The bagpipe design—attaching a reed to a pipe and placing it into an airtight bag—dates back to ancient Sumeria and Greece and has appeared in many cultures. The bag allows the player to maintain a continuous sound: Whenever the player needs to breathe, they can squeeze the bag, which is essentially an air reservoir.
Bagpipes were included in some civic and court wind bands of the 15th and early 16th centuries but later became more closely associated with dancing and popular festivities. A single bagpiper could function as a one-person ensemble (with the instrument providing both melody and a drone), though players also performed together or with shawms.
