My own MIDI-controlled bagpipe machine was built about 2 years ago to
fill a gap in the proceedings of a Burns' Night Supper, where no real
bagpiper was available.  It was met with great acclaim and it sounds
almost like the real thing.

In fact the nine chanter notes and the three drone notes are produced
With brass reeds.  Quite a large amount of research went into the pitch
of each note.  The Great Highland bagpipe has a scale like no other -- a
myxolidian scale -- and the reeds had to be scraped and adjusted to make
them sound right.  It plays at 12 inches WG of wind pressure.

All of the music is typical of Great Highland in that each note is 
Preceded by at least one grace note, sometimes up to three.  Most pieces
are accompanied by the drum.

A picture of "Angus Turragh," the mad piper of Auchitsnaebother, is to be
found on the iMOD forum at:

http://organ.10.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=166&start=0

My bagpipes mark2 project will be an actual set of Great Highland pipes, 
blown by a small compressor to obtain the 30 inches WG needed.  Needless 
to say, the neighbours have all moved away!

Bob Essex,
Warwickshire, England