Pipers lament the sour note of bags made in China

SCOTLAND’S bagpipe experts are sounding the lament over the loss of a traditional skill which means material for a vital part of the instrument is being mass produced thousands of miles away in China.

They claim the situation is nearing “crisis point” because the sheepskins for the bespoke bag under the piper’s armpit are often not of the right quality. Pipers say there is the danger of the sound of the pipes being affected. If the bags are not airtight and able to absorb moisture from the piper’s breath, it can settle on the instrument’s reeds, affecting the tuning.

Sheepskins were traditionally prepared by fellmongers in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK. But over the last decade rising costs and legislation to reduce pollution have seen fellmongery businesses close down or their machinery shipped to purpose-built joint-venture plants in China and Morocco.

There are approximately 10,000 pipers in Scotland needing to replace the bags annually or every couple of years depending on how often the pipes are played. The bags sell for around £225 and Scottish bagpipe makers also supply a large section of the overseas market including Canada, the US and New Zealand.

James Begg, who has run his bagpipe making business, The Quality Bagpipe Shop, in Glasgow for over 30 years, said supplies of suitable bags were now becoming so short he had a waiting list of around three months.

“I first noticed a problem about five years ago. When we had fellmongers in this country I would have visited, looking at the size of the skin, making sure they were a certain thickness, free of flaws and scars. I may now be forced to go on a trip to China to select the skins.”

Begg, who supplies a range of customers, including the award-winning Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, individuals and customers in New Zealand and Canada, said: “The bag is fundamental. But by exporting the sheepskin industry overseas we have almost sold the crown jewels. I think it would be a good idea for the Scottish Government to set up a forum of bagpipe makers to establish an industry standard.”

Roddy MacLeod, principal of the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, said the sound of the pipes, especially at competition level, depended on having the right bag.

“From the end user’s point of view, we traditionally use sheepskin bags. While lots of synthetic bags are used now the sound is quite different. Nine times out of ten you can tell from the instrument’s tone that it’s a synthetic bag.

“The concern now is how are we going to produce the quality of tone if we can’t get the bags?

“We need to preserve this traditional skill which is part of our heritage as it is not easy to get back once it has gone.”

Retired fellmonger William Wade, 71, said: “A lot of fellmongers started to close around 1990 when, little by little, it was classed as a noxious trade. Just before 2000, China stared to get in on the act and the industry was decimated. Scottish and UK sheep produce a particular and very good quality of leather practically unique in the world because of the type of pasture and husbandry.

“But China had such a vast advantage on price processing with no specialisation, just mass production.”