Book excerpt: Music of the Great Highland Bagpipe By: Michael E. Akard The music of the Scottish Highland bagpipe has gone through many changes over the years. Classical bagpipe music, which is known as “piobaireachd,” has been played for centuries, but the sound of this music as performed today is very different from how it sounded in the past. In Music of the Great Highland Bagpipe, Michael E. Akard traces the history of piobaireachd from its earliest performances up to the present day. Composed of carefully researched material and presented in an easy to read style, any reader can learn about the major historical, political, social, and technological changes that have influenced, and continue to influence, pipers and pipe music.