The Conundrum

[Dartmouth Piper]

Who here has competed solos with this inrcedible tune? I found it to be a more entertaining tune than a solo. "It's fun to watch spectators TRY and tap out the beat to this tune while your playin'"

Cheers:---Ryan Fraser

[Drew52]

I played it for solo's. As a drummer I really liked the tune. It was the start of my MSR. I played it for a whole year, and got 1st in every contest with it. So I guess I'm not the only person who likes that tune...

Drew Brown
WCPB :wave:

"For those about to drum we Salute you"

[Scott.Williams]

As a piping judge, I have seen amateur pipers get off on the wrong foot with this tune and march on the off beat. But then, I've also seen pipers do that with other tunes as well. A quite competent young piper did this in front of me one summer and after he finished playing I called him over to mention it to him. He acknowledged that he was doing it. His instructor said it would help him emphasize the off beat if he did it in practice, but he simply forgot and did it in the competition too. I was so distracted by his march that I can't comment on how successful he was in providing a good accent to the off beat!

[Scott McClellan]

I did well with the tune in Grade Three back around 1979. The next year in Grade Two I gave up on it because I kept getting a particular judge who seemed to be oblivious that the tune doesn't conform to the usual 2/4 "rules" and I refused to play it as though it did.

[Kenton Smith]

For some ideas on how to make that tune (and lots of others) kick some major butt, check out Alasdair Fraser & Jody Stecher's CD The Driven Bow.

Enjoy!
Ken

[Wulls]

Originally posted by Scott.Williams:
As a piping judge, I have seen amateur pipers get off on the wrong foot with this tune and march on the off beat.It was a standing joke that Tom McAlister was the only PM who could (with his gimpy leg) march to it.

[Tommy P.]

Hey Drew, the drum score that Buzz wrote for "The Conundrum" is the coolest score I know! I'll rattle it off while the band's just standing around sometimes, the pipers get to bouncing around to it, they like it! And it's a blast to march to, puts a real "lilt in your kilt"! :lol:

[Drew52]

Hey Tommy, ya thats the won I use to play. When my dads book first came out P&D did an article on the book, and they said how much they liked that score...

Drew Brown
WCPB :wave:

"For those about to drum we Salute you"

[Seaner]

Buzz's score is totally the best Conundrum score i've ever played, Though the tune itself isn't a great beginner tune because it is sometimes considered non traditional by some judges.