Conundrum (The)
CONUNDRUM, THE. Scottish, March (2/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB'. A pipe march often heard played at Scottish sessions. Composed by Peter Macleod (1878-1965), who lived in Partick, Glasgow. He was a composer and noted piper, and a pipe major with the Cameronian Regiment. In addition to "The Conundrum," his best compositions are the march "Lady Lever Park" and "Duncan McInnes." He is considered a giant of early-mid 20th century Great Highland Pipe composing and teaching, many of whose tunes are in traditional repertoire today. A story is told about "The Conundrum" that may or may not be true. It seems that Macleod migrated to Glasgow where there was work to be found in the great shipyards of the city, but had the misfortune to suffer an accident that resulted in the loss of a leg. The tune's unusual rhythm is said to mimic his marching gait when equiped with a wooden leg, and the tune's title reflects Macleod's difficulties keeping to march rhythm with a pronounced limp.
Printed source: Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), vol. 1, 1991; p. 26.
Recorded source: Culburnie Records CUL102c, Alasdair Fraser & Jody Stecher - "The Driven Bow" (1988).
X: 1
T: Conundrum, The
C:Peter MacLeod
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
Z:http://www.sfco.puckette.com/reels/files/conundrum_the.txt
Q:180
K: A
A>B|\
"A"c2 A>B e>f c2|A>c e>a "D"f2 (e>f)|"A"a2 e>f e>f c2|A>c e>c "E7"B2 A>B|
"A"c2 A>c e>f c2|A>c e>a "D"f2 (e>f)|"A"a2 e>f e>f c2|"E7"{c}B2 A2 "A"{B}A2 :|
vf>g|:\
"A"a2 e>f a>e a2|e>f a>e "D"f2 (e>f)|"A"a2 e>f e>f c2|
[1A>c e>c "E7"B2 (f>g)|"A"a2 e>f a>e a2|e>f a>e "D"f2 (e>f)|"A"a2 e>f e>f c2|"E7"{c}B2 A2 "A"{B}A2 f>g:|2
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ue2|\
"A"A>B c2 A>B(c>A)|c<e A>B c2e2|"D"f>g a2 "A"e>f c2|A>c e>c "E7"B2e2|
"A"A>B c2 A>B(c>A)|c<e A>B c2e2|"D"f>g a2 "A"e>f c2|"E7"{c}B2 A2 "A"{B}A2::
ua2|\
"D"f>e a>e f2 (e<a)|f2 (e<a) f>e a>e|f>g a2 "A"(e>f) c2|
[1"E7"A>c e>c "A"B2ua2|f>e a>e f2 (e>a)|f2 (e<a) f>e a>e|f>g a2 e>f c2|"E7"{c}B2 A2 "A"{B}uA2:|
[2"E7"A>c e>c "A"B2 (A>B)|c2 d>c e>A c2|d>c e>A f2 (e>f)|a2 e>f e>a c2|"E7"{c}B2 A2 "A"{B}A2 |]