Moffat (87), 2. Charles Arthur, Monikie (86), 3. Callum Douglas, Coupar Angus (86) Solo Piping – Jig Under 18 years – 1. Andrew Clark (89), 2. Struan Moffatt (85), 3.Timothy Ness (84) Solo Piping – Hornpipe and Jig 18 years and over – 1. Glenn Ross (90), 2. Craig Black (87) Piper considered to have given the best piping performance – Andrew Clark. Best Junior Piper irrespective of any other award – Andrew Clark
Archie Kenneth Quaich, March 3
RSPS Rooms, Edinburgh
Peter McCalister reports: I went to the Archie Kenneth Quaich with a view to hearing some friends playing, and having a relaxing day when I didn’t have to hold a set of pipes in my hand myself. It really was a marvellous competition. I also recorded the contest, so if any player wishes a recording they are welcome to have one. I heard the whole contest except the first player, courtesy of Scotrail’s Special Delay Service, which they provide free of charge. Andrew Park played Auldearn No. 2
on a nice bagpipe, slightly sharp towards the end, though the high G held well. The ground was enjoyable, doubling of ground ditto, though short E cadence to low G.Var 1 singling was at same speed as doubling, and the same comment would be true for theT and C variations.Var 2 was a bit jerky, Var 3 was nice. T movement from D is suspect but otherwise good technique and a-mach well controlled (but some crossing noises).
Allan Harper had Salute to Donald.
The hiodin cadence was longer than expected throughout the whole tune. Some players hold the notes before a cadence, and he did that some of the time, but never held the high A in this context, so it was
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surprising when he tumbled off high A to the cadence.T variation nice with one wee choke. Crunluath was carefully fingered but correct. Bagpipe nice,C a fraction flat. Willie Fallon played the Massacre of
Glencoe.The ground was lovely, with only one comment – the last bar of lines 1 and 2 had a dotted rhythm – perfectly acceptable, but to cut the C, the B must first be held.T and C variations super with one wee choke, which was possibly all that kept him from the judges’ prize-list – I had him on mine. T singling could have been a shade slower to contrast with doubling. Pipe was powerful and very carefully tuned. James Kenny played the challenging
MacKenzie of Applecross. The phrases chehioen and hahioen throughout the tune were a bit more clipped than the rest of the music. Var 1 doubling was nice but the singling rather clipped, and a contrast would have made the doubling more powerful. Towards the end of the tune the drones drifted. and high G needed blown out more.As he started the tune with almost no tuning time, perhaps a bit of an easier bagpipe, and/or more time to settle initially, might have helped that. Andrew Frater played Mary MacLeod
on a lovely bagpipe which he has made himself. He cut the B to C very tightly in Var 1 andT singlings, like Donald MacLeod and the Bobs taught – this is a tune that can be played in so many different ways. The tune was going excellently until the T doubling when he got a bit lost, which was a pity.
Chris Ogilvie Lamented the Dead
very speedily! The phrases chehiodro and Ihiodro which occur so often in the tune, were the main cause of that, plus very brisk T and C variations. Perhaps a West Coast influence here (he’s from Strontian)? Luckily he sat near me later on, and helped out with some Gaelic translation. Eric McKimmon played Lady Doyle