It is a lively introductory guide to what pipers do and why, showing how 'tradition', often thought of as a vague and anonymous process, is in fact created by a whole succession of brilliantly gifted individual teachers, players and composers. The author uses many historical sources to explore the rich heritage of piping, an activity strongly rooted in Scotland's past. Pipers also focuses on the individual players themselves with a wide range of interviews and anecdotes to provide a fresh account of this key musical cohort.