Black Grouse Lek (Lyrurus tetrix): in searching for the most beautiful Piobaireachds to my ear (The Desperate Battle of the Birds tops my list to this day), this is one exploration: :) * Good playing Explore the similarities and differences between College of Piping's Angus MacLellan's nonmensural playing of the Grounds of all 4 Piobaireachd in the CoP Vol 4 Yellow Tutor with ... * This email thread begins with an email from George Preston former headmaster at Fettes' College in Kimmerghame house in Scotland (am reposting below:) ... And is connecting for me in very positive ways ... All potentially (but perhaps this is a projection or transference) ... And as the prospect of aging reversal drug therapies emerge (thanks to Crick and Watson's discovery of DNA in 1953 at Cambridge ...)

 Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Ian, Thanks!

Are you available please for a lesson tomorrow, 2/10/21 around 3:45 pm (in what are turning out to be every other weeks' lessons)?

I've been noting over a number of viewings the video time markers for the lesson recording from 2/10/21, which I'll shared with you from that email thread. 

And in searching for the most beautiful Piobaireachds to my ear (The Desperate Battle of the Birds tops my list to this day), this is one exploration: :)

Am in exploring mode for most beautiful Piobaireachds (to my ear:) ... Which Piobaireachds do you like most among the following? Which are some of the very most melodic or lyrical Piobaireachd you know? What are some of the most beautiful PIobaireachds ever for you (akin to The Desperate Battle of the Birds to your ear)?  (Of the CoP's Vol 4 Yellow Tutor's 4 pieces, 'Glengarry's Lament,' 'MacKintoshes' Banner,' 'Lament for Alasdair Dearg MacDonnell of Glengarry,' and 'The Company's Lament,' - and then also 'The Blind Piper's Obstinacy,' and 'The Desperate Battle of the Birds,' - I like The Desperate Battle the most, - it's my current favorite - as I think about this and feel this out too). 

1. "The Big Spree" It's anything but a spree, it's a wonderful sad,
evocative, haunting piece of music, definitely one to "feel" those emotions
in or sob your heart out to. Best recording I've heard is Donald MacPherson,
though Jack Lee also makes a splendid job of it in a Piping Centre recital
recording.

https://vimeo.com/143726073 (what 'derangement' does the MC talk of ... an artistic craziness, or altered consciousness, too even re Second Sightedness - https://www.scotsman.com/news/scots-belief-second-sight-gift-premonition-1482608 - re seeing ahead even into the Piobaireachd piece one's playing :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vspENtfhLMw 

2. "MacDougall's Gathering," An insistent call to the clan that cannot be
resisted, very musical with some very clever phrasing, a tune that sings and
soars away. Bill Livingstone's playing and interpretation of this tune is
second to none.

Pipe Major William Livingstone, MacDougall's Gathering
https://youtu.be/BJpTDBPgtDI 

3. "Macdonald of Kinlochmoidart's Lament no.1" A tune not heard very often
nowadays with a lovely melody line in the urlar which carries strongly
through the whole tune. I only have one very old recording of this by
William M. Macdonald.

James Robertson - MacDonald of Kinlochmoidarts Lament (No. 1) Ground (The Blue Chair Sessions #5)
https://youtu.be/B3AlGOJyMdc


4. "Lament for Queen Anne" This is a regal, stately and grand tune, it just
moves along so full of grace it does seem to have a Royal feel to it, again
a lovely melody that grows on you the more you listen to it and absorb it's
beautiful music. Only recording I have is by Fred Morrison, where he has the
misfortune to break down in the crunluath variations.

Queen Anne's Lament
https://youtu.be/wuKb73r8kGs


5. "Battle of Auldearn no.1" A great tune with a feel not so much of
lamenting for the dead of the battle but as an inspiring incitement to great
deeds and a promise of a glorious death. I love this tune and have a
wonderful recording of Captain Gavin Stoddart playing this faultlessly to
win at a Glenfiddich championship.

Pipe Major Gavin Stoddart MBE BEM, The Battle of Auldearn, Number 1
https://youtu.be/LSqmy-uR5XI


6. "Lament for Donald Doughal MacKay" this is probably the MOST popular
tune amongst top Piobaireachd players, a big tune in every sense of the
word, and one that just sings along on a well tuned pipe, full of expression
and life.
I have a good recording of Roddy MacLeod playing this on his peerless pipes,
but it has been done by others who also make a really good job of it.


Lament for Donald Dougal Mackay
https://youtu.be/Z8bAvpix5x4

7. "Rory MacLoude's Lament" Another tune that sings along with great melody
tinged with sadness, like MacDougall's Gathering it is cleverly written to
bring out the best of the melody, it's a tune that took a short while to
grow on me. I have good recordings of both Murray Henderson and Hugh
MacAllum playing this tune, both players do it splendid justice.

Metro Cup 2015: Chris Armstrong - Piobaireachd "Rory MacLoude's Lament"
https://youtu.be/aHQBdXn7Tok


8. "Lady Annapool's Lament" A truly magical tune especially when you get
into the variations, as a pentatonic tune the melody line is quite exquisite
from such a meagre range. I have a very old recording of John Stewart
playing this with complete mastery, he really rattles along in the taorluath
and crunluath variations losing none of the clarity of the movements but
driving the melody notes insistently forward, beautifully played.

Lady Annapool’s Lament
CPA C Grade Piobaireachd Bob Low
https://www.golectures.com/index.php?go=search&yti=5vCjRBmPK48


9. "The Desperate Battle" Another tune similar to the last one in that I
think the variations surpass the urlar in beauty and inventiveness, a tune
to soar away with "the birds" the high A's are pure magic. Great recording
of this tune by John D. Burgess.

The Desperate Battle Of The Birds
https://youtu.be/r1w9J2atyHw


10 "The Old Woman's Lullaby" I have loved this tune ever since I heard The
Invergordon Distillery "Pipes In Concert" LP record in 1966, the whole band
plays it with seconds. It's a great tune and I love it, I have trouble
memorising it for some strange reason but the melody develops along very
nicely but also very subtly. Good recordings abound of all the greats
playing this tune. Donald Macleod, Donald MacPherson, John D. Burgess,
Captain John MacLellan et al.

Just came across this "The Old Woman's Lullaby" which John Broadwell (https://groups.google.com/g/rec.music.makers.bagpipe/c/tHZPS2mbZMg?pli=1 - above are his choices of favorite Piobaireachd) had written was one of his favorite 10 Piobaireachds ever - and this is played as an ENSEMBLE by some of the greatest pipers in the world, with Roddy MacLeod I think offering some non-mensural beats with his foot (a bit like a Pipe Major - but not re the interesting mensural "The Desperate Battle" pipe band version you shared) ... 

2019-01-19: MHAF WinterStorm: Piobaireachd - The Old Woman's Lullaby
https://youtu.be/bnKTsSaRwpY 

Out of the box, and between-instruments' wise, am also inspired in an ongoing and creative way by English woman Catherine Ashcroft playing the Uilleann Pipes here - 

Catherine Ashcroft & Maurice Dickson (Mochara) - Táimse im' Chodladh/King of the Pipers
https://youtu.be/P40YOU8ggJk (which slow piece is played non-mensurally as well:)

- and re Piobaireachd envisioning even :) (Why are these greatest Scottish Piobaireachd players playing in unison, I ask myself, of a solo form -  is it the connectedness of musical culture this generates :)? A kinda rad question, but am exploring ... :) Having listened to all of the above, "The Desperate Battle of the Birds" continues to be my favorite, although if I had to choose, maybe it's Gavin Stoddart playing "Battle of Auldearn no.1" as well as the piece itself, that's my favorite of these 10.  Favorite Piobaireachd for you? (I ask all these questions in exploring mind-mode, again, and as someone who isn't familiar with the vast majority of Piobaireachd from the Scottish mists of time :)

Thank you, Ian!

Scott 

http://scottmacleod.com/piping.htm

https://scottmacleodhoneyinthebagscottishsmallpipesbagpiping.bandcamp.com/ 

PS

Further Piobaireachd I'm exploring ... 

5:19
Farewell to the Laird of Islay Bagpipes(Piobaireachd)
YouTube · Epic Bagpipe Sound
Aug 19, 2012
https://youtu.be/NPNW9bNZZsQ
(Andrew Carlisle again)


7:46
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Lament For Kinlochmoidart ...
YouTube · glenzboyz
May 2, 2011
https://youtu.be/vzIX7ZS3TEo


11:34
Piobaireachd - Lament For the Earl of Dunmore
YouTube · mocmus
Nov 23, 2010
https://youtu.be/6NAkZPNtYJc


8:20
2016 Willie McCallum Lament for Donald of Laggan ...
YouTube · YouennPiper
https://youtu.be/yRWa6RCEaPo

* 

Hi Taylor, 

Good playing 

Explore the similarities and differences between College of Piping's Angus MacLellan's nonmensural playing of the Grounds of all 4 Piobaireachd in the CoP Vol 4 Yellow Tutor with

John Burgess
The Desperate Battle of the Birds
https://youtu.be/Mmxp3btwXzs

(and I've understood that this piece is called only "The Desperate Battle" - so am glad to see it called here "The Desperate Battle of the Birds" re the ambiguity of musicological traditions, and re ethnomusicology).

Kenny MacLean
The Desperate Battle- Piobaireachd
https://youtu.be/sVJG2pUw3gY
(have blogged about this one before - and he won the Gold at Oban in around 1972 :)

Donald MacLeod

The Desperate Battle Of The Birds
https://youtu.be/r1w9J2atyHw

Let's head back to the Piobaireachd fingerings in Lament for Alastair Dearg's of MacDonnell - and this piece too - at some point for further exploration. :) 

Scott

PS

Here's Wilson McLeod's Twitter ... what historical moment and person does this sculpture of the orthodox priest remember I wonder ? ... 

https://twitter.com/WilsonMcLeod

PPS

There  may be potential with this Google Pixel 5 + recorder App for cross-country piping even - and eventually real real time music making ... - https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/9516618?p=recorder&visit_id=637511143797887701-2136921478&rd=1 

This feature drop is cool ... 

https://blog.google/products/pixel/march-2021-feature-drop ...

A more shareable Recorder

Whether it’s that guitar riff you've been working on or reviewing transcripts from a class lecture, Recorder makes it easy for Pixel owners to easily record, transcribe (English only) and search the audio moments that matter to you. Now you can share links to your Recorder audio files, so anyone can listen, even if they don’t have a Pixel. At recorder.google.com, you can hear recordings, see transcripts and even search through files — you get the entire Recorder playback experience in one shareable link. 

You can also back up recordings to your Google Account to help keep them safe, and easily access them from any device. See more at g.co/pixel/recorder. 

-- 

- Scott MacLeod

- http://scottmacleod.com 

* * 

Scott MacLeod <sgkmacleod@gmail.com>	10:43 AM (11 hours ago)
to Janie

Good morning, Ma, 

This email thread begins with an email from George Preston former headmaster at Fettes' College in Kimmerghame house in Scotland (am reposting below:) ... And is connecting for me in very positive ways. Am curious whether I could meet somehow a life partner through Fettes' connections (of Scottish heritage too?) ... A 26 yo graduate student in medicine even in the SF Bay Area for ex? THE sense of connection is one thing I find fascinating and salutary. George seems to come out of a deeply settled Scottish place, or mind, culturally, (and something like meditatively even, identity-wise?) ... Having seen a lot of reality in Edinburgh as Auld Reekie.

... All potentially (but perhaps this is a projection or transference) ... And as the prospect of aging reversal drug therapies emerge (thanks to Crick and Watson's discovery of DNA in 1953 at Cambridge ...)

"On the morning of February 28, they determined that the structure of DNA was a double-helix polymer, or a spiral of two DNA strands, each containing a long chain of monomer nucleotides, wound around each other. According to their findings, DNA replicated itself by separating into individual strands, each of which became the template for a new double helix. In his best-selling book, The Double Helix (1968), Watson later claimed that Crick announced the discovery by walking into the nearby Eagle Pub and blurting out that “we had found the secret of life.”" https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/watson-and-crick-discover-chemical-structure-of-dna

...where we read "The Double Helix" at Shady Side Academy in high school too :) ... but not at Fettes' College high school for me :) ). And there's further much potential for modeling DNA like Crick and Watson in a realistic virtual earth for genetics - https://twitter.com/TheOpenBand/status/1235357771744169985?s=19 (see #hashtag here and here https://twitter.com/scottmacleod/status/1371152819705704450?s=19 ).

New Tweet just now - 

Into 1 #RealisticVirtualEarthForGenetics #RealisticVirtualEarthForHistory?

On 2/28/53, #CrickandWatson "determined that structure of #DNA was a double-helix polymer, or a spiral of two DNA strands," & published "The Double Helix" (1968) https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/watson-and-crick-discover-chemical-structure-of-dna #WUaSAgingReversal?

https://twitter.com/scottmacleod/status/1371152819705704450?s=19

I think George Preston may have attended Cambridge studying physics as undergraduate. 

...

What are you up to this week? :)

Was good to bagpipe last night again, and per George here. (I recorded The Desperate Battle of the Birds' Piobaireachd the night before, one of my first times doing so :)

Love, Scott

From George Preston - 

Message from old Auld Reekie

Scott

I received a message "Do not reply" from cyber space last night thanking me for arranging the virtual 150 celebrations. These thanks I have filed away for posterity, but I let you know that I can't Zoom, never twitter and shudder at the thought of showing my Face in any book.

Great to know that you pipe on the cliffs of Santa Barbara every morning.

Although I introduced computing in the year after you left (with an 8 Kb Commodore PET in my study in Ki) and continued until 3 years ago for the OFs, I am radidly losing the ability to keep up with the present complexities. I keep asking the Development Department if they cannot make a one click entry to their wonderful, informative ever changing web site! I can only go in circle around their maze!

At any rate bagpipes are not yet computerised! Those were the days - good to know you thrive.

Good wishes. GDCP

* *

The Desperate Battle of the Birds - Donald MacLeod

at the beginning Donald MacLeod says: "This tune we are told depicts the annual lek or gathering of black game at which the proper pecking order is established. ..."

https://youtu.be/r1w9J2atyHw

Is the Black Grouse below the bird or game that Donald MacLeod is speaking of, since they gather in leks in Scotland? They interestingly don't seem to fly very high, regarding Piobaireachds soaring or flying qualities to my ear.

 

*

The Desperate Battle of the Birds - John Burgess

https://youtu.be/Mmxp3btwXzs

*

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_grouse

...