Welsh bagpipes

History
Bagpipes (pibau) have been documented, represented or described in Wales since the fourteenth century. Peniarth 20 (Brut y Tywysogion) c 1330, states that there are three types of wind instrument: "Organ, a Phibeu a Cherd y got", " Organ, and Pipes and Bag music". A piper in Welsh is called a pibydd or a pibgodwr.

Modern pipes
Contemporary pipe makers in Wales base their instruments on historical examples of Welsh hornpipes called in Welsh, the pibgorn pl. "pibgyrn". Another name for the instrument in Welsh is the "cornicyll". A drone is sometimes added to the pibgorn, via the bag, which form of the instrument is sometimes called the pibau cyrn. A notable player of these pipes is Ceri Rhys Matthews who has done much to ignite the interest of many in this instument. Makers include John Glennydd from Carmarthenshire and John Tose from Pembrokeshire.

Some pipe makers have based the chanters of their idiosyncratic double-reeded pipes on measurements of the Breton veuze, the Bombarde or the Galician gaita. These may be furnished with one, two, or three drones. No standardisation is employed in the making of contemporary bagpipes in Wales.

A recent development of piping in Wales has been the use of imported Breton veuze and Galician gaita on which Welsh repertoire is played. These standardised foreign instruments have enabled a nascent marching pipe-band to be formed. Oh dear god...

Players
Welsh bagpipers include Jason Lawday, John Tose, Geraint Roberts, Iestyn ap Rhobert, Idris Jones, Patrick Rimes, Antwn Owen Hicks, Gafin Morgan, Rhodri Smith, Gerard KilBride, Jonathan Shorland, Ceri Rhys Matthews, Ceri Webber, Anne Marie Summers, Peni Ediker, Eva Ryan, Peter Stacey, Mick Tems, Peter Davies and Simon Owen (deceased).

Welsh pipe groups and bands include Pibau Pencader, Pibe Bach, Pibau Preseli, and Bagad Pibau Morgannwg.

Welsh folk groups who have used or still use bagpipes include Pencerdd, Aberjaber, Saith Rhyfeddod, Fernhill, Taran, Mordekkers, Carreg Lafar, and Calennig.