Big Mick comments on a growing standardization for the elbow pipes.
The military standardized the playing of the highland pipes in a way that stole the life and soul from the music. It got everyone playing to a standard that greatly discouraged individual innovation , and the Gaelic lilt was lost to an English sense of timing.
Don't let that happen to the Irish music!
By the way, there are great players of the highland pipes such as Barry Shears who are dedicated to playing in the old Gaelic style.