WHAT is this glowing bagpipe thing?
You’ll have come straight here from the video, so let’s cut to the chase – the correct answer is: Lindsay System smallpipes.
If you want the full story on what those are, the menu bar above will take you to it – remember to bookmark this page before you go. It’s a solid, fascinating rabbit hole if you’re into gadgets, instruments, acoustics or 3D printing.
If you said Scottish smallpipes, we’ll allow that too – these are a new species of those.
Any combination of Uilleann, Irish, Northumbrian, Estonian (yes, they have their own bagpipe too)… that’s “close, but no cigar”, so my commiserations to you.
And now you’ll be wondering why we’ve brought you here tonight…
Have a listen to the “wee experiment” in the embedded Instagram video here. As colourful as it is, that’s a traditional acoustic instrument with cane reeds – it just happens to have some extra tricks on board – and it sounds like nothing else on earth.
If there’s something about that 55s clip that you’re really into – and if you’re a bit sad it stops just when it’s getting going – then this is for you, and I'd say there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy the music that’s going to be released from here.
It won’t be recorded in a barn; it’s going to be pretty banging, and built for big stages.
Check back here from time to time for news and, for now, grab a mug, a t-shirt or a poster.
It’ll help you remember to come back, and it’ll quietly help us spread the word while we get this moving.
Join the WHAT? crowd Read the low-down on the chanter
(this gets technical!)
Musical instruments made and played by Donald WG Lindsay
Lindstruments is the workshop of Donald WG Lindsay, originator of the Lindsay System for Scottish smallpipes – a re-designed bagpipe chanter that keeps the soul of traditional pipes while opening up new ground for tunes, film music and improvisation.
If the WHAT? artwork pulled you in, you’re exactly the kind of person we had in mind: curious, a bit nerdy about sound and story, and happy to back something unusual right at the source.
There are three easy ways to jump in:
- Wear it – grab a tee or mug and quietly signal “I know what that pipe is”.
- Hear it – explore Donald’s albums and film work, where these instruments show up alongside the big Highland pipes people know from parades and movies.
- Play it – if you’re a piper (or think you might become one), spend a minute with the Lindsay System chanter page and see what this “new bagpipe” can actually do.
Join the WHAT? crowd Read the low-down on the chanter
(for the musos, tech-heads and gadget freaks)