First Piobaireachd

[lumberjackpiper]

I've been playing for about 2 years, and have recently gotten into the solo competition area. My instructor has decided I'm ready to start learning Piobaireachd, and has recommended for my first tune "The King's Taxes"

Any comments, thoughts, or advice anyone can give me?

[Roger Huth]

It is a tune with plenty of music and also work.
You must be getting on very well indeed.
Well done to you and your instructor
:)

[EquusRacer]

"The King's Taxes"? Surely a lament! :wink:

[John Bottomley]

Or an angry protest! That's how I approach it, at least.

[Melissa Bautz]

There's always the "Glengarry's Lament" option!

However, my first piobaireachd was "Lament for Mary MacLeod" and it was not too difficult for me to play...it was a little odd to memorize however....doesn't have a normal pattern to it. But once I got the ground the pattern fell into place superbly. Just a thought.

Melissa

[maitland]

'Black Donald's March' and 'The Carles with the Breeks' are both good, simple tunes; often played with winning effect by famous pipers in the past, such as Ronald Lawrie.

[Nathan Thompson]

i used Straun Robertson's Salute as my first Piobaireachd. It is very simple tune both in the ground taoluath and crunluath variations.

[Thirsty Fiberweave]

Munro's Salute (PS Book 11) is also a nice one to start with. Not too difficult, but very pretty.

[Ron Teague]

Are you playing the Donald MacDonald First Variation with the doubling? I think if you did the judges would get very nervous and give you first prize as you would clearly be a very good player as well as student of ceol mor.
Plus it is a hoot to play. I get all snarky and self satisfied when I do this variation. It is one of the coolist movements in all of ceol mor. Great fun

cheers

[Christoph Kresse]

I consider myself still a newbie to the art of Piobaireachd playing and I found it very important for the choice of my first tune to be a melodic one to get a grip on memorization and phrasing. Macintosh's Lament was my pick back in Germany and I just loved the melody line. No problems with memorization what so ever and the phrasing came more or less naturally after some consultation and help with instructors and judges. If the King's Taxes work for you that is great! Good luck for any future contests and why not take a look at Macintosh's Lament sometime?
Cheers,
CK

[Jürgen Rech]

To me the choice of The King's Taxes as the first pibroch is like choosing The Piper's Bonnet or The Cameronian Rant for your first strathspey.

There's so much new to learn on it like the very important dre to high G (or what you call it) and clean triplets and the fosgilte crunluath.

I'd rather go for an easier one like Glengarry's Lament or all the others from the previous postings.

Cheers, Jurgen