Set Tunes for 2010: Clasp & Gold Own Choice Tunes

Greg Wilson, the Secretary of the CNP Music Committee, today announced the 2010 tunes to be played at the 2010 Hawkes Bay Highland Games.

Clasp Competition

Competitors are to submit six (6) tunes of their own choice, one of which they will be asked to play. The winner receives the First Prize, the Louis MacKinnon Challenge Cup and a Clasp for the Gold Medal. The competition is confined to winners of the Society’s Gold Medal. There must be a minimum of 3 competitors or the event will not be held.

Gold Medal Competition

Competitors are to submit four (4) tunes of their own choice, one of which they will be asked to play. The winner receives the First Prize, The Highland Society of London Trophy for one year, and the Comunn na Piobaireachd (New Zealand) Inc. Gold Medal. Former winners are not eligible to compete. Entry to the Gold Medal competition is restricted to pipers who have not previously won the Gold Medal event and who are:

1. Pipers with a P&D Assn ‘A’ Grade, or
2. Pipers who have been awarded a prize (other than first prize) in a previous Comunn na Piobaireachd Gold Medal competition since 1990, or
3. Pipers who have previously won the Comunn na Piobaireachd Silver Medal competition.

No medal will be awarded if the judges are of the opinion that the standard does not warrant the award.

Silver Medal Competition

1. The Garden of Roses – DM Bk 1
2. Lament for the Rowan Tree – DM Bk 1
3. Weighing from Land – PS Bk  2
4. You’re Welcome, Ewen Lochiel – PS Bk  2
5. Fair Honey – PS Bk  9
6. Corrienessan’s Salute – PS Bk  8

The winner receives the First Prize and the Comunn na Piobaireachd (New Zealand) Inc Silver Medal. Former winners are not eligible to compete. Competitors are to submit 3 tunes chosen from the list of 6 Silver Medal tunes above, one of which they will be required to play. Entry to the Silver Medal competition is restricted to pipers who have not previously won the Silver Medal event and who are Pipers with a P&D Assn ‘B’ Grade or lower.

No medal will be awarded if the judges are of the opinion that the standard does not warrant the award.

DM = Donald MacLeod’s Collection of Piobaireachd Book 1
PS = Piobaireachd Society Collection

NZ Silver Medal MP3s on Roddy Macleod’s Site

I’m presently compiling a list of web resources available to pipers looking for resources on the NZ 2009 list tunes. I’ll post all of the links soon, but in the meantime the following silver medal tunes are available on Roddy McLeod’s site. Click here to access:

• Alasdair Dearg Macdonell of Glengarry, Lament for.
• Flame of Wrath for Patrick Coagach, A.
• Little Spree, The.
• Massacre of Glencoe, The.

Piobaireachd Classes Scots College Wgtn: 8 & 22 June, 6 July

Commencing at 3pm they will be held on Sunday 8th June, 22nd June and 6th July. Aimed at beginners and up to Silver Medal standard the tunes to be covered are:

1. Glengarry’s Lament
2. Lament for Alasdair Dearg Macdonell of Glengarry – PS Bk 14
3. The Little Spree – PS Bk 7
4. Cabar Feidh Gu Brath – MC
5. The Massacre of Glencoe – PS Bk 6
6. A Flame of Wrath for Patrick Coagach – PS Bk 5
7. The Munro¹s Salute – PS Bk 1

The classes are free for paid up members of Comunn Na Piobaireachd and $10 per class for non members.

Those wishing to attend need to register their interest by 1st June with Marion Horsburgh on (04) 971-3991

Piobaireachd of the Week: Silver Medal: The Glen is Mine

This piobaireachd was composed by Iain Dubh MacCrimmon, hereditary piper to the Chiefs of Macleod until about 1795. According to tradition, the piobaireachd was composed when the piper was passing through Glen Shiel in Ross-shire with the Earl of Seaforth, Chief of the Mackenzies. The words associated with the tune are ‘S leam fhein an gleann, s’leam fhein na th’ ann (The Glen is mine and all that is in it). Iain Dubh MacCrimmon was the son of Malcolm MacCrimmon, and succeeded his father as hereditary piper to MacLeod of MacLeod.

Piobaireachd of the Week: Silver Medal: The Field of Gold

This delightful and very musical piobaireachd was composed by Pipe Major Donald MacLeod, and is one of twenty of his piobaireachd compositions published in his book. In his published introduction he says “They were only buttercups, but it was an uplifting experience, to see the sun shining on a field of such ordinary flowers, giving this enchanting acre a look of burnished gold.”

Piobaireachd of the Week: Silver Medal: Catherine ’s Lament

This tune has also been known as “the Fraser’s Gathering” or “Fraser’s Salute” and is said to have been composed by Calum MacRobert Ceard. The Gaelic word ceard means a tinker. General Thomason gives the composer as Rupiart an Ceard. Another source says that Catherine was Rupert’s wife. Angus Mackay’s manuscript gives the composer as Calum MacBaileart Cheaird.

Piobaireachd of the Week: Silver Medal: Lament for Alasdair Dearg Macdonell of Glengarry

The Gaelic word dearg means red, and was probably the colour of Alasdair’s hair. The Glengarry clan was part of the great Clan Donald, but always adopted the spelling Macdonnell. The Macdonells of Glengarry supported Prince Charles in 1745, and were at the battles of Preston, Falkirk and Culloden. The piobaireachd “Lament for Alasdair Dearg” was recorded in the MS of Donald Macdonald and Angus Mackay and in the Campbell canntaireachd.

Henderson & Wilson Engaged to Run Seminars

Comunn na Piobaireachd NZ today announced the appointment of Murray Henderson and Greg Wilson to teach at a series of Piobaireachd Seminars in 2008. These seminars will take place during the week after Easter 2008 and will be on the set list tunes for the following year, 2009.

The first session will be held on the 24th to the 27th of March in Apiti (near Feilding). This will be a residential ‘Master Class’ programme for senior and advanced players in the set tunes for the 2009 CNP Gold Medal and Clasp competitions and in set tunes for the comparable Scottish competitions in August and September 2008. Cost: $300-$350 (approx). Transport will be available from Hastings to Apiti and from Apiti to Palmerston North or Wellington.

There will be a one day seminar for teachers of Piobaireachd on the 28th of March at no charge in Christchurch. This will be followed by a two day seminar, also in Christchurch, for intermediate players on the set tunes for the 2009 Silver Medal competition. Cost: $100-$200 (approx).

Expressions of interest in attending the Gold Medal and Clasp seminars – return to George Mason george.mason@dol.govt.nz. Expressions of interest in attending the teachers’ seminar or the Silver Medal seminar – return to Don Smith dsmith23@xtra.co.nz.