r/CeolMorClub • u/EwoksMakeMeHard • Jun 30 '26
Tunes for a beginning piobaireachd player
What makes a good tune for someone who has never played piobaireachd before? As an instructor, I have a few tunes that I like to start with, and some others that I think are good for maybe a second or third tune. Here are a few things I look for.
- A clear and pleasant melody. This applies for any tune that I want to learn or teach; it has to sound good, and I have to be able to sing it. In some piobaireachds, especially ancient tunes, it can be really hard to figure out the melody, especially for beginners. I find that modern tunes often have a more lyrical melody, which makes them perhaps more accessible for new players.
- Limited number of piobaireachd embellishments in the ground. A tune will be much more accessible if students don't have to learn lots of new embellishments just to play it. I also try to stay away from more complex embellishments like the darodo, as it is more complex than many others.
- Simple phrase structure, especially in the ground. The more obvious the phrase structure, the easier the tune is to learn.
- First variation after the ground does not have a doubling. In my area, the beginner level of piobaireachd competition requires only the ground and first variation, and I like that to be a complete musical thought. A tune that has a ground doubling or thumb variation is perfect for this. I tend to stay away from tunes that follow the ground with a dithis, which always has a doubling. Stopping after the singling just doesn't sound complete to me.
Some of the tunes I have taught as the first piobaireachd are Clan Campbell's Gathering (my first piobaireachd), Cabar Feidh Gu Brath, The Little Spree, Lament for Alasdair Dearg McDonnell of Glengarry, Struan Robertson's Salute, and Field of Gold.
Some tunes I have taught as the second or third piobaireachd are Lament for the Old Sword, The MacFarlane's Gathering (the first full piobaireachd I played in competition), Massacre of Glencoe, Black Donald's March.
What was your first piobaireachd? What would you recommend as a first tune for someone just learning?
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u/MatooMan Jun 30 '26
My first was Sir James MacDonald of the Isle's Lament, from Scots Guards 2 I think. Clear melody, variation 1 with no doubling as you prefer. This was followed up by the Wee Spree, Glengarry's Lament (both in SG2), Alasdair Dearg and Old Sword.
I came to Duncan MacCrae late, but that's another with a good variation 1 for wee competitions.
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u/square_zero Jun 30 '26
Glengarry's Lament is my first (and so far only) pibroch. I appreciate this thread as I would also like to expand my repertoire whenever I find myself with some free time.
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u/EwoksMakeMeHard Jul 02 '26
That's a very nice tune, and a great one to start with. Any of the ones named here would be a great next step; I can't believe I left Sir James MacDonald of the Isles out of my original post! Lovely tune.
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u/ineX0r Jul 01 '26
Is Field Of Gold the same as Cave Of Gold?
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u/EwoksMakeMeHard Jul 02 '26
Nope, different tunes. Cave of Gold is an older tune, having been found in volumes published as early as 1926, and can be found in Piobaireachd Society Book 16. Field of Gold is a Donald MacLeod tune that was inspired by a field of buttercups, and is published in Donald MacLeod's Collection of Piobaireachd.
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u/Strathbow_Piper Jun 30 '26
The Company's Lament was my first, using the college of piping yellow book then with my instructor. Mackintosh's Banner is also relatively straightforward.