Film Score and More | How John Powell Uses Bagpipes in The HTTYD Soundtracks @FilmScoreandMore | Uploaded May 2020 | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.
Here is a comprehensive score analysis explaining how composer John Powell uses bagpipes in the HTTYD soundtracks and franchise, including both highland pipes and uilleann pipes.

A lot of people have wondered about composer John Powell’s extensive use of bagpipes in the HTTYD soundtracks, especially since the series is about Vikings and dragons and the setting predates the Highland and uilleann pipes used for the score. Since I already had the answers and I’ve started this series of videos I figured I might as well make a video out of it.

Here are my previous HTTYD score analysis videos:

Lost and Found Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=9e718DgOZ4k

Lost and Found Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=8pDlABeOTvE

Sources:

Bagpipes of the World: bagpipes.co.uk/types-of-bagpipes.html

Vikings and Their Music: http://www.viking.no/e/life/music/e-musikk-mogens.html

Viking-Age Music: vikinganswerlady.com/music.shtml

Encyclopedia Britannica, Bagpipes and Hornpipes: britannica.com/art/bagpipe

Scores of Scores Hidden World Review: example83813.wordpress.com/2019/02/22/the-music-for-the-how-to-train-your-dragon-trilogy-the-hidden-world-soundtrack-review

Sideways HTTYD Video: youtube.com/watch?v=4UUJQH7GLms&t

Military History of Bagpipes: bbico.com/history-military-bagpipes

Powell on War Pipes Being British: polygon.com/2019/2/26/18240326/how-to-train-your-dragon-music-score-soundtrack-john-powell

Powell on pipes, TrailerAddict (Starting at 2:00, How do I get this in the video?): traileraddict.com/how-to-train-your-dragons-2/interview-john-powell

HTTYD 1 Music of the Motion Picture Wiki: howtotrainyourdragon.fandom.com/wiki/How_to_Train_Your_Dragon:_Music_from_the_Motion_Picture

HTTYD 2 Music of the Motion Picture Wiki: howtotrainyourdragon.fandom.com/wiki/How_to_Train_Your_Dragon_2:_Music_from_the_Motion_Picture

Uilleann Piping: youtube.com/watch?v=4MxFsk4sYM4&t

Bagpipes in The Downed Dragon: atmafunomena.wordpress.com/2016/11/07/film-musics-many-invaluable-personalities-joe-hisaishi-john-powell/6

How Bagpipes Work (Diagram): howitworksdaily.com/how-do-bagpipes-work

Powell on Percussion (@ 36 minutes): youtube.com/watch?v=ZFTl8t8tw-s

Drumline in Drumline movie: wearemoviegeeks.com/2014/12/composer-john-powell-talks-train-dragon-2-oratorio-wamg

Drumline Clip: youtube.com/watch?v=JaGoM25tGVA

Chicken Run, Flight Training Clip (Bagpipe): youtube.com/watch?v=i_zdyGw0tEo

Time, John Powell Interview: “... bagpipes in every part of the world.”: time.com/2847290/how-to-train-your-dragon-2-soundtrack

Building the Crate, OrquestaFilarmonia: youtube.com/watch?v=yO9bI_7EuGo

Vulture Article, Featuring Musicologist John Powell: vulture.com/2016/03/bagpipes-sad-outlander.html

Tibetan Flute in Bourne Series: hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-how-train-your-dragon-3-composer-said-goodbye-toothless-1189201

Vuvuzelas in Solo: youtube.com/watch?v=AdqIvLeMKvQ

Movie Wave HTTYD 1 Score Review: movie-wave.net/how-to-train-your-dragon

Scenes and Scores Videos:
HTTYD 1 Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuIBW9NJJ_CaD2i6beg9vVIIOZMwxWgZr

HTTYD 2 Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuIBW9NJJ_CYomwtGcTZUxlro4mtFRvnE

HTTYD 3 Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuIBW9NJJ_CYw3UANdMaqrjufE5PVe5lg

Kung Fu Panda, Training Po: youtube.com/watch?v=Zo7yGVaEdl0

I do not own the rights to any of these movies, the music, etc. All belongs to their respective owners including John Powell and Dreamworks. No copyright infringement intended.