WHO WE ARE A gathering of smallpipers and friends. A kind of informal community choir with pipes (and fiddles, whistles, cellos, saxophones, guitars...) |
What? Perhaps you have a set of Smallpipes (in either A or D), a penny whistle, a fiddle, guitar or mandolin, a clarinet, cello, recorder, saxophone, or a practice chanter. Perhaps you play regularly, or sometimes anyway, or maybe your instrument's just laying gathering dust? If so, come down and join us on a Tuesday evening. Where? During the spring of 2017, the Glasgow Smallpipers will be gathering to participate in the Tuesday evening Smallpipers group from 8:30pm to 9:15pm at The College of Piping, Otago Street (opposite end of Kelvinbridge from the underground). The College currently hosts a Scottish Smallpipes evening class on Tuesdays (during Glasgow Schools' term-time) from 7pm-9pm, led by Glasgow Smallpipers' founder Donald WG Lindsay, with the assistance of tutor Alana MacInnes, and LBPS committee member Colin MacAldowie. Tea and cakes are available, please let us know if you'll be attending so we've an idea of numbers. What's involved? Each week between 8:30pm and 9:15pm, we will have a look at a tune together - sheet music, and Mp3s are available via email for all of the tunes we'll play, so you'll have plenty of time to familiarise yourself with the music beforehand. Our emphasis is on playing for enjoyment. We won't be beating ourselves up over the odd bum note, and gracenotes will be left to the discretion of the player. Parts can be written for players at all levels - pipers willing to play simple accompaniment parts will be as invaluable to the group, as will more experienced players. What do I need to bring? All of our tunes are arranged for a mixed group of Smallpipes in the keys of A & D, so if you have pipes in either of those keys, you can join in right away. Some of our arrangements will use both pitches of pipe together, to play music that either pipe couldn't manage alone. All other instruments are very welcome. Sheet music is currently available for concert pitch instruments, and for Eb instruments. Scores for Bb instruments, and other transpositions can be provided on request. Smallpipers in other keys (C, Bb) are welcome to come along - see the Lowland & Border Pipers Society's "Suggested Duets" book (www.lbps.net) for ideas about how we might play together if this is you. You mentioned a choir? Some of our tunes are also songs, so if you fancy singing with your pipes (or other instrument), then you can join in with that. It's very informal - singing, mumbling, groaning and humming are all considered legitimate forms of vocal expression, particularly if you're playing your pipes at the same time. |