Not a whole lot to this post. As with the previous post, I’m featuring videos recorded in Houston that I’ve posted to YouTube. I think sometimes I over use tunes a bit on this blog so I’m trying to reach around for some stuff I haven’t played in a while, which necessitates that I make mistakes. As usual, Gellaitry pipes, Colin Kyo pipe chanter, Kinnaird drone reeds, and a Gilmour chanter reed. Maybe you’ll find a tune you like?

74th’s Farewell to Edinburgh, The Rock, Scotsaire Hornpipe, Old Chanter

Balmoral Castle, Couple Strathspeys, Iron Man, Lady Doll Sinclair (the last one is a finger twister!)

Rocking the Baby, The Panda, Rob’s Shower Shabang

Sleep Dearie Sleep, Empty Quiver, Hilton McLaurin’s Jig, Latisha McLaurin (last three are my compositions and can be found here)

I’m half way through our month long residency in Houston. I’ve made it to all 3 Houston pipe band practices, namely the Houston Highlanders, Bayou City Pipes and Drums, and the Montgomery County Pipe Band. I hope to hit each band’s rehearsal at least one more time before heading out of here. All are really nice guys so if you’re ever in town go check them out.

We spend the weekends at the in-laws place in Humble. You’ll recognize the background as the same room I recorded my Online Bagpipe Competition submissions in. What follows are some videos I posted to YouTube recorded with my iPhone. I’m playing my Gellaitry pipes with Kinnaird drone reeds and my blackwood Colin Kyo chanter with a Gilmour reed. The first video starts with a set of John McCusker’s tunes, Leaving Friday Harbor followed by Wee Michael’s March. I hear they are to be published soon, thankfully, as I’m unsure of the setting I have for Leaving Friday Harbor. I’m sight reading, hence why I’m looking down at the bed. I notice how lovely the high G is sounding and I blabber on a bit about that and then play some traditional Irish reels that emphasize the high G note.

Lastly, I felt like revisiting the old MSR played by Lyon College back in 2001 when we won the Scottish Championships, then held in Dumbarton. The tunes are Highland Wedding, Ewe with the Crooked Horn, and Captain Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree. Not the greatest playing by my usual standard, but oh well. I also played about 25 minutes worth of 4 parted jigs but I don’t think I made it through one of them without making some big mistake, so I’ll spare you the agony of listening to that, though YouTube does allow videos longer than 15 minutes now. That’s it!