Obviously everyone has there own opinion regarding what is good form
and what is not. However, as a person who is on the periphery of the
field, I find it difficult to know what indeed is correct, and what is
considered WRONG and to be DAMNED apart from the fact that it should
basicly be mastered with closed fingering. From this thread, the
impression is given that Clough was virtually the only "pure.
traditional, expert", and that everyone should be following his
dictates.
Comparing these arguments with similar discussions on Baroque music,
where there are those who hold that it should be played as written i.e.
virtually unembellished, there are also those who put forth a very
good case for embellishments and whose performances tend to be
wonderfully inspiring and musical. Incidently, the unembellished
school quite happily accepts, as perfectly correct, the many different
renderings of the "figured bass" which are now found in most editions -
modern performers usually being at a loss if handed a copy with the
bass "as originally written".
<< For the soloist, . . . playing a full set of satisfying variations
is the most fun one can have . . . >>
But for the audience, most frequently, this can seem like the most
boring performance of an endless set of technical exercises. (Wow!
I bet I get either completely ignored ,or slaughtered, for such a
heretic remark!!)
Frequently group piping tends to sound like a bunch of kids reciting
the multiplication tables and seeing who can do it the fastest,
combined with the "kazoo effect", which in part, is bound to result
from lack of standardization of the pitch of the "F" chanter. We
have only to listen to various recordings, some of which are highly
recommended as listening material for beginners and for those living
outside the "native heath"; and which seems to be inevitable in all
sessions, especially if involving more than 2 pipers.
Sheila
__________________________________________________________________
It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal
[1]here.
--
References
1. http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047
To get on or off this list see list information at
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
