Oh yes the sounds of the pipes, there's no escape is there, nor in my case would I want there to be.  Those that do not know me I'm the piper of the MacDonalds of Clan Ranald. 

My question is for those listeners out there what kind of Bagpipe music do you enjoy listening to the most?

There is always the normal marching tunes and battle claymore tunes to be played, and yes every tune has it's place.  But what do you feel is the most important?

Being a re-enactor and a big piping enthusiast I've fallen in love with both listening and playing the ceol mor, the piobaireachd or the great music of the highland pipes.  These tunes can reach anywhere from 4-5 minutes in length to a full half hour or more for just one tune.  They are very challenging to the player and all of them have a very big meaning in the heritage of what we do.

But for the modern ear are they just TOO much?

In the Princes landing and special occasions during mainly the Culloden event's that I've attended I've played piobaireachd tunes that to me in full length seem very long, and have cut for those times the middle chunk out so that it doesn't seem quite so labored.

But now on to ceol beg, or the light music.  Which are all those marchers jigs strathspeys reels hornpipes and what not, down from the slow air to the fastest jig.  Those tunes are way too often too short LOL.

So what does one like to hear played the up most, long classical tunes or a fast beat one.  Since once the pipes get going it can be a hard thing to stop LOL.

As a piper I always love feed back.

Strange, the only type of pipe music I find interesting is piobaireachd...I think it's because my first BA was in music and I actually like theme and variation pieces that go on for hours...I like listening and mentally dissecting the form and thematic development (my idea of a good time).

Then again, I'm also nuts about Handelian opera, so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt   

...Of course, should are modern taste be a primary concern regarding this? If piobaireachd is the fashion of the day for the pipes, then that is what ought be played, rather than playing to modern sensibilities. (the again, I come from the school of thought that it's good to occassionaly suffer a little on the order of how our historic counterparts would have suffered, perhaps the great pipes is another part of this theme). Thats my take on it - your mileage might vary.

I too love Seven Nations.  Bands such as those in piping circles do not seem to be taboo.  What does seem to be taboo are bands I also like, such as Dropkick Murphies, a punk band.

Punk style bands are more and more incorperating pipes into their music, which I think that should be encouraged greatly.  But quiet often listening to the music, the exicution gets muddled, and alot of the meaning of the instriment gets lost.

Moral I guess would be keep rocking, bot gaelic, and modern today stuff.  Never to forget oen without the other and of the up most, HAVE FUN with it.

Owan

Okay,

So now I will sway the dissuction to tradition.  Are there any pipers out there that are using all cane reeds on a sheepskin bag?  Or are there any out there who are playing or hae a very old vintage set.  I'm looking to begin restoring old sets.  And as some may or may not know that the key in which the chanter is played in has changed greatly with the current pipe makers of today.  One of the oldest that I've seen being restored is a 1870's set that I would have greatly loved the pleasure in restoring.  Pipes used to be only in the key of A and was some what flat at that, and now there's alot in the key of B now for bands and what not.  I was able to get my hands on a 1920s' chanter made by RG Lawrie and it is phonomial how different even the mellowest chanter I've played that is a recent make.  So are there any out there that are how my uncle grew up with complete tradition in their pipes, or those that think that's how it should be done compared to the advent of synthetic bags/reeds exct.

Owan

Quote:

Greetings Owan,
    There are still some pipers about who stay with the old ways of hide bage and cane reeds.  My instructor for one.  I suspect they're in the minority though.  Myself, I have one set with wooden sticks and cane reeds, but a modern bag, and another set with synthetic sticks, chanter and drone reeds, but cane chanter reed and hide bag.  Guess I kind of straddle the issue.
   There's a thread on the Dunsire Bagpiping forums about vintage sets.  Doesn't seem like anyone's playing anything dating much farther back than turn of the century.
   As regards the music.  Ceol mor is the classic music of the pipes, but I suspect that ceol beag has been around just as long.  A lot of pipe tunes have been renamed over the years (e.g. - "wha wouldna' fecht for Charlie" and "wha saw the 42nd"), and a lot of the Burns' songs were reportedly set to older existing tunes.  I also believe that, just as we do today, our piping forbearers "worked out" popular songs on the pipes (those that would fit in the nine note restriction).  After all, the piper's time couldn't have been spent entirely on the battlements playing piobreach'd  to honor his chief.  I have also read somewhere of a music class referred to as "ceol meodanach" (sp?).  My understanding is that it is something more than the marches, jigs, etc.  but less than the "great music".  Possibly some of the longer airs.
   As with most types of music,  generally what I like to hear depends on how well the tune fits the occasion.

Owan,
   Sounds like a good time.  I missed the Culloden event last year, but I remember the "massed pipes" at Culloden 2002.  Didn't take part though, as I opted to go throw the caber instead.  We're planning on being at the NY event this year, so I hope to see you there.  This year my son happens to be posted nearby, so he'll probably come up with me, as well as my oldest grandson.  I'll let them "uphold the family honor" on the athletic field, and I'll hang out with the pipers. 
Looking forward to seeing you there
Rick

For all those pipers who came together with me at the Culloden event this year, I wanted to extend my thanks to all.  I enjoyed our sessions and I hope you took as much as I did out of our jam sessions and tunning sessions as I did.  Once again thanks to all  and good playing.  Owan Of Clan Ranald