A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Drone
Appearance
DRONE. A name given to the three lower pipes of the bagpipe, which each emit only a single tone; usually two octaves of the key-note D, and the fifth A. They are distinguished from the Chaunter, which has the power of producing a melodious succession of notes. [See Bagpipe.]
The term has hence been transferred to continuous bass in a composition, usually of a pastoral kind, as in the 'Hirten-melodie' in Schubert's 'Rosamunde,'

the 'Leyermann' in Schubert's 'Winterreise' or the Danse des Juives in the ballet of Gounod's 'Reine de Saba':—

[ W. H. S. ]