The word is "Piobaireachd."
"Before marches and dance tunes were commonplace in the Highland
Bagpipe repertoire, another, gentler music was often heard.
Piobaireachd (pronounced in English as 'PEA-broch' or 'PEA-brock'),
sometimes called Ceol Mor (pronounced 'kyol more'), is considered
today to be the Highland Bagpipe's classical music, going back some
five centuries. They may sound like laments, but are not to be played
like a dirge. Many are in fact laments or gathering tunes, or
commemorating battles or written surrounding stories with both factual
and fictional underpinnings. Traditionally taught orally, the music is
handed down from teacher singing to student to accurately reflect the
unforgiving nuances of the music. Unlike all other instruments, there
is no silence in the constant sustained tones music of the Bagpipe,
where the minute timing of notes is critical to maintaining musical
flow."
Bagpipe Entertainment: Piobaireachd, "The Big Music"
http://www.bagpipe-entertainment.com/piobaireachd.shtml
"The bagpipes have a long association with the Highland clans of
Scotland where they were used to provide martial music. But in their
traditional role they were always played as a solo instrument (after
all this is why they have drones). The sort of music traditionally
played on them is rather different to what we hear pipe bands play
today. 'Piobaireachd' (pronounced 'pee-brock') is an ancient and
sophisticated musical genre developed over many generations. A very
rough description of it would be as a theme and variations: The
'urlar', or theme, is repeated with ever more difficult ornamentation.
There were very strict rules and protocols as to the manner in which
Piobaireachd was to be played. All the tunes were committed to memory
through the use of special words, and some of the clans established
special piping 'colleges' as it took many years to train a piper to
the necessary standard. It was a 'classical' music in the strictest
sense of the word."
Wellington Scottish Pipe and Drums: About Pipe Bands
http://www.wspd.wellington.net.nz/pipebands/pipebands.htm
"The Highland Bagpipe has a very ancient history. In the course of
this history, a style of music developed that is completely unique to
the pipes. It is regarded as a form of 'classical' art music, and is
referred to as 'piobaireachd' which in gaelic simply means 'piping'...
This music was developed in the West Highlands and Islands, to be
played on ceremonial occasions by pipers who were trained and employed
as official musicians of the various clan chiefs. Many pibrochs have
names which tell us what the music was for; names like 'Macleod’s
Salute', 'The Gathering of Clan Ranald', 'Lord Lovat’s Lament.' Others
have names which tell a story, or refer to incidents in Highland
history."
Scotland in Tune: Classical Piping
http://www.shawltd.demon.co.uk/tune/discover/classical_piping.html
Here you'll find an example of Piobaireachd. This is "Lament for
Donald Duaghal MacKay," one of my ancestors:
"Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay"
http://205.166.53.100/Audio/Lament_for_Donald_Duaghal_MacKay.mp3
Google Web Search: "piobaireachd"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=piobaireachd
I hope this helps. If anything I've said is unclear, or if a link
doesn't work for you, please request clarification. I'll be glad to
offer further assistance before you rate my answer.
Best wishes,
pinkfreud |
