Reviews

Dan Nevans digs Xavier Boderiou’s ‘Liamm’

Dan Nevans digs Xavier Boderiou’s ‘Liamm’

The limitations of the great highland bagpipe are: A fixed range of melody notes/fixed octave drone; No dynamic ability; No rests (traditionally). Nevertheless, considering our instrument cannot become louder or quieter, we don’t start and stop, and we are restricted with what keys we can play in, it’s amazing the […]

Dan Nevans reviews ‘A Wee Bit o’ a Tune’

Dan Nevans reviews ‘A Wee Bit o’ a Tune’

A bagpipe is an investment. If you are lucky then you’ll get a return out of that investment either for yourself or for whomever gets the pipe after you. The mystique of the antique bagpipe is much like the sword ‘Excalibur’ in Thomas Mallory’s epic, Le Morte d’Arthur: the object […]

‘Fhuair mi Pog’ by Margaret Stewart and Allan MacDonald

‘Fhuair mi Pog’ by Margaret Stewart and Allan MacDonald

Fhuair mi Pòg by Margaret Stewart and Allan MacDonald (Greentrax Recordings Limited CDTRAX 132). By Roderick D. Cannon. The title track begins with Allan MacDonald playing the song version of the famous piobaireachd (I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand) on the full Highland bagpipe; then as the sound […]

Dr Jack Taylor reviews ‘Binneas is Boreraig’

Dr Jack Taylor reviews ‘Binneas is Boreraig’

This new edition of Binneas is Boreraig reincarnates the most innovative written piobaireachd collection of the 20th century. It is the only one showing tunes precisely as they were played by a master. And it shows them exceptionally well. ‘Binneas is Boreraig’ means ‘Melody and Boreraig’. The original edition, published […]

Iain MacInnes reviews Chris Gray’s eponymous CD

Iain MacInnes reviews Chris Gray’s eponymous CD

Iain MacInnes reviews Chris Gray’s debut recording. As Scotland’s pipers explore ever wider musical horizons, this beautifully-made debut CD from Chris Gray points the way to what can be achieved. Gray comes with an impressive piping pedigree (he was a pupil of Tony MacDonald’s in his native Lockerbie), as well […]