The piping recital season is in full swing in Scotland and indicative of a healthy desire among enthusiasts to hear top class, live piping. Today Les Hutt reports on a recent recital in Inverness and we have short videos giving a flavour of the highly successful recital/ fundraiser held in Lanarkshire last Friday……
For a second time this season, Inverness Piping Society’s recital coincided with a weather warning, writes Les Hutt. Fortunately this one turned out to be a minor dusting of snow in the city, as over 80 turned up to hear an excellent recital by Ben Duncan and our local piper, Grace Kelman.
Due to arm issues Grace has been keeping herself busy with Highland dancing at the opening of the refurbished Inverness Castle. She had stepped back from piping but this recital marked a return to public performance with an entertaining selection of tunes to start the evening, including the local favourite, the hornpipe, Raigmore.
Ben Duncan then took the floor. His recital was of the highest calibre with an excellent sound from his drones. Working his way through his set list, he took time to keep the audience informed with details on the tunes, both his own compositions and the older tunes, many not often heard.
As well as a diverse selection of light music, Ben played the piobaireachd Lord Lovat’s Lament to finish the first half, with Fhuir Mi Pog and I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand in the second.
Displaying top quality technique and musicianship, this was a performance illustrating Ben’s prominent position in the current field of competitive piping, whilst giving a highly entertaining performance to an audience that had travelled from Sutherland, Skye and Morayshire.
Looking forward, Inverness Piping Society are holding their AGM next Wednesday, 25th February, at 7pm at Inverness Golf Club, with a further recital, by the Angus MacColls, both senior and junior, planned for Friday 27th March (more details to follow in due course).
Lanarkshire Recital
Airdrie Working Men’s Club in Lanarkshire was the venue for a sold-out recital held last Friday evening. (See report on PP on Monday). The recitalists were Stuart Liddell, Cameron May and a quartet from Shotts & Dykehead. The evening raised an estimated £2,500 which will go towards the publication of ‘The Cameronian Collection of Pipe Music’.
Here are three short videos to give readers a flavour of what was a very successful evening:
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