James Campbell, Piobaireachd Expert and Gentleman

James Campbell from a stylised drawing
James Campbell from a stylised drawing

The final excerpt of Jonathan Gillespie’s lecture on his tutor James Campbell of Kilberry is published today. In it Jonathan discusses some of James’s favourite tunes and names the performers. He also records James’s uneasiness with placing too much reliance on old manuscripts and allowing them to dictate the way tunes should be played in the modern era. He highlights the importance of James’s writings, in particular his ‘Elusive Appoggiatura’ article, known to piobaireachd students for its erudite consideration of how we write and play the ‘cadence’ E. This lecture was an important public statement of James’s views and contribution to piping. Anyone with any interest in ceol mor will find it absorbing. Read more here.[easyrotator]erc_14_1414056032[/easyrotator]