strathspey@strathspey.org:11699

Norman BETT

Re: Dancing to pipes - or not!

April 21, 1998, 12:56 p.m. (Message 11699, in reply to message 11659)

This talk about pipes and drums raises very deep questions:
How do we as dancers (or listeners) discern `the beat' and just as importantly,
the end of the phrase? With the pipes this is very difficult for the untrained
ear and especially if one does not know the tune.  The rhythm is propagated
entirely by the timing of each note (on account of the interspersed grace notes,
doublings, grips etc.) whereas on every other instrument one has the ability to
use emphasis as well as dynamics.
As a fiddler and accordionist I try to convey phrasing by the style of playing; and of
course the added harmony helps (cadences!).  I rarely use drums, though when you
get a good dance band drummer it not only helps, it can be a dream come true.
Pipe drumming is entirely different: the snare work is really a solo act which
is interesting to listen to for its own sake (though not for too long!).

Norman




Mr Norman Bett
Cambridge  UK

Tel: 01223-248988