Designed & produced by Eric Maclewis
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2008-2024
Scottish infantry regiment created during the 18th century and based in Blair Atholl (Blair Castle) in the Highlands (Perthshire), the Atholl Highlanders form a private army for the use of the Duke of Atholl. The latter has been the Chief of Clan Murray based in Perthshire for more than seven centuries.
The original tune was only in two parts; it can now be developed in four parts.
It is attributed to William Ross (1823-1891), piper and pipemaker and can be played as a march or a jig.
The Atholl Highlanders
Practice chanter :
- start with a slow tempo by looping the delicate parts, then gradually increase to the required bpm value
- make sure to eliminate passing noises (prior work on slow tempi), especially on part 2
- each part begins with an anacrusis that takes place just after beat 2,
- the last two bars of each part are almost identical (except for the anacrusis that ends them): one will benefit from working them well (in a loop)
- give all its value to the quarter note (A) that finishes each part and do not rush to the anacrusis (an eighth note in general)
- place the G grace notes and the doublings on the beat.
- Part. 1 & 2 = at the 4th bar of each part, take the time to properly place the C doubling, do not rush it and respect the rhythm of the group of notes
- Part. 3 = before each grip, it is essential to place a quarter note (High-A) of good length; do not rush the grip, play it clearly with audible notes; after the grip, put an E doubling firmly on the beat
- Part. 4 (tachum) =
A) put the first note of the tachum with a firm G grace note, perfectly on the beat
B) each last note of the tachum (group of 3 notes) has a D grace note : we can tend to retract it... so work on isolated bars, at a low tempo, to properly lock the movement and all its grace notes
C) be sure to focus on the sound of the tachum as a "broken rhythm" = always have the same sound with also the second note (dotted) with all its value.
- score written by Eric Maclewis with CelticPipes
MARCH