What song stirs your highland blood?

**Tartan Hiker** · 19th December 07, 09:35 AM

"Massacre of Glencoe" has long been a favorite, but ever since visiting the memorial and interpretive center in Glencoe last year I'll never hear it played again without standing.

**macwilkin** · 19th December 07, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I just can't stand Amazing Grace. As a piper, I'm forced to play it all the time and now I hate it.

Nowadays, I really love any strathspey (that's a type of tune). A good strathspey really get my heart pumpin.

You're not the only one. I much prefer Flowers of the Forest to it for a dirge. Sleep Dearie Sleep ranks right up there as well -- it was played by pipers from the RHR at JFK's funeral.

Pipe tunes that really get me:

Mist-Covered Mountains
Green Hills of Tyrol
Black Bear
All the Blue Bonnets o'er the Border

But, my two favourite songs: A Man's a Man for a' that and Auld Lang Syne.

For sing-a-long, nothing beats Waltzing Matilda and Barrett's Privateers. They're not Scottish, but we've sung them at Scottish events.

Regards,

Todd

**Thunderbolt** · 19th December 07, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I just can't stand Amazing Grace. As a piper, I'm forced to play it all the time and now I hate it.

Nowadays, I really love any strathspey (that's a type of tune). A good strathspey really get my heart pumpin.

You, me and most all other pipers. As for straths, for me it's a good hornpipe or jig, but not too fast!

Originally Posted by PiperGeorge

I do have to say that Amazing Grace

and Scotland the Brave

are down the list for me. They have powerful emotional connections, but they are overplayed and are.....well, not my favorites. (But I do understand why others do like them)

WAY over played. However, we are pipers and would all be out of a job if nobody wanted to hear us play...So, play what people want to hear we must. However, I do think that people who love pipe music should do a little research and discover the entire pipe spectrum, I mean, find out what the pipes REALLY can do!

Originally Posted by highlander_Daz

Looking at his Birl it looks like a "7" but with the forward movement performed as a very small movement very quickly (quicker than the eye!!) and then a very rapid draw back, with such speed his finger comes right back, I think the rapid draw backward gives it that machine gun like quality. it does appear that he only draws back his finger, Ive spoke to a few pipers that played with him and they all say the way he performed his Birl was a very unique to him, Interestingly, they all tell me that Gordon never "showboated" when playing with other pipers and would often let them take the lead, however on his new CD there is a very long recording of a Set from The Scottish Pipers Assoc Knockout Comp final in 1993 and he just effortlessly levels the opposition.

Spot on. I miss Gordon dearly. I use different birls, depending on the situation. If I have a longer note before the birl, like a low A, I'll use a figure 7. Like a typical march 6/8's and such. However, if it is a fast birl, like a long birl in a jig, I use the "tap, curl" so my finger doesn't have to set up for the birl.

A lot of trad. pipers say that the figure 7 is the only correct way to do a birl. But at my level, I can't tell the difference, other than a slight difference in timing. My instructor used the "down-up slide", so it started as a figure 7, but slid right back up instead of off the chanter. I never could do that.

By the way, I think birls from B aughta be banned....

T.

**Thunderbolt** · 19th December 07, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Drillagent

In order to get the blood roiling enough to make you want to pick a fight with and Englishman then have a pint after, you really should listen to or better yet watch Albannach. They're a "tribal" group out of Scotland that usually make the Highland Games tours during the summer. Their latest album Eye of the Storm I thought was their best yet. They have a version of The Gael that just makes you want to knock someone out. I use it when I'm working out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eXTbxnePVs

They are way cool. It's funny, tho, it take 5 drummies to keep up with ONE piper....! :o

T.

**Chase** · 19th December 07, 11:02 AM

I hate to be the odd man out, but I'm such a Rock N Roll fan that I would have to include AC/DC's Long Way to the Top (if you wanna rock-n-roll) as one that gets me going: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxP9fOMLE_8 Just watch the video and judge for yourself..There are a great set of pipes providing background for the chorus and of course I like "Scotland the Brave".

Chase

**Mr. Kilt** · 19th December 07, 11:56 AM

While Amazing Grace will usually bring a tear to my eye (it was my father's favorite song and was played at his funeral 30 years ago

), my all-time favorite song with pipes is Paul McCartney's "Mull of Kintyre".

**IndianaGentry** · 24th February 08, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Drillagent

In order to get the blood roiling enough to make you want to pick a fight with and Englishman then have a pint after, you really should listen to or better yet watch Albannach. They're a "tribal" group out of Scotland that usually make the Highland Games tours during the summer. Their latest album Eye of the Storm I thought was their best yet. They have a version of The Gael that just makes you want to knock someone out. I use it when I'm working out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eXTbxnePVs

Ahhhh yes... I love that CD. I mentioned in another post today that I saw them play at the Scott Monument in Edinburgh last August:

I also love the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards CD called "Parallel Tracks- Going Home." Mark Knopfler plays on this CD, and I remember hearing it everywhere I went during the Fringe Festival. When I listen to it, it is like hearing a soundtrack to my trip. I can remember what song I heard while eating lunch at Rapido's, what was playing when I ate orange fudge walking down the Royal Mile, etc. Yeah, it's kind of silly I guess... but everyone has something that brings back good memories.

Dropkick Murphys get me going, too. It is tough to pick just one song, but I've always liked "Worker's Song" and "Sing Loud, Sing Proud." They are my favorite sing-alongs from the Murphys. I'll be seeing them in a couple of weeks here in Indy!

**Highland Logan** · 24th February 08, 11:45 PM

My computer starts up to The Blackbear, and shuts down to Skye Boat.

Frank

**MacMoose** · 25th February 08, 01:36 PM

I can't argue with the choices mentioned by my esteemed brethren here...there are many tunes that when played on the pipes (or at times, a fiddle) that bring a tear to the eye, or a desire to chase a sassenach around with a bloody great sword...ahem...

As much as I enjoy the classics, I shall put my vote in here for a fellow XMarker, and his band...

"What's Up Yours" by Barley Juice. That is in heavy rotation around here.

**rongoms** · 25th February 08, 02:54 PM

while I am a stauch traditionalist....i have to say that Pipe Power by the Victoria Police Pipe Band is my all-time favorite pipe tune. Followed closely by Glasgow Welcomes Nelson Mandela.

for those of you who have never heard Pipe Power, shoot me a PM with your email and somethign might show up in your mailboix. The CDs are still around, but the band has broken up and is no longer making music :-( (not the the former glory, at least)