McGlothlin Music

This was my very first entry in piobaireachd. Piobaireachd is often described as classical music for bagpipe, but it's basically a very long theme and variations and the theme is open to interpretation and has not set tempo or rhythms. In my grade, we only have to perform the Ground (theme). I chose an easy one, Glengarry's Lament and found a recording of a gold medal performance to figure out what I should do. This was also the first time I played my pipes for Nancy Tunnicliffe. I had taken a lesson or two with her over the winter, but she only heard my practice chanter, and she certainly never heard me play a piobaireachd.

I was concerned because my pipes kept going out of tune when I wasn't playing. Even if I wasn't playing for 30 seconds. So I tried to keep them going and keep everything warm. When it was my turn, I took my time and got my drones in tune, then played. I think I repeated something I wasn't supposed to, but Nancy didn't say anything about it afterwards. She only mentioned right away that I was adding a low G gracenote, then pulled out her book and showed me. Sure enough. . .

Her comments:

Nicely played tune on a nicely tuned pipe. You are adding a low G gracenote in the B grip phrase. Don't cut C->E so much.
Score = 92, Place = 3rd, Above Grade Level

I was very surprised to place 3rd in my first self-taught piobaireachd. Unfortunately, the 2/4 march was the complete opposite.

I played the 2/4 much better than at Round Hill. I thought it was clean and steady. I was overblowing the High A during the first couple of parts, and I knew it. I had corrected by the end.
The judge thought it was steady and musical.
His Comments:
Careful of blowing top hand. Chanter is a bit thin.
Crossing noises at times on hand changes.
Solid embellishments.
Tune Very Musical.
Overall - nice playing (quite musical) but the chanter needs improvement and you must get rid of the crossing noises.
Score = 83

I once again tied for last (well almost last, one person broke down after tripping over a root). . very frustrating as I know how much better I played than last time.

I think I'm going to start recording myself on the pipes, as I thought I had my crossing noise problem abated. I'm hoping it will be better at Albany.