Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Hibiscus syriacus: Stuart Liddell piping lesson ~ August 18, 2021 ~ and learning, and re Piobaireachd :) * Exploring further crunluath fosgailte and crunluath braebach fingering movements (from lesson 36 from the Yellow Tutor for Piobaireachd by the College of Piping, Vol. 4)


Stuart Liddell piping lesson ~ August 18, 2021 ~ and learning, and re Piobaireachd :)


Dear Stuart, 

Thanks so much for this next helpful and great piping lesson with you! Here's the recording - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PrSXd9ooB4VMjPGB4X3rBZ4E8Vul13Au/view. I'm a question asker, and American-minded somehow (apologies?) ... (and realize this may depart from Scottish modes of learning too, and hope this is ok - thank you, Stuart! ... but am also seeking to be an 'active learner'). I also think I could view your piping and Tweet, for example, with drones to the world, here -


 - as coming into conversation with MIT OCW-centric World Univ & Sch (somehow)  ... and its piping wiki schools too :) ... and per the 'conversation idea' of WUaS Monthly Business Meeting Agenda and News, and Minutes, emailings ... (which MBM is conducted loosely in the manner of Quakers/Friends - and seeking somehow to be quite democratic, or equitable-minded, too). (Thank you for this Tweet from a fan named Scott :). And brainstorming-wise, how might, with you as faculty, World Univ & Sch begin to grow and develop our Piping wiki schools (below), IT-wise (say with a Google informed music-school approach possibly), too, is another question, I'm wondering about?


Unfortunately, I couldn't hear you very well when I was trying to play the breabach crunluath movement with you, - and the delay made my playing with you more untenable. Can we find a solution to this potentially, I wonder (and even regarding somehow riffing with Piobaireachd with - way out of the box - the 1973 Allman Bros' transposed with machine learning into Piping keys, and different Piobaireachd tunes' friendly:) )? 

Am very grateful for your instruction, Stuart. Can we possibly please pencil in next Wednesday even for another lesson? 

(Wishing you a great performance in Aberdeenshire on Friday:!) Thank you for your extraordinary teaching, and thanks for these great and helpful lessons.

Best regards, 
Scott
New 8/18/21 blog post, re writing and partly for idea-sharing :) and partly for my learning in the process of creating :)


PS
Perhaps your children will or might or could attend World Univ & Sch for high school online too (re free-to-students and highest quality) ... and somehow in combination with Fettes College for a music school and an online free-to-students' CC-4 MIT OCW-centric undergraduate education for graduates of Fettes too :) Am innovating with World Univ & Sch in an ongoing way (which for some, could be kind of disruptive, yet creatively ... am a bit Gordon Duncan-minded here :))


PPS 
Here are our 3 lessons ... (soon to add this most recent one here:)

Liddell, Stuart (with Scott MacLeod). 2021. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PrSXd9ooB4VMjPGB4X3rBZ4E8Vul13Au/view Scottish Small Pipes' bagpiping lesson with PM Stuart Liddell in Scotland, W August 18, 2021].  (see too:https://scott-macleod.blogspot.com/2021/08/hibiscus-syriacus-stuart-liddell.html) SF Bay Area, CA: scott-macleod.blogspot.com/2021/08/hibiscus-syriacus-stuart-liddell.html.



PPPS


-- 
- Scott GK MacLeod  
Founder, President, CEO & Professor
World Univ & Sch (WUaS) - PO Box 442, Canyon, CA 94516 
1) non-profit World University and School - http://worlduniversityandschool.org  
2) for profit general stock company WUaS Corporation in CA - http://worlduniversityandschool.org/AcademicPress.html

(m) 412 478 0116 - sgkmacleod@gmail.com 

World Univ & Sch Innovation Research -  scottmacleod.com 

- CC World University and School - like CC Wikipedia with best STEM-centric CC OpenCourseWare - incorporated as a nonprofit university and school in California, and is a U.S. 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt educational organization. 



* * 

Sunday, August 15, 2021


Dear Stuart, 

How are you? Greetings from the SF Bay Area after a 7 week journey from the USA west coast to SE Massachusetts back to the SF Bay Area, California. 

Looking forward to a lesson with you after today Sun., Aug 15 2021 I think, when Piping Live is over; my internet connection is reliable and fairly fast again. How might Th 8/19/21 at 5pm Scotland time, or similar, work for you?

I'm writing now partly to ask about a suggestion for 'Braebach' Piobaireachd pieces to teach to a student I give online SSP lessons to, and regarding even applying The College of Piping's Yellow Book Tutor's teaching to for example, the Piobaireachd Society's books (see below.). Could you possibly please suggest a most beautiful lyrical melodious Braebach Piobaireachd  which would be good for instruction too regarding an introduction to this (melody listening and feeling-wise esp - and am learning much from your listening and feeling, and not-thinking, wisdom in my recorded lessons with you in these regards),. It seems like these CoP Tutors were written to sort out the ambiguities of the oral tradition of Great Highland bagpiping and Piobaireachd even.  What do you think in these regards?

And could we also explore crunluath fosgailte and crunluath braebach (lesson 36) further in my lesson with you - as well as questions about em bari and che dari (in lesson 35)? (And maybe also further riffing with Bo Diddly the Allman Bros 1973 Cow Palace concert - https://youtu.be/DNAmXz8kc6I - following on, for ex., Gordon Duncan riffing with AC/DC, and your extraordinary playing of this) ... and on the A chanter ... and possibly riffing with other tunes with the SSP B flat and D chanters? 

Thank you, and musical regards, 
Scott




Taylor, 

'The Cameronian Rant' is a somewhat complex tune to memorize step by step (possibly compared with The Little Spree, also known as The Little Drunkard, I just learned) - as outputting lyrical computer code even that people enjoy listening to - and interesting then regarding listening and feeling re Stuart Liddell's extraordinary Ceol Beag piping (to my ear).
Seems like in memorizing The Little Spree, there's room to grow expressively, and beauty-wise, in moving on from this version, interestingly (re listening and feeling) - 
The Little Spree - Claus Reiss
https://youtu.be/-5jkEPWSJjg

AND with a comment about fosgailte tunes -

"Bravo Claus!  I really enjoyed your performance.  I am particularly fond of fosgailte tunes. You do this one justice."

(Am in learning mode here about 'fosgailte tunes'), and the Web is helping. :)

And again - 
The Little Spree PM Donald MacLeod (tutorial) - https://youtu.be/Dp9xZ3CfLzA


Seems like there are some Scots Gaelic language of Piobaireachd recordings at the top here, newly, for learning and possibly memorization too ... :) 
Many resources here including access to MacLeod AND Burgess recordings -https://www.altpibroch.com/ps230/

(but both of these Donald MacLeod and John D Burgess recordings, and others too here, seem like they're not working anymore, and don't even appear available in Archive.org! ... maybe there findable in other ways, eg by my asking Stuart)

Will reach out to Stuart about connecting further the CoP Piobaireachd Yellow Tutor Vol 4 with a specific Crunluath Braebach Piobaireachds, and ask him further regarding connecting the CoP Piobaireachd Yellow Tutor on the Crunluath Fosgailte movement and connecting it to The Little Spree ... as well as memorizing newly the Cantaireachd movements in Lesson 35 the Yellow Tutor ... and listening and feeling ... and how these CoP Tutors seem like they were written to sort out the ambiguities of the oral tradition of Great Highland bagpiping and Piobaireachd even (post the Piobaireachd Society Books being begun in the 1920s and 1930s for example).

Thanks, and musical cheers, 
Scott







--

-- 
- Scott GK MacLeod  
Founder, President, CEO & Professor
World Univ & Sch (WUaS) - PO Box 442, Canyon, CA 94516 
1) non-profit World University and School - http://worlduniversityandschool.org  
2) for profit general stock company WUaS Corporation in CA - http://worlduniversityandschool.org/AcademicPress.html

(m) 412 478 0116 - sgkmacleod@gmail.com 

World Univ & Sch Innovation Research -  scottmacleod.com 

- CC World University and School - like CC Wikipedia with best STEM-centric CC OpenCourseWare - incorporated as a nonprofit university and school in California, and is a U.S. 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt educational organization.  



The Little Spree (Piobaireachd)

W, August 18, 2021


Scott

Sorry about the lack of journal updates these last few days. I've continued to work on memorizing the canntaireachd and tunes for the variants and taourluachs. It's actually a great way to actually memorize canntaireachd in itself, and is perhaps a bit less tedious than just trying to memorize the scales by themselves. I may be able to play the tune without music in front of me tomorrow, but I'm not so sure about singing canntaireachd with no sheet music.


Tonight I'll focus on memorizing canntaireachd first and foremost, then spend time working on the triplets in the taourluaths. 

PS, I found my practice chanter! Maybe we can fiddle with it a bit tomorrow. 

Other piobaireachds that might be fun to explore that I've been listening to are the Lament for the Iolaire and Flame of Wrath for Patrick Caogach.

See you tomorrow!
Taylor



Great, Taylor, 


Do you have the Kilberry book? 

Am wondering too about heading in the direction, Piobaireachd-wise, of learning a crunluath braebach tune - somehow for comparison even, per Lesson 36 in the CoP Tutor. And Stuart has mentioned 3, of which I think Corienessan's Salute would be a great introduction. It's the 2nd tune in the Kilberry book, and I could photograph and send it along if helpful. But let's talk further about these Piobaireachd you mentioned and others :) 

A fun focusing daily playing-journal for memorizing too can be a big help, and re http://scottmacleod.com/GuidelinesPracticingMusicalInstrument.htm.

Looking forward to hearing your Cantaireachd and Piobaireachd of The Little Spree tomorrow, at 5pm Pacific!

Cheers, 
Scott 


Found some initial video recordings of the breabach Piobaireachds Stuart mentioned - 

Corrienessan's Salute
2016 Robert Watt Corrienessan's Salute Pibroch FIL Lorient
Neil Clark - Falkirk Piping
Corrienessans' Salute, for Lou 



Sir James MacDonald of the Isles' Lament
Neil Clark - Falkirk Piping
(tutorial)
Donald MacLeod



The MacFarlanes' Gathering 
Piobaireachd
Willie McCallum
Piobaireachd: The MacFarlanes' Gathering


Scott

-- 
- Scott GK MacLeod  
Founder, President, CEO & Professor
World Univ & Sch (WUaS) - PO Box 442, Canyon, CA 94516 
1) non-profit World University and School - http://worlduniversityandschool.org  
2) for profit general stock company WUaS Corporation in CA - http://worlduniversityandschool.org/AcademicPress.html

(m) 412 478 0116 - sgkmacleod@gmail.com 

World Univ & Sch Innovation Research -  scottmacleod.com 




* * * 

Transcription of lesson's video recording ... 


Dear Stuart, 

Could we possibly begin MacFarlane's Gathering today, which you mention tackling here 

Transcription of lesson's video recording for August 18, 2021 ... 

Scott
Am getting organized gradually and have added the transcription August 18, 2021 below to this blog post - 
Hibiscus syriacus ... - https://scott-macleod.blogspot.com/2021/08/hibiscus-syriacus-stuart-liddell.html


notes

0:41 playing a crunluath fosgailte 
and so on ...

1:45
What's the difference? from a crunluath breabach

feedback?


2:00
Scott plays
much of the crunluath fosgailte of "The Little Spree"

and so on ...


2:55
Stuart
and so on
so that has the feel of a very simple time fosgailte 

Stuart sings it the way I played it ... 

but what we want is more of a compound 6/8 feel 

and I'm just looking up your file here from the yellow tutor book 

3:11
Lesson 36

The little Spree in the Piobarieachd Society is written in 4/4 interestingly

Stuart
Yea ... 

Scott
So I will seek to go for a sort of compound time 

Stuart 
Um huh (yes)
3:40
plays the Crunluath fosgailte in 6/8 time I think


4:09
Stuart -
so what that allows is that 
it goes 123, 123, 123, ...
that allows you a lot more time to express the themal notes ...

4:25
And you'll notice also when I finish the ee-dree part, I don't spend an awful long time 
on the E .. it's pretty much cut short ... 

so that I can afford even more time on the next theme not

so if, if you took out the embellishment - the ee-dree - 
the rhythm of it would be 
4:45
plays without embellishments 

5:20
Do you fancy giving that a wee go 

525
Scott
yes, yes

there's something about 6/8s which I really enjoy the swing to it which is lovely 
plays

6:15
Stuart
Well, actually if you pay more attention to the E that you finish on, 
just after your ee-dree
just notice how much time you spend on that ... E
before setting off to your next note.
You'll notice that if you compare the two 
the two of us, 
you're sort of setting on that E considerably longer than I am 
so when I finish the ee-dree, it's like boom
6:42
there's not time to reflect or anything 
it's just the next note, 
it's not rushed, it's shaping it, so 
Stuart sings ...
Tay ... ha-dree
6:55
the resting and the emphasis goes on the theme 
the themal note, 
7
Stuart plays 
It's more like 1 23 1 23, like a Waltz
you know, 1 23, 1 23, 
Want to try it again? 

7:32
Scott
I play sort of 1 23

Stuart
7:50
It's like a leap of faith almost, 
It's very difficult to step outside of what you've normally been doing
to do something that's completely alien, right, so 
Try it, don't be frightened of it, 
Try to REALLY stretch the theme note, 
the first low A for example, 
Really long, 
Tai ha dree
And when you finish the ee-dree, get over it quickly 
and get back onto your next note afterwards.
And when you get onto your next note, really rest on that one, 
I mean, you know,
I'm talking about - get the picnic basket out, open the lid, 
unravel the rug, have a cup of tea, 
put it all away again, put it into your car, 
and then go on to your next 
note
I mean really quite a long time. 
Try to let go of any type of restriction 
And sit on these notes. 
It will give you power, and expression, 
you'll be fine, try it, just give it shot, 
yes, it's going to be different, it's going to feel different, for sure

9:00
Scott
Thank you. 
I want to say, I'm very enrapt by our previous 2 lessons, and what I hear you say. 
I appreciate, now, the direct feedback about changing something. Thank you.
And I'm sorry for it to be a little boring to you, or ... 

Stuart
No
(shakes his head)

Scott
I would love for it to go in a direction for you - whatever Piobaireachd bliss is ...
but I will give it a try 

First note long, and um ... 

Stuart
Yes, yes ...

Scott
strikes in

Stuart
That's it

Scott
I think I was playing the long note longer, and the eedree shorter
but I'm not sure 

Stuart
Yes, that was it ... 

10:00
Stuart
It felt right. There was one or two theme notes 
which weren't quite as long 
I don't know if you noticed, but your first one, and a few towards the end
they were perfectly weighted, and your ee-dree cut off also perfectly 
that was good

10:15
That was the right shape, to my ear
That's how I would handle it personally,
That was good, but you're sampling what it might feel like,
It might take a while to get used to that, if that's the root you choose, 
you know, but um 
It's like choosing the color of your wall you know, I suppose, 
Just paint it a wee bit, and if you don't like it, paint over it the original color again, 
fine ... 

10:45
Scott
You have the ear of all ears, and 
I'm trying to directly hear that ear 
and thank you for your feedback here, 

Stuart
Aye ... 

Scott
And I'm not sure I will get it 
directly
But I will work on it


11:04
Stuart, 
Aye, absolutely, that's it
and it's pretty standard
on all fosgailte movements
all Piobaireachd
When you listen to the top players
you can hear them 

the same rhythm
pretty much standard, you know ...

And, so there you go ... 

I've mentioned the grote, ... 

Scott
How does the Braebach contrast with the fosailte 
soundwise
And does the fosgailte mean open (closed, my mistake)

12:30
Stuart
sings

Stuart reads the CoP Yellow Tutor

Yea, I mean the tied melody notes ... 
in that example, at the bottom of the page,
you might want to add a little dot, 
oh no, you don't want to 

Erase that statement, I know it's recorded, but ...

Crunluath Fosgailte
13:38
in the example they gave on page 46 (in the Yellow College of Piping Tutor) ...
If your bottom hand returns to the A position 
when doing your ee-dree, 
that's closed

Now if you play that same section, and leave your B (finger up)
13:55
Demonstrates in video 
that's known as the open, the open fosgailte, the open movement
it sounds like 
14:07
Stuar plays

open and closed
slightly different

And Donald MacDonald
he tends to favor open fosgailte movements as well

Scott
Thank you very much for that clarification, 
and I know it may be a little thing, 
and I know it may not be directly feeling, 
15:05
playing the fosgailte as you might play it extraordinarily, 
but it helps clear things up ... 

15:15
Stuart
Yes, so going back to the Crunluath Braebach that you mentioned
PLAYS
15:30
So if you counted it, and this is just a rough guide
This is probably not exactly what happens, but
you can count to 5, 
1,2 and a ha da ree
So, 1, 2 ... 2 1/2 you start your crunluath 

15:55
Stuart
SINGS briefly
and that takes in beat 3 and you start your 2 notes after that into 4 and 5 
(I'm probably not explaining that very well, but em ..)
16:07
PLAYS Crunluath Braebach
SINGS
Counts
12 345

16:45
I'm not sure what tune it is I'm playing
Lament for Captain MacDougall?
What is it?
(opens book)
Just checking

17
No, not quite
So, it's not that one, 
Ach, well 
"Salute to Donald" was one of the earlier tunes I was given by Arthur Gilles
And that has a Braebach
It's a nice melody that one
Good 

17:25
Scott
You shared two with me in an email just two days ago,
One was 
Sir James MacDonald of the Isles
and the other is also in Book 7 of the Piobaireachd Society (which I have)

17:50
Stuart, so
Sir James MacDonald of the Isles
It's a very common 
It's a very popular one
I do remember it in my junior days hearing that one 
and particularly enjoying listening to that one

Interestingly, in the Kilberry Book, he

Scott
MacFarlane's Gathering was the other one (Stuart mentioned)

18:05
Stuart
MacFarlane's Gathering - yes,  ...

Scott
If you were to choose between those tunes, what would you give me? 

Stuart
What was the other one?

Scott
MacFarlane's Gathering 

Stuart, 
Yes, well ... again ...
18;40
Both great tunes, I think MacFarlane's has a bit more clout 

If you like, you know ... but ...
18:55
I believe my grandfather won one of his gold medals with the
MacFarlane's Gathering 

18:59
Scott
Congratulations

19:00
Stuart
Thank you
It could be that both have a similar length 
of time when played

I'm just trying to see where I've put it 

19:27
Stuart 
Is there any reason why you might not want to tackle both of them?
And if you do tackle both of them, 
Probably start with 
Sir James MacDonald
And then eventually get on to 
MacFarlane's 

Ach, it's a great tune

19;45
Scott
I would tackle all 3 of the tunes that you sent 
Corrienessan's Salute as well
But I don't know if I have that sheet music

19:55
Stuart
O you don't ...
I can get that over to you
Corrienessan's Salute
Sir James MacDonald
MacFarlane's Gathering


Scott

more to come ...












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