We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Sports

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Hornpipe?

By Sheri Cyprus
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 8,434
Share

The hornpipe can refer to the dance music or the instrument used to play it. The musical instrument called the hornpipe dates back to at least the 1500s and has a cylindrical middle section with holes for finger placement. The hornpipe is a single reed instrument like the clarinet or saxophone, but has more of a droning sound similar to a bag pipe. The end opposite the mouthpiece has a cone-shaped bell that is traditionally made from animal horn — hence the name hornpipe.

The hornpipe dance is historically linked to British sailors who performed the active, high-spirited dance as a way of staying fit and upbeat on the ship. Shuffling, backward hops and round steps are just a few of the dance moves that are a part of the hornpipe. The hornpipe is very close to the Irish jig, with the only major difference being that it tends to include more flat-footed types of stomping, or clogging.

The Scottish made the Sailor's Hornpipe into a caricature type of highland dance. The dance may be performed by males or females and a nautical costume is worn. Movements such as rope pulling with the hands, climbing rigs with the legs and holding the hand above the eyes as if to look out at the sea are incorporated into the Sailor's Hornpipe. This hornpipe caricature dance is usually included in the Highland Games. The Highland Games are festivals of highland dancing, piping and drumming and may include sports as well.

The Sailor's Hornpipe song is also known as the College Hornpipe. The hornpipe is danced as a single or in doubles. The double version has more difficult footwork. American versions of British, Irish and Scottish hornpipe dancing tend to be more like a reel. A reel, hornpipe and jig often appear similar to the inexperienced eye, but the timing and beat can differ widely between these three types of folk dancing.

Share
Sports n' Hobbies is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon39919 — On Aug 05, 2009

I think you will find that the Hornpipe was not historically associated with sailors. It did not become linked to them until the 19th century, before that it was associated with shepherds and peasants.

Share
https://www.sportsnhobbies.org/what-is-the-hornpipe.htm
Copy this link
Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.