Video: “War or Peace” – Jack Lee’s rendition of obscure tune

We caught up with Jack Lee of Surrey, British Columbia, back in cold January in downtown Toronto in recital after the More Ceol Mor workshop. The virtuoso solo piper delivered a rendition of the obscure and rarely-heard piobaireachd, “War or Peace.”

For more about the tune, be sure to check the pipes|drums Set Tunes Series by William Donaldson, where you can follow the scores and see the various settings and history of the composition.

The tune makes use of embellishments that are today unconventional, including what is known as a crunluath movement with a “redundant low-A.” This has been the subject of some controversy with piobaireachd aficionados over the years.