The ground breaking piobaireachd collection ‘Binneas is Boreraig’ (BiB), was published by Dr Roddy Ross some 60 years ago, and aimed to capture the playing of the master piper Malcolm Macpherson.
By Pat Terry
It employed notational devices that pipers familiar with the notation used in many other collections of ceòl mòr found strange [colour coded, three-line stave]. In 2022, Chris Terry (a pupil of John MacFadyen) set out to transcribe the 112 BiB scores into a more familiar form.
It soon became apparent that it would be worth taking the opportunity to clarify and annotate the scores, compare them with the available recordings, correct a plethora of simple mistakes and inconsistencies, and point out the differences between the Ross/ Macpherson settings and those found in other collections.
In this project, Chris was aided by myself, a pupil of James Campbell of Kilberry. The result is ‘Beyond Binneas’, a compilation of some 214 pages of annotated scores, with each tune in BiB written on a five line stave and expanded so as to avoid the awkward abbreviations in the original.
In addition there is an explanatory introduction, and many individual footnotes appear in the scores. Work is in hand to extend the analysis aspects still further.
Sample scores can be seen at: https://www.cs.ru.ac.za/compilerbook/ByB/
The book is being produced by BookVault Publishers (UK), who produce copies using a ‘print on
demand’ model well suited to specialist books..
Pipers may buy a copy by visiting the BookVault online bookshop at https://TheGreatBritishBookshop.co.uk and searching for ‘Beyond Binneas’.
Two editions are available:
cloth bound, RRP of £35, ISBN 978-1-83690-671-1
spiral bound, RRP of £30, ISBN 978-1-83690-735-0
The spiralbound version should also be available through Amazon.co.uk. Shop around for the best deal for the book and shipping.
Pipers who buy a copy of the book will be entitled to claim a free PDF file of the scores for strictly personal use such as printing a working copy of a tune for annotation, or displaying on a tablet or screen. Proof of payment should be sent to the address below.
For further details of the project please contact the compilers by email at: beyondbinneas@gmail.com .
