The winner of the 59th Silver Chanter is Steven Leask (pictured above). His tune was the Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck. It was Gold Medallist Steven’s first win of the prestigious award and at his first attempt.
The recital / competition was held tonight (August 5) before a large audience at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Gaelic College, Sleat, isle of Skye. The sponsors were Torabhaig Malt Whisky, the Piobaireachd Society and the College.
The adjudicator was Niall Matheson who stood in at short notice for Jack Taylor. Society President Robert Wallace welcomed everyone and Professor Hugh Cheape introduced the pipers and gave the stories behind the tunes.
Report by Robert Wallace: This was a perfect evening of ceòl mòr, a bijou event with six pipers more than qualified to present the best of the MacCrimmon canon and an adjudicator more than qualified to quantify their efforts. Inspired graphics from the Sabhal Mòr team provided the perfect performance backdrop, and the introductions from Professor Cheape an enlightening historical background.
Each piper had to submit four tunes and learned of their chosen piece 15 minutes before they played. Their professionalism meant no bad pipes, no wrong notes, no serious technical lapses, the crunluaths crisp and clear.
First on was Stuart Liddell, flying in from Lorient to give us the Lament for the Earl of Antrim the tune with which he won in Brittany. The pipe never really settled into what we expect from Stuart but he stuck to his task and delivered a commendable tune adding an a mach which maybe he could have done without to no great loss.
Alastair Brown played I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand and acquitted himself well on his first go at the Chanter. He tired a little towards the end but his pipe never faltered and he gave a celebratory mood to his music concomitant with the occasion the tune celebrates.
Brodie Watson-Massey didn’t seem happy with his instrument, the chanter lacking the full, solid F for Lament for the Children and some of his phrasing detracted from the melodic line, the gracenote in Variation 2 noticeably early.
An interval, some refreshments from Torabhaig, and on we went. Steven Leask produced a resounding instrument and faultless interpretation of Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck. Two or three very minor technical blemishes caused minor concern, but only minor. This was a contender in my book.
And so was Sandy Cameron, next to play. Perhaps a slightly sweeter instrument than Steven’s and a rollicking Earl of Ross’s March to go with it, perfectly fingered. For me he attacked the first few bars of the suibhal just a little over hastily. Overall, pace, tempo and control showed a piper at the top of his game.
Finally we had Derek Midgley, New Jersey, with Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon. This was very well set out on a superb bagpipe, just a shade cautious with the ground and ground doubling.
To the result and a well-earned cheer for Steven when he was announced the winner of the 59th Silver Chanter. Piobaireachd Society members will be able to enjoy recordings from the event in due course via the Society website. The evening was also recorded for BBC Radio Skye.
- Check out the Skye Gathering results for a full update of all the winners over both days of the piping competitions.
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