Pibroch  Donald MacPherson: a spell-binding piper with unique talent who excelled in his playing of piobaireachd    more

the shortened term for Piobaireachd - the classical form of bagpipe music

If you belong to a music society, read this page.

The word “piobaireachd” literally means pipe playing or pipe music, but is now used to describe the classical music of the Great Highland Bagpipe. Another name for it is “Ceol Mor” meaning the Big Music, which separates piobaireachd from all other forms of pipe music ( marches, reels, jigs etc. ) which are referred to as “Ceol Beag” – the Little Music.  more

The Piobaireachd Society Home page is here. 

Pibroch, piobaireachd or ceol mor is an art music genre associated primarily with the Scottish Highlands that is characterized by extended compositions with a melodic theme and elaborate formal variations. Strictly meaning "piping" in Scottish Gaelic, piobaireachd has for some four centuries been music of the Great Highland Bagpipe. more

Piob (Peeb) means Pipe; Piobaire (Peebair) means Piper; and Piobaireachd (Peeb-air-och - 3 syllables) means pipe/playing pipe music. Many people "simplify" the pronunciation by saying "Peebrock", probably from the spelling "Pibroch" which is seen in some Light music and songs. Though more accurately titled Ceol Mor (Cowal More) meaning Big (or Great) Music, the classical music of the Great Highland Bagpipe is commonly referred to as Piobaireachd. This is the music that summoned the clans to battle, celebrated sweet victory and terrible loss, commemorated murder and lamented the deaths of their chiefs and heroes. In peaceful times, they played drinking tunes and piobaireachd of love. more

How is piobaireachd structured?

I have often heard piobaireachd described as a theme and variations, and I think this is as good a working description as any.

The first section of music you will hear when listening to piobaireachd is the theme. In Gaelic this is called the urlar.

Typically the urlar is about 2 minutes long. Some are longer; others shorter. The tempo is usually (but not necessarily) slow and the phrasing may seem a little odd – in many tunes the urlar does not have clearly identifiable measures with predictable numbers of beats, or pulses. In addition, the phrases of the urlar are not always of the same length.  more

Take your pick.

Here are four examples.  Dinnae fash yersel if ye cannae tak it a'!  (Don't worry if you can't take it all.)  Just proceed to Donald Dhu.

Listen to Donald Macpherson here

Listen to The Massacre of Glencoe  here.  here  here  Listen to Jori Chisolm here.  Story here.  Farewell to the Laird of Islay here.

Listen to The Pibroch of Donald Dhu  here

2nd paragraph

poem

It isn't pibroch, piobaireachd or ceol mor, whichever name you now prefer.  The tune is within Ceol Beag or light music which most pipers and pipe bands play.  Pibroch is characterised by the "elaborate formal variations" (see first quotation).

When I make piping presentations. a programme is drawn up after discussion with organisers.  Although numerous, none of the presentations have included requests for anything more than Donald Dhu in the pibroch context.  However, there's always a first time.