The Voice of the Wind

The Voice of the WindScholars have long provided bagpipes with a creation myth that stretches back to the ancient Near East, where they supposedly appear in the biblical Book of Daniel. It then has the Greeks playing them and Roman legions carrying them to the ends of the Empire. But Michael Peter Verenos The Voice of the Wind calls this story into question. Using linguistic analysis, Vereno shows that the oldest evidence is often dubious at best and demonstrates that

Scholars have long provided bagpipes with a creation myth that stretches back to the ancient Near East, where they supposedly appear in the biblical Book of Daniel. It then has the Greeks playing them and Roman legions carrying them to the ends of the Empire. But Michael Peter VerenoÕs The Voice of the Wind calls this story into question. Using linguistic analysis, Vereno shows that the oldest ÔevidenceÕ is often dubious at best and demonstrates that supposed ancient stories of bagpipe originsÑ and sometimes even their namesÑwere later scholarly creations to give them a respectable, ancient pedigree. His erudite examination calls into question many conclusions and settled ÔfactsÕ to reveal a more enlightening story of bagpipe origins. It redefines its field and represents a significant contribution to historical organology. Readers with an interest in modern bagpipes, the history of instruments, and the interpretation of ancient and more recent textual sources will all find something to engage them and complicate their beliefs.