When the Pipers Play - the film

The original full length version of When The Pipers Play. Winner of four awards, this is the definitive history of the great Highland bagpipe in peace and war. Narrated by Hannah Gordon, Tom Conti and Charlton Heston this compelling story combines inspiring songs with stunning footage, bringing to then screen a unique insight into one of the world’s most popular instruments.

[@peterjongsma3221]

I'm in Australia. When I hear The Bagpipes I get drunk and break stuff. Who'd want to Invade Scotland?

[@lewissmith3896]

Not me, crikey.

[@robertcooper3491]

You take the four home countries…England …Ireland…Scotland and Wales…tell me a better place in the world than the UNITED KINGDOM

[@lewissmith3896]

There is none.

[@johnfitzpatrick4007]

@@lewissmith3896Aye and do what we are told.As projected round the world England is Britain and Britain is England.Westminster does anything it wants to to do with Scotland.They took our oil now they are taking our energy down south on to the grid and we are getting charged more for our own energy.Water is next.

[@ruadhagainagaidheal9398]

My mother took my sister and I from Inverness down to Southampton as wee babies in 1947 to see her mother, stepfather, brother, sister in law and nephew off to Canada. She was so grief-stricken by their leaving (possibly never to see them again) that she couldn’t bear to go home to an empty house and we stayed in England until 1958 before returning to Inverness. Raised in the south of England, my sis and had English accents and felt out of place in our own birthplace until mum took us to all the quintessential highland stuff to re-introduce us to our birthright. Once I heard my first pipe band I knew I was home.

[@ritchiestephen5001]

I left Inverness in 1960 as a 15 year old, to enlist in the RAF. In 1974, I and my young Family emigrated to New Zealand, where we are still based, although my Sons now live in Australia and the USA. A typical tale of Scots diaspora. Every time I return, always by Train, a lump forms in my throat around Aviemore and doesn't go away until I am installed in the Royal Highlander Hotel (The Station Hotel) and settled in the bar with a large malt!!! This irrational and unconditional love of Scotland and it's sound, is in the blood and the heart.

[@fritula6200]

​...

[@fritula6200]

​@@ritchiestephen5001.... the world doesnt understand this, until you yourself have walked that road!!! There is a lot of sadness in all of this.....

[@fritula6200]

​@@ritchiestephen5001.. JUST BEAUTIFUL!!! MY HEART GOES TO YOU. I, AM DIASPORA FR O M EUROPE!

[@Savetheworldfirebidennow]

Your story made me tear up. Thank you. My ancestors originated from Ireland. My mothers maiden name was Besse Kelley. My middle name is Kelley. I shiver at the Irish sound.

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

Hands out tissues. This video needs to be viewed by millions. That's a lot of tissues.

[@scottie2636]

Wonderful film and music. I have been away from my homeland Scotland for too many years, and I miss it terribly. Only two visits in the last 60+years. Too old to travel now. I still remember the sights, sounds, scenery and smells of the clear air.

[@jamesmacfarlane2595]

e red sq kilo😅

[@gailshea2294]

There is a movie, The Paratrooper in 70s or 80s. There was a line..."Pity the man who hears the pipes and was not born in Scotland." My son was born in IL.

[@colincameron9085]

I am a Cameron I love the pipes I feel my Hackles rise Alba gu brach

[@tanyaklieve440]

I am also a Cameron. All my life I had no idea why the pipes moved me so much. Then I did my ancestry DNA to find out who my great-grandfather was, we knew he was church-adopted. So as a wee Cameron lad, he became the son of a German and a Pole. I found out who he was and now I know why people kept telling me I was Scottish. I'm a Cameron and very proud of it. I'm glad ye have hackles, mine get going with the pipes and drums. Aye, bless ye!

[@joeynelson4176]

Pipes stir the soul. Brings me chills....and I'm not even Scottish...not a bit. ❤

[@debbylou5729]

I had the chance to get to know a piper when I lived in Toronto. At the time he had been ranked 2nd in the world. Here’s the fun part…..his name was Barry McKendry. He was raised Jewish, from his mom’s side I think. I met him at church…..we are both Mormon. Toronto was crazy. The congregation was a mix of anything you can imagine. Just as a side note; my ex husband said it was the world, I thought he said Canada. I guess we could both be wrong….it was the early 1990’s and I didn’t ask him to prove it

[@mariellouise1]

What a beautiful constructed film. I’m a Mc Ewan. As a young girl I grew up in the Mojave desert of California. Amazingly there were 8 men who played the pipes. One of them was Japanese. I taught myself to dance from the Official Book of Highland Dance. It was full of photos of the steps along with a description. We “Highlanders” had a wonderful time celebrating Bobby Burns birthday! The band played for my wedding!

[@tomasofaolain3117]

It's in your blood good stock Bonnie wee lass

[@smck001]

It's Rabbie Burns. Otherwise, God bless you.

[@Smee86]

🆒😎😊

[@TheGameStorePiper]

Wow, there are some straight up legends of piping in this video. This is a really stellar watch.

[@MaistoHelix]

The Pipers represent War, the Wars we fought all over Europe.. It is part of us all across from Poland to Greece and from Portugal to Ireland.

[@paulepanzer4498]

German born but I love to hear the pipes Sends me shivers down my spine all the time Albaaaaaaaaa 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿♥️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿♥️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿♥️

[@mervyncarnall725]

I remember when I was a young commando, parachuting out of a C130 Hercules, with a sole piper , playing as we jumped out of the aircraft, it was inspiring.

[@rebeccabeaton9237]

Stirs the blood and feeds the soul! Thank you!

[@lewissmith3896]

I love it.

[@YARROWS9]

The Scottish Regiments of the British Army are. The Black Watch, The Gordon Highlanders, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The Queens own Highlanders, The Kings own Scottish Borderers, The Royal Scots, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The Scots Guards and the Royal Scots Dragoons.

[@ronniemac2636]

You missed Cameronians😢

[@YARROWS9]

@@ronniemac2636 They had been disbanded.

[@jimkennedy7050]

And the Seaforth Highlanders, ghosts now

[@raineliawylde1197]

NZ .9 pm. No connection to family stories , but one grandfather was of Scottish 'blood' .Hamilton is name .

[@SHMcDuff]

Was brought up with pipe bands playing in the streets of Glasgow...Boy's Brigade bands if I rremember correctly...the sounds would echo off the tenametn buildings...the best sound ever...

[@Woo5ter]

When the pipers play, it draws me home!

[@fritula6200]

What happens when you are the Diaspora.... you don't belong in yr country of birth, nor in yr new country: We are in between a void: I call it a lost people: it's a heavy burden when you MUST leave yr birth country.... because of good reasons: political persecution, poverty, war etc...

[@melbeasley9762]

English born but I love to hear the pipes.

[@brettmccardle9303]

Im a New Zealand born and I feel the same

[@lewissmith3896]

English here too Mel. I fell the same.

[@fritula6200]

I like the sound of Bagpipe..... it's uplifting,!! In my country, the bag was made from the stomach or large intestine :

[@annogrady3349]

Many thanks to All involved who put together this amazing video. I was deeply touched watching it. ❤️🇨🇦

[@violadamore2-bu2ch]

This is outstanding to me, answers many questions I had about piping.

[@carolwaugh5466]

The WWI footage seems today almost impossible to believe. How brave were the Pipers. Incredible.

[@takamine9377]

Zum weinen schön........

[@billroddy9396]

I've made the long 72 yr. Trip from Airdrie to Toronto to Missouri to Florida. Tennesse and back to Florida. I'm now a Dixie Scot ! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@DixieWhiskey]

My favorite piobaireachd to play is Lament for Mary Mcleod. Right when I was typing this comment, Jim Motherwell starts playing some of it.

[@arnoldshannon7222]

Puren CLASS

[@kaylyons5395]

I'm an Australian my daughter was Scottish decent her surname was Mackay. She died of cancer and asked that we take her ashes to Scotland. So we found where the seat of the Mackay Clan is and we scattered her ashes in the water of the inlet of the Kyle of Tongue. I was able to get a mother and daughter of the Mackay Clan to play the bag pipes while we had our little service.I had a plaque made out of sandstone with cast metal center piece with her name and birthdate and day she passed with " Back in the arms of her clan" If you are you are ever in the area the plaque is on a stone cairn we made up against the outside wall of the Mackay cemetery on the water side . You will have to push thru the bracken to find it. Please visit her for me and say a prayer for her. I wanted to go back and visit her 1 more time before I die but I'm unable to because of my health. I miss her so much and don't want her to be forgotten. Would member of the Mackay clan please keep her memory alive for me and her daughter

[@lewissmith3896]

God bless your beautiful soul Kay. I may be no Mackay, but if I ever to go Scotland I would gladly love to try & do that for you.

[@margaretmckay-os1sz]

Of course.

[@jesseburnette6028]

Many thanks to who posted this. It’s worth watching to listen to the First World War vets. IWM did a great job capturing these experiences. Many thanks also to the now Royal Regiment of Scotland for lending their expertise.

[@ronsindric4241]

My Father's bivouac in the Isles before the Invasion in '44 came to love The Pipes. He says that he thinks he heard Mad Jack back then.

[@jamescasement6635]

This is one hell of a watch 👏👏👏👏

[@isobellemcghie3465]

Oh the pipes, the bonnie pipes and my heart is fu’

[@bryantsmith3372]

Love the Gaelic singing.

[@bryantsmith3372]

@Fernandwinnie There is this scene with fishermen are working on a pier.

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

Isla St Clair truly sings this from her soul and the spirits of centuries are listening.

[@davideddy2672]

Not that many centuries - and to be fair, the farting goose bag was introduced to Scotland …

[@NorrieMacTHESMOG]

every song she sung was from her heart

[@andrewccochrane8052]

isla st clair was my next door neihbour in grangemouth stirlingshire@@NorrieMacTHESMOG

[@valandilelfstone]

I am English born and breed, I have loved dearly the pipes and all Highland music since I was 7, we had a teacher who taught us Highland dancing and the sword dance and we all loved listening to the music and the bag pipes especially they have the power to uplift to stir the spirit it is a beautiful sound as HIghland music is so jolly and high spirited, from the very first note to the last you either love them or not but once you let them touch your soul you will always love them

[@Holdfast1812]

Strangely enough, I was born and raised in Canada - and yet every time I hear the pipes, I remember where my ancestors came from and feel an acute connection.

[@lewissmith3896]

Fellow Englishman here. I love the pipes.

[@gazzgazeer]

Welcome To Scotland !!!!

[@kjcunningham297]

Wha's like us..?.

[@Kresnov]

Royal Stuart here, this moves me more than I can say.

[@johncrooks5981]

❤This to me, is the heart and soul of Scotland.Proud to be Scottish.ANNA ALBA MOR CHROID.

[@kanpur8745]

I am in my 70s. I am a mix of every country in western Europe not especially Scotland . I live in Arizona, USA all my life never went any where bagpipes were common. But when I first heard bagpipes I was enthralled and have been ever since. This program says north America has its own pipers. Too late for me to attend in person but God bless pipers wherever they are.

[@margaretkerr7920]

Beautiful and moving!❤️❤️

[@gailshea2294]

Totally enjoyed this documentary. I have always loved the sound of the bagpipes and the Gaelic songs!

[@billferguson776]

THANK YOU 🍀👍🤩👏💥

[@lottiantongiulio]

che meraviglia di film ... veramente emozionato....

[@vincefletcher6408]

English born and proud to live in Scotland gorgeous country and people,I cant listen to the pipes without tearing up.Two of my brother in laws are Scottish and they are the same.

[@landerpipeband4866]

Thank you for posting this. I saw this film decades ago when it was first released and it was truly touching and memorable. I've played pipes since 1986 and I now manage a pipe band in Wyoming in the USA. Our band has 13 youth members. I just "assigned" the viewing of this film to all the band members so they can better understand why we do what we do. Our band's mission statement is to honor veterans and 1st responders. This movie explains that connection. And it touches the soul.

[@gailshea2294]

Thank you. My son plays the bagpipe and was in the Air Force, Afghanistan. I had an album of The Irish Guards. My 2 grandsons are both Firemen and EMTs.

[@thetruthisoutthere2076]

Alan Ladd was the star in the film, think it was known as “The red beret” or “Paratrooper”

[@thomasshepard6030]

There shall be no other country like Scotland sadly it’s in a terrible state at the moment but we shall rise up again

[@leerod]

The pipes make my old heart sing❤

[@gailshea2294]

BEAUTIFUL💕💕

[@simonsparks5738]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[@gilesellis8002]

Proud to say it's in the Blood with an Islay Malt, Slàinte Mhath

[@kennybagpipes]

I'll watch that later

[@janetmackinnon3411]

.Excellent film. I note, however, that the 19th century colonialism is not mentioned--not even the sieige of Lucknow! And no mention of why the Highland regiments were raised just after the '45 . Great film, all the same.

[@pipersplay]

This film ws made to show the piper in peace and war and so due to broadcast constraints on timing it is impossible to include all the great stories. However if you view Bagpipes in War Part 1 you will see some of those stories you mention. Happy viewing from pipersplay.

[@janetmackinnon3411]

@@pipersplay Thank you for the clarification. I'll cetainl ywatch what you mention.

[@TonSteggerda]

❤❤

[@kittonsmitton]

Thanks for posting Nan was a tough Scott, the sound of the pipes are in my blood, strong for the fight and sad for the loss.

[@OlgaGrman]

❤great people and great music. Slovaks play papes too. O. S.

[@jacobsgranddaughter]

❤❤❤

[@everettcoates2463]

The first time I heard bagpipes in person was 50 years ago when I was in college at North Carolina State University. There was a small pipe band there and they played at a music department student concert. When I heard the first notes I felt a powerful urge that I'd never experienced hearing any other music. After I graduated I lost all contact with things Scottish until about ten years later when I discovered that my family surname is a sept of Clan MacFhearchar, or Farquharson to do the name the dishonor of anglicizing it. Pìobrach still has the ability to stir my Scottish genes.

[@lewissmith3896]

Nice story Everett.

[@donnamealy4877]

My black cat adores the Pipes. She comes running in whenever she hears them on tv. 😂

[@donaldmackillop6736]

Moran, mor taing...

[@manuelreen]

the great highland bagpipe is probably the LESS advanced bagpipe in the world. Galician gaita is way more advanced in register, different pitches, cromatism, etc.

[@kenbaxter6014]

I love the sound of the bag pipes, every time I hear them they lift my spirits up.

[@josephmcgrathmusic6362]

For me being Piper for the Town of Burlington MA it's my Honor to play and give my best to the Veterans of my town every year 😔

[@Kevin-rz6lm]

The High "G" on the Highland Pipes (@11:43 in the video) is also known as the "G" spot.

[@louislamonte334]

Outstanding film!!! Very inspirational!!

[@Piper_Vinny]

Unless I missed it, I would have thought that they would have mentioned the Piper of the Loos Daniel Laidlaw VC The King's Own Scottish Borderers and Piper James (Jimmy) Richardson VC of the 16th (Canadian) Scottish Battalion CEF. It is a a great documentary, nonetheless. Finally visiting Scotland in August.

[@pipersplay]

We are glad you enjoyed the film. The two pipers you named are mentioned in the first two films of the series: Instrument of War Part One and Two. You can watch them on pipers ply channel as Bagpipes in Wars Part 1 & 2. Originally the story was a trilogy.

[@Piper_Vinny]

@@pipersplay Thanks for the information. I will check them out.

[@vernawilson2846]

I love bagpipes, may be because of my Scottish roots. I am of the McGee clan.

[@josephmcgrathmusic6362]

WOW so beautiful ❤️

[@josephmcgrathmusic6362]

I will be a Piper till I die

[@davidcpugh8743]

There is a gut response to the pipes, that calls the man of war. To war.

[@jude47nz5]

Stirred my soul. I guess I beat to a different type of music.

[@grahamdobson7428]

A very moving video thanks coprel uk army

[@josephmcgrathmusic6362]

Nothing finer for me

[@josephmcgrathmusic6362]

Nothing better

[@stephenfitzpatrick9189]

Culture is what holds people together .

[@monteschiavo]

😍💓💞

[@Canuckmom128]

My late Father had a business connection to the Pipes (long story) that resulted in sponsoring a Pipe Band. He had a full Kilt and dress jacket, sporran etc. we were 7 kids, and all 3 that married, of the 4 daughters, had the Pipe Band play at our Weddings. We had an excellent Piper play at Dad’s funeral. I LOVE the Pipes, both Highland and Uilleann. We’ve been to Scotland once, but would love to go again. “Oh flower of Scotland - when will we see your like again? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿