Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Santa Fe MTB

Enjoyed this outing w/Slate and Faceplant...they fell over a lot...bums...

Friday, August 20, 2010

Some new tunes...Small pipes and D chanter....

Thinking about the pipes and new tunes...and old tunes that are new again. I think I'm getting the hang of these things, but still make cross-fingering blunders and keep reaching to play smoothly with a consistent tempo.

...another 10 years or so and I might be getting there...wherever that is...

A couple of multi-part jigs. The first, Helvic Head adapted for the smallpipe range, followed by something I picked up off a CD long ago...I can't find the CD and can't remember the tune, but I loved playing it on flute and whistle. I've silenced all but the bass drone on this set, and it's pretty hard to hear. I'm learning that playing without drones allows me to more clearly hear what's coming from the chanter - if the notes are right, in tune, etc.



Scottish Small Pipes crafted by EJ Jones.

I'm trying to get a grip on a fairly standard pipe tune, Steam Train to Mallaig. This covers about the first 2/3rds of the piece and I continue to make inevitable errors. Another challenge for me on this tune is using the low hole on the chanter...this is the first time I've actually used it with any intention or regularity.

A great tune and I hope to figure it out by the time I'm 80 years old.


Final set here is a Richard Keane / Teribus tune that I just love...particularly when EJ and his buddies are playing it. It's called Farewell Pixel and it has, for me, some tricky handling in the second, fast part. I'll keep after it. I also enjoy playing it on the A chanter. Hope to hear this in person sometime, when Teribus comes to the area.