Tunes of the Month – March 2017

Great Highland Bagpipe Solo, Tune of the Month

Howdy Ho Y’all!

Well, I’m just about done being sick since Thanksgiving. Being married to a pediatrician, having 2 kids, and teaching at a university of 35,000 students keeps one exposed and infected with every respiratory illness that goes around each year. But I’m coming back.

My original goal for Tunes of the Month was to expose people to great competition type tunes that were seldom played, e.g. Murdo MacGillivray of Eoligarry. However, I got into a really big Irish music kick (could you tell? polka polka polka) over the winter break and so I’ve been throwing that stuff at you instead. And…it continues! Sort of.

Willie’s Fling – Novice Tune of the Month – A great little 2 line strathspey you’re supposed to play like a reel. Don’t let the tempo catch you off guard, it sounds good slow also.

Muineira de Casu – Intermediate Tune of the Month – A great 3 part “jig” from Galicia that’s a hoot to play and will challenge your Scottish based idiomatic playing like no other. I’m playing the first of 2 versions provided in the file; the second version is more common in the folk bands I’ve heard play the tune.

Here’s some audio of me playing these tunes in a set together, though if you keep up with the blog recent posts have included these tunes for a little while.

Willie’s Fling, Teampall an Ghleanntain, and Muineira de Casu – the 2 tunes of the month with some other tune in between.

The pipes were going pretty well so I figured I’d challenge myself as I work to get my chops back from the long string of illnesses.

Jeannie Carruthers, The Cowal Gathering, Inveraray Castle, Susan MacLeod, Captain Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree, and Alick C. McGregor – an MMSSRR in the style of the Former Winners March Strathspey and Reel competition at the Northern Meeting.

The Redundancy, The Clachnacuddin Hornpipe, Rakes of Kildare, and Donella Beaton – a HHJJ because why not? The Hornpipe/Jig competition is often only HJ even at the highest levels, which I declare to be lame.

You might be wondering which pipes I’m playing. Colin Kyo with full Ezeedrone reeds and an old beat up Gilmour chanter reed in an older CK chanter.

Tunes of the Month – February 2017

Tune of the Month

Novice Level: Tom Billy’s Polka, a follow up polka to January’s novice Tune of the Month. This tune is fun, no doubt, with a great melody.

Tom Billy’s – keep your arrangement simple so you don’t get tied up in technique, polkas are meant to be played quickly!

Patrick O’Connor’s & Tom Billy’s Polkas – coupled with January’s novice tune, Patrick O’Connor’s Polka.

 

Intermediate Level: The Uist Reel, which packs a punch for being only 2 parts! The tricky thing about this tune is the back and forth between birls and C# which really gives your pinkie a work out. One source of the tune is Elizabeth Ross’ Manuscript on page 180, tune number 146.

Uist Reel – simple and embellished arrangements inspired by Iain MacInnes from his album Tryst.