Gentlemen,
The term gentlemen piper comes from the period between 1750 and the early 1800’s when only wealthy gentlemen could afford pipes. Union pipes have always been very labor intensive and expensive. It was not until the collapse of the vast estates during the famine period and possessions and furnishings ( including pipes) wound up in furniture stores and pawn shops that the “folk” were able to get their hands on a set of pipes; as witnessed by James Ennis finding a set in a London pawn shop.
On an interesting note, the same process could be applied to guitars. During the same period guitars were originally an expensive “ladies” drawing room instrument that eventually wound up in pawn shops winding up in the hands of early black and white musicians.
On a final note it was the advent of the Chickering piano with its cheap cast iron frame, making them very affordable, that led to the piano replacing all instruments of the upper and middle classes.
All the best,
Pat Sky
