Regarding the "backwards playing" of the bagpipes, Jack wrote:
<< It used to be very common. I've come across a comment from a 19th
century pipe major that it was always a good idea to have a few left-
handed pipers on the team so that, for special occasions, you could
set up columns of two with neat mirror-image symmetry. >>
This is absolutely fascinating for this harper. There is a huge debate as to
whether all the ancient harpers played on the left shoulders, so that the
left hand played the treble and the right hand played the bass. This is the
reverse of the standard practice today. I've heard some pretty heated
conversations on this subject among harpers! (I stay out of them, claiming
that my brain cells are set from all the years of playing the piano: Treble
is Right and Bass is Left).
I never thought of taking this subject up with someone outside of the harping
circles. To find out that some of the pipers at one time "switched
hands".....what a thing. Do any of you all have any thoughts about harpers?
(I have seen pictures of the ancient harpers with the harp on their right
shoulder, but have been told that those are all from printing the photograph
of the picture in reverse, and thus a mistake).
I look forward to seeing some opinions on this coming from somewhere outside
of my harper connections! (But you're welcome to jump in, Sue!)
--Cynthia Cathcart
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