JENNIE MACFIE checks out the Blas Festival’s first Piping Gala

National Youth Pipe Band

A NEW departure for Blas, the Piping Gala was, understandably, not without a few teething problems. The evening began in stygian gloom as the lighting department of Eden Court appeared not to notice that the Bean-an-tigh, Anna Murray, was on stage to greet the audience in Gaelic and English, and announce the National Youth Pipe Band.

Ranging in age from 10 to 25, they are a non-competing outfit, which must be a relief to those who do compete as they displayed formidable competence. Very modern in outlook, they produced some terrific arrangements with plenty of swing, sass and verve, as well as demonstrating the necessary dignity and reserve for slow airs and marches.

Next up was James Macphee of Inverness, chosen by the Northern Meeting championships, and displaying not just great skill but a lovely understanding of the variations in tempo that contribute so much to great pibroch.

Anna Murray and Brian Ó hEadhra slowed the pace and provided a textural contrast with some lovely tunes for small pipes and guitar – a marriage made in heaven – and equally lovely songs, before the NYPB returned to raid the Gordon Duncan Tune Book and rock the stage again.

Following the interval, the Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band, a local voluntary band set up in 2002 and supported by the Inverness Common Good Fund, took us back to traditional piping territory in a well-judged performance overseen by Pipe Major Kenny Watson.

Unlike their predecessors, they are a competing outfit who are beginning to collect some serious trophies on their collective mantelshelf. Then it was back to the future with rising stars Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson, accompanied, very sensitively, by Strathpeffer’s Matthew Watson on guitar. Ainslie and Henderson are renowned for their dizzying, dazzling mastery of flute, Highland, small and uillean pipes, and cascades of notes poured off the stage in a brilliant, sparkling set which set the Empire Theatre alight.

From the young Turks to the old(er) guard – the three Macdonald brothers of Glenuig (Angus, Iain and Allan) are living legends in the world of traditional music. They made it look so easy – always the mark of the master. Tunes from Cape Breton sat comfortably side by side with old Highland jigs, slow airs, classic combinations of March, Strathspey and Reel, and their own compositions.

The Community Pipe Band ended the night with some classics, including ‘Highland Cathedral’, ‘The Rowan Tree’, and ‘Scotland the Brave’, tunes which can easily sound hackneyed but were played with passion and dedication. Despite the small hiccups, it was a very nicely programmed evening celebrating the breadth and depth of music for the pipes, which are such an integral part of Gaelic culture.

© Jennie Macfie, 2009

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