Like all bagpipes, the musette began life as a simple shepherds’ pipe. But royal patronage at Versailles (particularly from Louis XIV who loved to include it in his rustic-themed soirées) gave the musette a status that resulted in a wealth of compositions being written for it. Like its royal admirer, however, it fell out of favour towards the end of the 18th century, and lay forgotten until well into the 20th century. Its closest modern relatives are the Northumbrian pipes and the Uillean pipes. All three are bellows-blown.