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The Scottish Whistle
Piper's Hut
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Whistle Tutorial - Lesson 8.4
The Burning of the Piper's Hut
The
English general Cumberland received the sobriquet 'Butcher' after
the defeat of the Jacobite forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden in
1746, such was the savagery of his reprisals and cruelty toward prisoners
of the engagement. In the aftermath of the rising a series of laws were
passed which aimed to suppress the Highland culture and break forever the
power of the ancient clans in order to prevent any such rebellion from
again happening. Thus, highland dress and the wearing of clan tartan was
prohibited on pain of death, arms were banned, and, attesting to the
power of traditional music to evoke emotion, pipers were outlawed. In
fact, reports Williamson, the kilt continued to be prohibited until 1782,
forcing the Highlanders to wear trews.
Any clergyman who did not pray in church expressly for George of Hanover
could be transported for life, and those who attended such services were
liable to fine and imprisonment. This was in force till 1792. The Burning
of the Piper's Hut probably refers to these times.
This tune is also available as a [MIDI file]
The Burning of the Piper's Hut
