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COMMENT(S): pipetunes.ca presents . . . Tune of the Month: "The Royal Scottish Pipers' Society"
Published: April 21, 2011
Author: Lawrie | (report inappropriate content) |
| It's a great shame that fantastic melodies like this are not heard in the top flight band contests simply becuuase they are 'only' 4-parters. So many good tunes are not seeing the light of day, and played by brilliant ensembles, for fear of this simple perception that its some sort of inadequacy. I'd suggest a band that demonstrates quality with this tune (and other great 4-parters like it) could easily polish-off a 6-parter as well. So, instead we grow tired of hearing what are great tunes in their own right (but are now done to death) e.g. Donald Cameron, Highland Wedding, Clan MacCrae, Links of Forth etc. A great pity. |
Published: September 06, 2010
Author: Stig | (report inappropriate content) |
| Donald Shaw S.S.C and Colin Thomson are my favourites although it suicide to list them both at a contest. |
Published: August 28, 2010
Author: JimMcGillivray | (report inappropriate content) |
| Neill: Different people express their greatness in different ways, my friend! |
Published: August 28, 2010
Author: JanetteMontague | (report inappropriate content) |
| Some things about this tune really irk me. The fact that it celebrates the RSPS irritates me quite a bit,- heavens above, men are welcomed in to Knitting Bees nowadays and Women are winning Gold Medals for Piping. It annoys me that I would be denied entry to anything purely because of being a woman.It's a reason why I wish he'd called it after a loch or a mountain somewhere. Then into the tune itself, and it doesn't sit comfortably for me, anywhere, in terms of keys or modes or tonality. Obviously there's some kind of E thing going on. As there are no C(#s) in it at all and the F(#s) are just passing notes, you could say ok its a minor pentatonic on E. But for some reason, that doesn't entirely sit right. I think its all the predominance of As, and when I was harmonising it to try and get a feel for it, the inclination to use C naturals in C chords, before the G chords- there's a strong G maj presence too. All this says to me it doesn't really sit easily in a set place. It's annoying me that I don't know more about the composer to know whether he himself felt any of this. So while the jury's still out, I prefer to leave it open as E minor, and wait for more evidence. One thing I always think about good or even great music, is that it should communicate something to the player or the listener, stir something, say something, make the person feel something. This tune certainly does that, the more you look at it and hear it/play it, so in that way, it surely stands out from the crowd a bit. I've ended up really liking the tune, which irks me slightly. I think Roderick Campbell must have been quite a fascinating character. I too love this series and look forward to each new tune. Thank you Jim and pipes|drums. |
Published: August 24, 2010
Author: panmure | (report inappropriate content) |
| Small point of style. The Queen should not be referred to as HRH. She is Her Majesty (HM). Would hate to see Piper and Drummer being sent to the Tower. |
Published: August 22, 2010
Author: MichaelGrey | (report inappropriate content) |
| Thanks, Jim. It strikes me that Campbell's tunes are heavy, dark even. There's not a lot of lightness or brightness to them. They're not easy listening so not easy playing. I think maybe that's one reason people don't play them more. There's a vibe in say, Edinburgh City Police PB, that is grumbly in the extreme - to my ear (see bars 3, 4, pt 1 for example). When a piper is prepping for the boards and needs countless reps of tunes I think tunes higher on the cheery scale tend to make the final repertoire cut. I don't know what his best tune is but Cecily R is my favourite. |
Published: August 21, 2010
Author: gramps | (report inappropriate content) |
| Another great entry in a part of this site that I have come to look forward to with anticipation and have yet to be dissapointed. |
Published: August 21, 2010
Author: NeillMulvie | (report inappropriate content) |
| Quote "Over time, membership would include some of the great piping names: ....... Neill Mulvie"
More flattering than true I'm afraid Jim | |
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