Annotation:Pipe Slang (The)

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PIPE SLANG, THE (Feadan glan a'phiobair). Scottish, Air and Pipe Reel. A Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Athole, Fraser): AABB' (Kerr). "In the words of the pipe slang, the noisy rattling piper of a country wedding draws a ridiculous comparison betwixt his own music and that of the violin, so frequently interrupted by the breaking of strings, tuning, &c., whereas, he appeals to all the bonny lasses, if his chanter was ever known to fail while they continued dancing" (Fraser). However, in another Gaelic song in Simon Fraser's 1816 collection, "Grant of Sheuglie's Contest/Màiri Nighean Deorsa (1)," the fiddle is the choice, for 'sprightly youth and bonny lasses … all declare that at wedding, dance or ball' the fiddle with its bass in attendance had no competitor—'thy music having the effect of electricity on those who listen to it'.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Fraser (The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles), 1816; No. 49, p. 17. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 2), c. 1880’s; No. 56, p. 9. Laybourn (Köhler’s Violin Repository vol. 3), 1885; p. 197. Songer (The Portland Collection, vol. 3), 2015. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 46.

Recorded sources: Brechin All Records, Bruce MacGregor and Christine Hanson - "Kissin' is the Best of A'" (2011). Greentrax Recordings, GiveWay - "Inspired" (2005).

See also listing at:
Hear Laura Risk's recording on youtube.com [1]

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