Bagpipe concerto/symphony?
David Grant
Pardon me if this is something that has been asked before, but I have a
question that someone here should be able to answer.
A couple of years ago I read something about a concerto or symphony for
bagpipes and orchestra, but for the life of me I can't recall who the
composer was or what the piece was called.
Does anyone have the slightest idea what this could be? Any help at all
would be greatly appreciated.
David
David Wright
I've not heard it myself, but I think Sir Peter Maxwell Davies might be
the composer, and the piece might be a called "Hebridean Wedding".
I recall reading something in the piping column which occasionally appears
in our local paper (West Highland Free Press).
IIRC the pipes need to be tuned to "the old key", (A rather than D?), to
be match the rest of the orchestra.
However I'm not a player (yet) and am quoting from memory, so I could be
totally off track.
Le du\rachd
Daibhidh anns an Eilean Sgiathanach
Jonathan P Bernick
>Howdy y'all.
>
>Pardon me if this is something that has been asked before, but I have a
>question that someone here should be able to answer.
>
>A couple of years ago I read something about a concerto or symphony for
>bagpipes and orchestra, but for the life of me I can't recall who the
>composer was or what the piece was called.
>
>Does anyone have the slightest idea what this could be? Any help at all
>would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
>dgr...@eden.com
I think you heard right, but all is not as it seems: The "artist" who wrote
the piece was P.D.Q. Bach (Peter Schikle), whose works include, among others,
"Variations on an Incredibly Simple-Minded Theme," "Echo Sonota for Two Un-
friendly Groups of Instruments," and "Hansel and Gretel and Ted and Alice."
I think he actually wrote a couple of works using bagpipes and orchestra;
don't remember the exact names, but they both have the word "Bagpipes" in
their titles. A book called "The <???> Biography of P.D.Q. Bach" can give
you more info (<???> means I can't remeber the word).
Regards,
JPB
ber...@ee.wpi.edu
WGo...@aol.com
In a message dated 95-07-15 12:14:49 EDT, you write:
>A couple of years ago I read something about a concerto or symphony for
>bagpipes and orchestra, but for the life of me I can't recall who the
>composer was or what the piece was called.
Peter Schickele, writing as PDQ Bach, has composed a comic piece, in a
classical vein call Concerto for Bagpipes, Balloons and Bicycle. (At least I
think that was the name of the piece). I saw it performed more than a few
years ago, and thought it was highly amusing, and not bad music to boot.
Regards, Bill
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
William S. Gority | Bagpiper and Know-It-All
WGo...@aol.com |
1901 Grant Avenue |
Altoona, PA 16602 |
----------------------------------------------------
"The Baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
And therewithal he broghte us owte of towne."
--Geoffrey Chaucer
"I should be so good!"
--Bill Gority
----------------------------------------------------
S. McLean
On 15 Jul 1995, Jonathan P Bernick wrote:
> I think he actually wrote a couple of works using bagpipes and orchestra;
> don't remember the exact names, but they both have the word "Bagpipes" in
> their titles. A book called "The <???> Biography of P.D.Q. Bach" can give
> you more info (<???> means I can't remeber the word).
>
They were "Sinfonia Concertante {S. 98.6} D maj; lute, balalika,double
reed slide music stand, ocarina, left-handed sewer flut, bagpipes and
strings. (The Music of PDQ Bach.) And "Pervertimento" for bagpipes,
bicycle and balloons {S. 66} (An Hysteric Return:PDQ Bach at Carnegie Hall)
I hope this helps,
Scott McLean
JOANN HAWK
I know these things???? he was at the College of Piping's summer camp
a couple of years ago...he entertained us all on talent night with a
musical piece which included guitar and ping-pong balls.....an
amazing talent, young Matthew.......
David Wright
Daib...@ealaghol.demon.co.uk "David Wright" writes:
> I've not heard it myself, but I think Sir Peter Maxwell Davies might be
> the composer, and the piece might be a called "Hebridean Wedding".
>
> I recall reading something in the piping column which occasionally appears
> in our local paper (West Highland Free Press).
> IIRC the pipes need to be tuned to "the old key", (A rather than D?), to
> be match the rest of the orchestra.
I've checked my references now and the piece by Maxwell Davies is called
"An Orkney Wedding With Sunrise" and is scored in A major; the pipes
only take part in the finale of the work.
The article (by Robert Wallace) also mentions that orchestral works
involving bagpipes have been written quite recently by Edward McGuire,
but no other details are given.
In a follow-up letter to the WHFP, John Purser (author of the prize
winning book "Scotland's Music") mentions another composer, Ian Whyte.
In a further letter, James MacDonald Reid (one of the pipers consulted by
Maxwell Davies) mentions that the "Wedding" piece was a commission for
the Boston Pops Orchestra. He also gives the name of one of Ian
Whyte's works as "Donald of the Burthens" (again scored in A major).
I hope this helps.
Ti\oraidh an-dra\sda,
Stuart Hall
Daib...@ealaghol.demon.co.uk wrote:
> I've checked my references now and the piece by Maxwell Davies is called
> "An Orkney Wedding With Sunrise" and is scored in A major; the pipes
> only take part in the finale of the work.
> The article (by Robert Wallace) also mentions that orchestral works
> involving bagpipes have been written quite recently by Edward McGuire,
> but no other details are given.
Orkney Wedding with Sunrise is actually quite a nice piece. As mentioned,
the pipes play a small role; they're only used in the 'sunrise.' The
instructions for playing the piece indicate that the piper should enter
from the rear of the concert hall and play up to the stage. It's a neat
effect.
The wedding portion is also worth hearing, since in it Davies has several
instruments play pipish music, including gracing. One part comes to mind
in which a clarinet plays something that sounds like a strathspey,
complete with grips.
The piece may have been commissioned for the Boston Pops, actually. I
think I have their CD of British orchestral favorites somewhere, and I
think that was in the liner notes. Maybe not. If you're looking for a
good recording, you have a big choice to make. On the Pops recording, the
symphony is great, but the piping's not. I think the piper is Nancy
Tunicliffe(?). Her pipes are out of tune to the orchestra, particularly
on high A, and she's not in time with them. However, there is a recording
of the Scottish National orchestra (I don't remember what they're called,
but it's something like that). They're not the Pops, of course, but the
piper is excellent.
Just my wordy $0.02. :)
Stuart
--
Stuart Hall
(stu...@io.com)
(sh03...@express.ssctr.bcm.tmc.edu)
Thomas Sauer
: A couple of years ago I read something about a concerto or symphony for
: bagpipes and orchestra, but for the life of me I can't recall who the
: composer was or what the piece was called.
There are two things I know:
1) is classical and due to L. Mozart called "Bauernhochzeit" (it's even a
piece for bagpipe and hurdy gurdy); L. (Leopold) Mozart is the father of
W.A. Mozart some of you might have heard about some time (and none of them
is responsible for the sweets with the same name)
This is NOT the "Orkney wedding" (remember: weddings are convenient practice in
almost any European or European influenced (like US) country) as someone
told me sometime. BTW: can anyone name me a record of this piece?
2) is much more modern and called "The Brendan Voyage" (I don't have the name
of composer and interpreter at hand but will look) and is a beautiful suite
for Uillean pipes and orchestra.
Thomas
Dave McNab
sa...@neoptolemos.mi.uni-erlangen.de writes:
>2) is much more modern and called "The Brendan Voyage" (I don't have the name
>of composer and interpreter at hand but will look) and is a beautiful suite
>for Uillean pipes and orchestra.
Shaun Davey has composed a number of wonderful pieces for the uilleann
pipe
and orchestra
The Brendan Voyage
Granuale(sp?)
The Relief of Derry Symphony(which also has the GHB)
All feature the piping of Liam O'Flynn and Rita Connoly sings on the last
two.
As both a piper and a lover of classical music I love these pieces.
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