If last year’s inaugural London Recital established the formula, this year proved it was no one-off. Black tie, fine wine, Raasay whisky and, most importantly, first-class piping: the second edition of The London Recital delivered another memorable night of ceòl mòr and ceòl beag in the City of London.
Photos, a highlights video, and full recordings of the two piobaireachd can be found at www.thelondonrecital.com. But for those who weren’t there, let me set the scene and take you through the evening.
By Gordon Tughan-Jones
This time we gathered at St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate in the heart of the City. A sold-out audience of 95 filled the old wood panelled church hall, a more intimate setting than last year’s magnificent surroundings at Dover House but, if anything, one which generated an even greater atmosphere.
The evening began with a champagne and Raasay whisky reception, giving the audience and recitalists a chance to meet before Recital Event Secretary Major Henry Edwards called proceedings to order, welcomed everyone and introduced the evening.
Then to the music. Pipers and drummers of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards opened proceedings, reminding everyone that these are not simply excellent musicians but serving soldiers carrying forward one of the great piping traditions of the British Army.
The Guards gave us pipes and drums first, then a Highland fling. It made for a stirring opening to the evening and, with the audience gathered closely around them in the hall, immediately established the atmosphere for what was to follow.
Then to our first soloist, Pipe Major Ben Duncan, introduced by John Forbes of the Piobaireachd Society, and the serious business of the evening.
Ben brought both formidable piping and considerable military pedigree to the first recital performance. A former Pipe Major of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and one of the leading figures in competitive piping, his programme gave the audience the mixture of ceòl beag and ceòl mòr around which The London Recital was established.
His piobaireachd, Port Urlar, came from the great traditional repertoire preserved in the Campbell Canntaireachd. In the close surroundings of St Botolph’s hall there was nowhere for the music to disappear: piper and audience were almost on top of one another, and the concentration in the room was palpable.
Aiding the audience in their study and understanding of the music, on every seat was a printed copy of the music for each of the evening’s piobaireachd, reproduced with the kind permission of the copyright holders, the Piobaireachd Society and the family of Donald MacLeod.
Another important goal of The London Recital is that it should not feel like a conventional concert, with performers disappearing backstage before and after playing. Ben joined the audience for Callum Beaumont’s recital, just as Callum had been among the company for Ben’s, and both mixed freely with guests during the drinks receptions.
And so to the interval. More wine and once again, and the excellent single malt from the Isle of Raasay, Hebridean Distillers, sponsors of the Recital for a second year.
There was another distinctly Highland addition this time: beer from Knoydart Brewery at Inverie, probably the most remote brewery on mainland Britain, which had made its way down from the west Highlands after being loaded onto a boat the week before. It did not last long.
Canapés circulated, glasses were replenished and the hall was in full voice before everyone was eventually persuaded back to their seats for the second half. Now it was the turn of Callum Beaumont.
Callum needs little introduction to anyone in the piping world. One of the outstanding competitive pipers of his generation, he provided a fitting second recital of the evening.
With his light music Callum introduced his pieces as Ben had done before him, and he was clearly enjoying the opportunity to play for his enjoyment and others’, as a change from the usual competitive environs.
For his piobaireachd he chose Donald MacLeod’s A Son’s Salute to His Parents. It was an inspired choice for this sort of evening: a fine modern composition, accessible to those in the audience still relatively new to piobaireachd, but with more than enough musical substance for the aficionados. As Callum said, a piobaireachd that is increasingly coming to be regarded as one of the greats.
Callum duly delivered, and a packed hall gave him the reception and applause he deserved.
The Hon. Andrew Younger, President of the Highland Society of London, made the closing remarks and presentation, with named bottles of Recital branded Raasay whisky presented to the two recitalists in thanks for their performances. Then photographs, final glasses and farewells.
And with that, another London Recital was over. It was created by the Pinstripe Highlanders and the Piobaireachd Society to bring some of the best piping in the world to London, to introduce more people to piobaireachd, and to bring together different strands of the piping community in one room. Two years in, the formula seems to be working.
Ninety-five people, a packed hall in the City, the Scots Guards, two outstanding recitalists and a convivial gathering stretching well beyond the music itself. Roll on edition three in Autumn 2027.
Postscript 1: The London Recital Committee comprising of myself, Robert Wallace, Major Henry Edwards, and Lily Campbell would appreciate any constructive feedback from the audience to help us shape future years’ recitals.
Postscript 2: Having sold out two years in a row we will consider whether to increase the capacity in 2027. If anyone would be interested in attending and would like to be added to the invite list for when tickets are announced, please do contact us today at contact@thelondonrecital.com, as doing so now would very much help us to gauge interest.
