Whatever the origins, the Scots turned it into art.

They played at weddings, festivals, feasts and fairs. They also found the music worked at war. The unmistakable notes were said to be audible as far as 10 miles away. Bagpipes were even used to launch the troops on D-Day in World War II.

So it stood to reason, Monday, that Olson would be back for an encore performance. He expertly rendered a medley of songs ranging from "The 51st Highland Division" to "The 42nd Highlanders" to "Minstrel Boy" to the ever-popular "Scotland the Brave."

As he finished each song, there was a smattering of cheers among the runners. Then they were off, racing ahead of the coming heat. The start area fell as still as a forgotten battlefield.

Rather than packing up and leaving immediately, Olson walked a few feet away from the start line and faced east. And began to play.

I left him alone, serenading the sunrise.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com