Need a 2/4 March for competition

**vmac3205** · 11th April 13, 09:46 PM

That help. Thanks. Good luck to us both. I'm going to be so nervous I will probably die.

**flyrod6057** · 12th April 13, 05:54 AM

Barren Rocks? Not too original (doesn't everyone know that one?) but it's a snappy tune.

Sweet Maid of Glendaruel? It sounds great, and is not too complex.

**Nathan** · 12th April 13, 06:45 AM

Maybe Kennedy Street March by Dan Hughie MacEachern.

**KD Burke** · 12th April 13, 07:17 AM

I played in competition for the first time myself in January. I had good luck with "Liberton Boys."

**EagleJCS** · 12th April 13, 07:36 AM

Flyrod, "Barren Rocks" is fairly easy in the first two parts - and that's what's most commonly heard - it's the second two parts that get really busy. Lots more doublings and dot-cut, in both the Seaforth's and Scots Guards arrangements.

To the OP, I'm not familiar with the competition requirements in BC, but if it must be a single 4-parted tune, may I suggest a fairly recent composition called 'Pipe Major Robert Caudill'? It was written by my piping instructor, Karen Brumley, and published in Bruce Gandy's Contemporary and Traditional Music for the Highland Bagpipe, volume 4. It's very accessible to the beginning piper. It was written in honor of the long-time Pipe Major of the Louisville Pipe Band, who has now moved on to other musical endeavors.

Best of luck on the boards!

**imrichmond** · 12th April 13, 01:23 PM

Some oldies, but goodies for a first comp tune:

The 79th's Farewell to Gibraltar
The Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering
Captain Norman Orr-Ewing (I believe he is called "Major" in the Scots Guards collection)

**castledangerous** · 12th April 13, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by flyrod6057

Barren Rocks? Not too original (doesn't everyone know that one?) but it's a snappy tune.

Sweet Maid of Glendaruel? It sounds great, and is not too complex.

Neither tune is 4-parted.

**flyrod6057** · 12th April 13, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by castledangerous

Neither tune is 4-parted.

Ah! Quite right! That's what I get for posting before coffee....

**EagleJCS** · 12th April 13, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by castledangerous

Neither tune is 4-parted.

Actually, the arrangements of "Barren Rocks" in the Scots Guards Vol 1 (p. 116) and Seaforth Highlanders (p.102) books are 4-parted. (I have both books, and have transcribed the tunes into BMW.) Most recordings only feature the first two parts because the second two parts are sooo darned complicated! I'd say probably grade 3 if not grade 2 material, depending on the association.

You are correct in that "Sweet Maid" is only 2 parts, though.