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Bagpiping Stories: Ewan Sinclair
We have featured a few fabulous pipers and this month we are delighted to welcome Ewan Sinclair, bagpipe maker, and owner of William Sinclair and Sons who have been producing bagpipes for over 100 years and are one of the last remaining companies in Scotland continuing to do so using traditional methods. Based down near the Docks in Leith, Edinburgh, we were keen to catch up with Ewan, firstly to learn all about making bagpipes, but also because throughout January we are celebrating Clan Sinclair and Ewan has plenty of history to share.
Did you know that bagpipes actually begin in Tanzania or Mozambique as that is where the African Blackwood comes from? In Ewan’s grandfather’s time the trading ships would sail from Leith with goods destined for Africa, and on returning they needed "ballast" which is what the heavy African Blackwood was used for. Once it arrived in this country it was discovered that this wood has fantastic musical properties. From the first roughing in the lathe downstairs in the basement of William Sinclair and Sons, the finishing is then done in the main part of the workshop upstairs. The first bore (hole) is put through the wood at this stage and the machine Ewan uses for this is an original made by his Grandfather.
As you can see in this fantastic video created by Vinephoto, the simple piece of wood is turned into a stalk. When the instrument is finished the Chanter and the Drones are attached to the pipebag. Where the bag used to be made from the skin of an animal such as a sheep, these days artificial fabrics such as Goretex are used. The natural skins are still used for the major competition levels, but they need to be played every day to keep the skins supple. Inside the Chanter, and the Drone Stocks that connect to the pipebag, are the reeds - four in total. The pipes are then typically finished with imitation ivory mountings, a different wood, and sterling silver, and can be very ornamental. The design on the silver can vary according to the customer's wishes. Although pipes were traditionally made using ivory (and Ewan still has a piece in the workshop although it is no longer used), the company now uses a synthetic resin, similar to that used for piano keys. A buff polish guarantees the best possible finish on the wood.
We loved watching the video sharing the story of bagpipe making and William Sinclair & Sons, and we had lots of questions for Ewan afterwards!
We see your colleague Tim Gellaitry, trained by your Dad, playing the pipes but not you. So are you a piper yourself or do you prefer to make them?
I have my own set of pipes that was made by my Dad and I can play of couple of tunes although I am more competent on the piano or organ, occasionally being called upon to play at the local crematoriums.
Do you need to be able to play the pipes to make them to a high standard?
An ear for music helps, but you don't necessarily need to play them to make them. My Dad, Allistair, could blow them and tune them, but he would say he couldn't play them. Grandad (Willie Jnr), could play as could his father William Sinclair Senior, and his father before him Alexander (Sandy) Sinclair. William Sinclair Senior was a Pipe Major with The Royal Scots seeing action in the First World War. To trade William was a Stonemason working on buildings such as the red sandstone tenement that housed "The Black Swan" pub (now Roseleaf), parts of the Forth Rail Bridge and the famous Jenner's building on Princes Street in Edinburgh. It was during a twelve week stonemason strike in the 1920's that Great Grandad started making and selling bagpipe reeds. Both the drone and pipe reeds at that time were made from Spanish cane, they still are, but synthetic drone reeds are becoming more popular. In the 1930's his son "Willie" joined his Dad making bagpipes after firstly serving his time as an apprentice joiner in Leith, then as an apprentice bagpipe maker with Robertson's, and Edinburgh bagpipe maker no longer in existence. Allistair joined his Dad when he left school in the 1960's.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
One thing that continues to amaze is the thought of making something created by God and having the privilege of being part of a process taking a rough piece of timber and shaping it on the lathe to a finely hewn instrument.
Do any celebrities play the Sinclair pipes?
One of our piping contacts is a renowned Holywood piper whose music can be heard on the soundtracks of Braveheart and Titanic.
Do you have a particular favourite pipers or piping music?
It's difficult to pick out certain pipers and pipe bands. A few years ago Dad commented while visiting the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, that approximately three quarters of the champions who have won the annual world championships over the years have won while playing "Sinclair" pipe chanters. A few pipe recordings of note that I can recall are the "Battlefield Folk Band", the New Zealand Manawatu Pipe Band and "Seudan" Band, Scotland's leading exponents of traditional pipe music and Gaelic song.
Do you support or play in a local pipe band?
We have in the past worked closely with the former pipe major of the City of Edinburgh Pipe Band.
This month we are celebrating the Sinclair Clan. Do you enjoy your history and heritage?
I have visited the Clan seat at Caithness and visited a few of the Castle remains. Prior to settling in Caithness the Sinclair clan were connected with Roslin, and the Rosslyn Chapel and the Knights Templar. Further back they hailed from France, at some point between France and now the "Saint Clairs" of France became the "Sin Clairs" of Scotland.
Of course we have to ask if you own a Sinclair kilt or are you more of a trews man?
As a family we all have our own Sinclair kilts.
Do you celebrate Scottish traditions such as Burns Night later this month?
I will probably be having the proverbial haggis, neeps and tatties towards the end of the month!
We finish with a big thank you to Ewan for sharing his story and an interesting family tidbit from Ewan: My three time great grandfather was married in Caithness by the Reverend Jolly:
