Review: Scottish Pipers Association Professional

I wonder about the wisdom of the C grade. I know it is popular with the Competing Pipers’ Association and the pipers, but it is a burden on contest promoters. The SPA Professional on Saturday was a case in point. Everything was done and dusted by 5pm – except for the C Piob.

We eventually finished at 7pm – and this from a prompt 8.30am start. The lack of rooms in the McPhater Piping Centre meant this competition had to start later, hence the delay. It would be better if the SPA held an earlier qualifier with the first three C graders going through to the main ‘B grade’ competition on the main day.

By Robert Wallace

The CPA themselves run a similar qualifying contest, the Bronze Medal, with the winner getting to play for the Oban and Inverness Silver Medals. It’s a model the SPA might like to consider.

That issue aside, the SPA Professional, was another enjoyable day out. It was a triumph for young Lanarkshire piper Cameron May who swept the boards in the ceòl beag and placed second in the senior ceòl mòr.

I heard his performance in the two-of-each Former Winners MSR. The bagpipe had an unmoving drone and clear, accurate note definition from the chanter. One incomplete taorluath in Mrs MacPherson mattered not as his pipe, technique and expression put him ahead of a strong field. Have a listen to his strathspeys and reels:

Not far behind Cameron was Ben Duncan. I thought Ben may have been affected by nerves in the latter stages – unlike him. Here are his well-crafted marches:

Result of the Former Winners MSR was: 1 Cameron May 2 Ben Duncan 3 John Dew 4 Callum Wynd 5 Keith Bowes.

But back to the morning. I was on the B Piobaireachd bench with Peter Hunt. This was a mixed bag contest with the first prize going to a well presented Blind Piper’s Obstinacy from Hector Munro. A good instrument and perfect technique lent themselves to controlled phrasing and tempi. Hector handled the differing time signatures with assuredness.

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Second prize went to Anna Kummerlöw with Beloved Scotland – a pleasant pipe, a smooth ground then over-snappy short notes and movements in the T&C. There was no controlled approach to the cadences in either singling.

Third was Keith Bowes. High G wasn’t always convincing in the King’s Taxes, and he needs to work on embari – weak delivery. However, as the pipe settled, Keith produced a strong finish with a very good crunluath fosgailte.

Norrie Gillies handled MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart No1 well. He might have been higher up the list had the pipe not drifted out. The overlong Es before the cadences in the crunluath singling were another concern.

Fifth went to Ben Mulhearn. Ben had a nicely set out King’s Taxes but though steady, the drones were never quite on with low A, and overall the pipe was too light. It detracted from a well fingered presentation.

Of the others, we had two disasters with the Earl of Seaforth. Dan Nevans played the wrong ending to the ground when going well on a pleasing pipe. Ruairidh Brown forgot the Ds at the ends of lines two and three of the third ground. Both pipers had a good go at the tune, but some inconsistency in the climb passages needs attention.

Gordon Barclay was another with a very well set out tune and excellent fingers – shame about the pipe. MacLeod of Raasay can be technically demanding but aside from some rushing later on, Gordon sailed through it. As I say, shame about the pipe.

John McElmurry from Northern Ireland started well with Nameless, dro o dro but broke down at the end of the ground. He wasn’t alone in trimming the Bs between the C grips and D throws too much. Calum Carn from New Zealand did the same. Calum’s pipe was another on the weak side and though he got through, he could have done more to bring out the music in this beautiful piece.

Catriona Norman started well with Fair Honey but lost focus on the melody later on. John Dew blew up with a fine pipe but then brought the drones down too low, flattening off his chanter. He gave a rather flat rendering of Lament for the Castle Dunyveg too. He’s clearly still at the learning stage with this set tune.

Back to the drawing board for Bobby Allan (MacFarlane’s Gathering), Cameron MacLeod (Kinlochmoidart 1) and Lewis Maxwell (Kintarbert’s Fancy), three young players who have considerable potential.

Result: 1 Hector Munro 2 Anna Kummerlöw 3 Keith Bowes 4 Norman Gillies 5 Ben Mulhearn. Results of all other events here.

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