The word ‘piobaireachd’ literally means pipe playing or pipe music, but is now used to describe the classical music of the Great Highland Bagpipe. Another name for it is ‘ceòl mór’ meaning the’big music’, which separates piobaireachd from all other forms of pipe music (marches, reels, jigs etc. ) which are referred to as ‘ceòl beag’ – the little music.
To describe a piobaireachd is not easy. It consists of a theme or ‘ground’ with variations (which vary in number and complexity) that follow the theme. The theme is often very slow, and the general effect of the whole piece of music is slow – slowness being a characteristic of Highland music, though not, obviously, the dance music.
1983 November – First lesson on the Practice Chanter 1984 June 23 – Bagpipe contest in Hengelo (spectator) 1985 April 27 – Got my own set of pipes! 1985 Juli 16-19th – First public performance (solo) 1985 August 28th – Started in the Concord Pipe Band 1986 May 7th – Complete uniform 1986 June 14th – Contest Swifterband (6th place grade 4) (1986 12 performances with the band, 11 solo performances) 1987 June 13th – Contest Swifterband 199? Stopped playing with Concord Pipe Band 199? Started at The City of Amsterdam Pipe Band 199? Played with 48th Highlanders of Holland 2001 Started as a tutor Highland Valley Pipe Band 2008 Stopped playing in Pipe Bands
2001-2008 Tapsalteerie Folkband 2002 February – Got my Smallpipes 2008 October – Got my Gavie Borderpipes 2009-current Nae Bother Folkband 2011 August – Got my Uilleann Pipes 2017 February – Northumbrian Pipes
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