Silver Medal contestants to be tested in 2014 Set Tunes list

While the lists for the Senior and Gold Medal piobaireachd competitions comprise mostly familiar tunes and a conventional approach, the Piobaireachd Society has added a twist to the requirement for the Silver Medal events, with contestants having to submit compositions from three specific categories.

Those vying for the Silver Medal and other prizes that employ the approach will have to submit at least one tune from three separate lists of ceol mor that feature fosgailte, breabach or a mach crunluath variations.

“This will hopefully add some interest and test the players fully inthis very competitive group,” said Piobaireachd Society President Jack Taylor, who added, “The process for selecting the 2014 set tunes was different frompreviously in that there was more extensive deliberation betweenmembers of the music committee before the committee met at thePiobaireachd Society conference last weekend in Birnam [Scotland]. This meantthat Bill Livingstone and Malcolm McRae could contribute fully to thediscussion, and that everybody had time to think fully about thelists. So at the meeting the lists were simply ‘given the nod.’ “

The set tune-lists for the Senior competitions – which include the Clasp at the Northern Meeting and the Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering, both events for former winners of a Highland Society of London Gold Medal – include well-worn favourites and less-popular pieces. The lists for the Gold Medal competitions consist of compositions that are in almost every serious piobaireachd player’s repertoire.

“Each tune selection was drafted first by a small group of musiccommittee members,” Taylor said.  “Then the whole committee gave comment resulting inthe final outcome.  As always we have tried to get tunes which are appropriate to thelevel of the competition, which players will want to play, and whichthe audience will want to hear. We have taken into account commentsabout previous lists from the Competing Pipers Association and from judges, as well aslistening to informal feedback.”

2014 Set Tunes

Senior

• “Abercairney’s Salute,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 11

• “Donald Gruamach’s March,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 2, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “Laird of Anapool’s Lament,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 9

• “Lament for the Union,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 6, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “Nameless – Cherede Darievea,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 8, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “The Battle of Waterloo,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 11

• “The Red Hand in the MacDonalds’ Arms,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 10

• “The Red Speckled Bull,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 4, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

Competitors submit four and play one.

Gold Medal

• “Battle of the Pass of Crieff,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 1, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor
• “Big Spree,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 1

• “His Father’s Lament for Donald MacKenzie,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 9

• “Lady Margaret MacDonald’s Salute,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 3, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “Lament for the Departure of King James,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 3, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “Lament for the Only Son,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 6, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “MacNeill of Barra’s March,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 10

• “Patrick Og MacCrimmon’s Lament,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 3, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

Competitors submit four and play one.

Silver Medal

Group 1 – Fosgailte Tunes

• “MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 7, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “The Groat,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 1, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “The Little Spree,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 7, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

Group 2 – Breabach Tunes

• “Corrienessan’s Salute,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 8, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “Lament for Captain MacDougall,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 6, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart’s Lament No 1,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 6, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

Group 3 – A mach Tunes

• “Battle of Auldearn No 2,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 2, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “Black Donald’s March,” Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 3, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

• “MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute”, Piobaireachd Society Collection Book 8, Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

Competitors submit four tunes, with at least one from each group, and play one.

The organization gave their usual caution about providing advance notice about playing “settings or styles different from sources stated.”

Most of the tunes listed above are featured in the pipes|drums Set Tunes Series by William Donaldson, a compendium of analysis, alternative settings  and demonstrations that numbers more than 120 separate piobaireachds. It is the largest such online repository in the world.