Uilleann pipes, or something else?

The PC games “Highland Warriors” and “Heroes of Might and Magic IV” both have very celtic soundtracks. That naturally means some tracks include bagpipes! There are two occurances (one from each game) that are particularly interesting. Thing is, I can’t tell exactly what kind of bagpipe it is. All I can say for sure is that the instrument in question is being used in both instances (i.e. are the same).

From “HoMM IV” (in-game soundtrack): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2QeUzaH9yo Starts at about 2 minutes into the video.

From “Highland Warriors” (intro cinematic): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ehfbTM3lXQ Starts at about 33 seconds into the video.

So, is it an uilleann pipe with some kind of narrow-bore chanter (my personal theory), a non-uilleann pipe, a pipe (uilleann or not) who’s sound has been digitaly enhanced, or just a digital, synthesized sound?

Well… whatever it is, I want it! :stuck_out_tongue: That beautiful, haunting sound is just divine… sigh

Sounds like a synthetic shawm to me. Definitely not Uilleann Pipes.

Nah, it sounds like some kind of bagpipe. Especially if you listen to the ornamentations.

Ok.

Reminds me of the Cornemuse du Centre:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnpoc022XiM

Good guess :slight_smile: It appears that the mysterious instrument is a 20 pouce Cornemuse du Centre:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2cb5a-mesY