Analyzing MacIntosh’s Lament (PS 200), Allan MacDonald identified this pibroch as quite possibly “one of those few keens that have survived in the pibroch tradition.” (See his thesis.) He has also recorded his stunning interpretation of another example, a nameless keening “Lament” transcribed in 1820 from the chanting of Angus MacArthur (track 9 on the Dastirum […]
Month: July 2016
Interpreting Primary Source Manuscripts - Part 1
I realize this first statement will be controversial, but that does not make it any less true: The Piobaireachd Society Collection scores are derivative, secondary sources. This does not make them useless for us as musicians, as they are certainly reflective of a particular style performed today as a result of their publication. Nor does this […]
Interpreting Primary Source Manuscripts - Introduction
Reflecting upon the recent academic turn of the postings on this site, I wish to get back to the core purpose and motivation behind our efforts at Learning Living Pibroch: to help performers bring new musical insights to their playing by appreciating the lessons that can be learned from the primary sources. Over the course […]
Piobaireachd Society - Alternative Settings
Just posted this month, the Piobaireachd Society has made available to its members both a variety of recordings reflecting multiple styles of performances of a give tune, and notes by Peter McCalister. The Alternative Settings page will no doubt grow over time, and we applaud the PS for offering this service to its members! This […]
Cogadh no Sith - Clàrsach piobaireachd
From our club member, Simon Chadwick. Enjoy! Here are the details from the YouTube page: This is the pibroch tune ‘Cogadh no Sith’, re-imagined as a medieval ceremonial march for the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, to give a flavour of the kind of elaborate, formal, learned music that might have been heard in the […]