why do "Irish" Americans then wear a balmoral or a glengarry? And correct foot wear, "ghillie brogues" are Scottish not Irish, if your irish wear regular brogues with double shodded soles. The balmoral is worn with ribbons tied; the glengarry with the ribbons left untied. The balmoral is worn level on forehead 1/2" above the eyebrows, with the cloth top pulled over right side of the head. The cockade should be centered over the left temple. The bow should be centered at the back of the head. The glengarry is traditionally worn canted to the right; 1" above the left eyebrow and 1/2" above the right eyebrow, with point of the glen centered on the

on the head, aligned with the nose (although some regiments wear them square on the head). In Scotland, the balmoral is the more popular style, in various colors, with or without the red "toorie" on top. The glengarry owes its popularity to the Highland regiments and pipe bands. Civilians, officers, and pipers generally wear plain glens; enlisted ranks and drummers wear dicing. The diced (red checked) band indicates loyalty to the House of Hanover, i.e. the royal house of England. Highland civilians generally do not wear dicing. The caubeen, the traditional green bonnet of the Irish piper, is worn level on the head with the cap badge centered either over the left eye (Royal Irish Rangers) or right eye (Royal Irish Guards), with the cloth pulled over to the opposite side, similar to a balmoral. The Irish caubeen is often decorated with a "sheillah"; the harp of Erin, or a shamrock. In the Republic of Ireland, the harp is usually displayed without the crown for obvious reasons. ,

Traditionally the only adornments should be the cockade and your clan crest worn in a strap and buckle form or your own crest if you have one. It's also common for veterans to wear their regimental badges, and sometimes firefighters and law enforcement officers their badges. It is also appropriate to adorn the bonnet with a sprig of your clan's plant badge, or rosemary on Remembrance Day, and rising no more than about 1 1/2" above the top of the badge. It's also customary for pipers to wear the red poppy on their glens for Remembrance Day, as the bass drone tends to brush them off of jacket lapels. The poppy is usually displayed forward of and on the same side as the glen badge (although I know of at least one regiment which has an aversion to anything being forward of their regimental badge; even a red poppy).

excuse the mistake about the Irish Guards are not the Royal Irish guards, just IRISH GUARDS

Thanks Daddykev, I was wondering if it had something to do with like, cost, price easier to get scottish stuff, or a cultural thing they do not want to look like Irish Soldiers in the Brit Army (which makes it kind of amusing they would rather look like Scots soldiers in the Brit Army instead), or a combination of both

Answer 1

Paddy they cant even get the pipes right!!!

Traditional Irish Uilleann Pipes are served air by pumping the air bladder and not like the Scottish pipes where the air bladder is charged by blowing from the mouth!!

Also:

There are many varieties of instruments known as bagpipes throughout Europe and in parts of Asia, but in the Celtic world of the British Isles, there are two main types, The Irish (Uillean or Elbow) and the Scottish (Great Highland or Small Border). How do we distinguish between them?

The Great Highland (Bagpipe) is probably the most prolific bagpipe worldwide today, due in no small part to the vast extent of the British Empire in the 19th century. The English military appropriated the ancient Scots use of the bagpipe as a tool of intimidation and inspiration in war, and developed military marching bands which accompanied their troops throughout 'the colonies'. Hence, the playing of the Highland Pipes is very widespread today from New Zealand and Australia, India and Pakistan, through to Canada and the United States.

The bag is blown full from the player's mouth through a blow-pipe and the pressure from the left arm on the bag sends and controls the flow of air to the melody chanter and three drones. The range of tones which can be produced from the eight small holes in the chanter is limited to only nine, spanning an octave and a tone or second. The sound is produced when the air is forced through a small double-sided reed made traditionally from cane and more recently from plastic. Because the pipe is mouth-blown, the air is laden with moisture and operates in a damp state. The tonic notes are pitched about B flat and the scale includes a flat 7th. The limited scale and melodic possibilities, as well as the ever-present drones, give the music both haunting and mesmerizing characteristics.

Historically the instrument was played outdoors for community dance music, in a solo or 'sean nos' style, leaving much room for individual interpretation. For the advanced player, the ancient repertoire of 'pibroch' remains the ultimate challenge for the solo piper, a canon of slow and mournful set pieces, demanding advanced technique and thoughtful expression. The military band appropriation necessitated a high degree of conformity of melody and gracings, providing solid training for the aspiring piper, but inevitably causing frustration of individual expression.The Highland piper usually stands while playing and often will walk slowly in a small circle, measuring his steps with the beat of the music.The Small Lowland or Parlour pipes are a scaled-down, indoor version of the Highland pipes and are blown from a bellows strapped to the right arm. They produce a much quieter and more refined sound, and have become popular in recent years with folk and traditional groups. These pipes are pitched in the more 'sociable' keys of A and D, making them ideal for ensemble playing.



The Uillean (elbow) pipes of the Irish tradition are quite a different matter. As the name suggests, they are blown from a bellows located on the right arm, and again, the air is collected and controlled from the bag under the left arm. Pressure on the bag feeds the air to the reeds of the melody chanter, as many as three drones, and three regulator stocks, each fitted with keys which can provide occasional or constant chordal accompaniment. These regulator keys are played with the inner wrist of the right hand, while fingering the chanter, thus necessitating masterful co-ordination. The player sits forward on a chair, the open end of the melody chanter placed on the right thigh and it remains there, effectively closing the chanter when all eight holes are covered. The notes are produced by lifting one or more fingers off the chanter to open one or more holes, or, in the case of the lowest tonic note, lifting the end of the chanter off the leg while covering all the fingered holes.

Thus we observe a major difference between the Scottish and Irish pipes.The Highland chanter is always open at the end and thus the melody is continuous. The Irish chanter operates principally in a closed fashion, making it possible to stop the sound, often imperceptibly. This allows for a vastly different fingering technique which can produce a wide variety of melodic and ornamental effects.

The range of the Irish chanter is two full octaves, and with the addition of several keys, can be played chromatically; that is sounding all the black and white notes of the keyboard. The pipes can be pitched in a variety of keys, based on the tonic 'concert' D, or the 'flat sets' in C#, C, B or B flat.The lower the pitch of the pipes becomes, the quieter and sweeter is the tone that results.

Concert 'D' pipes are popular in modern times because they can be played readily with most other instruments and they have a bright and present sound.The flat sets were more popular in times past, but are currently enjoying a revival, as players search for more tonal colours for their palette.

The full set of Uillean pipes were designed as a mini-orchestra, complete with melody, chordal accompaniment and drones. A lever allows the drones to be switched on or off as desired, and the regulator work is an individual style-choice, ranging from rhythmic hits to full chords. Because the fingering proceeds from a closed system, a wide variety of style and ornamentation is possible, giving the player much discretion in how he/she interprets the music. Laments and slow airs are especially effective and demonstrate the mature player's mastery of technique. A multitude of fingering options coupled with effects produced by lifting the chanter 'off the knee' allow a broad range of personal expression, a quality which is expected of the advanced player.

The chanter reed is also double-sided, made from cane, though longer and much more delicate then the Highland chanter reed. The Highland reeds are often bought by the dozen from suppliers and thus are quite disposable and somewhat interchangeable between sets. The Irish reeds, on the other hand, are very sensitive to humidity and temperature, and are almost always uniquely fitted to each chanter, often by the pipemaker himself. A good one, well cared-for, can last for many years.Irish pipers often must master the art of reed making, as well as reed adjustment and maintenance. Trust me, this is no simple task.

In conclusion, each of the traditions of bagpiping is replete with a body of repetoire, technique and playing opportunities. Of late, there have been more and more interchanges between the two, as it is quite possible to set Irish melodies on the Scottish chanter, and visa-versa. Bagpipers occupy a somewhat rarified world, inhabited by devotees and connoisseurs, as well as practitioners. Perhaps not surprisingly, the passion for bagpiping shows no sign of waning and is probably more widespread in today's world than at any time previous. Like fine whiskey, with one small taste, you may be hooked for life.



David Papazian is a musician and luthier.
He plays violin, concertina and Irish Pipes.

Answer 2

Probably because the average American of Irish decent is so far removed from actual Irish tradition and protocol that they are blissfully ignorant of their mistakes. This is not specific to the Irish, rather almost all heritages. Once you become Americanized, the lines tend to blur rather quickly.

Common among 3rd to 4th generation immigrants of any background, i.e. Hispanic/Latino, Irish/Scot, African, Asian, etc...

Even among indigenous people. There are folks with Native American backgrounds, whether it be Cherokee or Sioux or Navajo, who wear incongruous items or practice inconsistent traditions under the auspices of being "Native American." Wrong hairstyles, etc..