Bagpipe Music CD Reviewed
Full Review
Here...
Hey, anybody know any good bagpipe jokes? Let's start off this review with a nice, juicy Highland kneeslapper? OK, here goes...
Oh alright, maybe not.
See, when I first listened to Michael O'Neill's Ontophony, the idea came up that it would be fun to turn the tables on those people who are always having fun at the expense of the bagpipes. But after several more listens, it became fairly obvious that O'Neill's music more than holds its own.
Ontophony brings together O'Neill's Mearingstone group (four bagpipes, plus percussion) with the percussion ensemble Uzume Taiko. With three taiko (Japanese drum) drummers, tablas, shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), and snare drum, this makes for a big group with an even bigger sound. Imagine the bagpipes acting as a gamelon orchestra, taking on the music of Philip Glass, leavened with the percussion approach of Bill Laswell. This is not music from the St. Patrick's Day parade.
The opening track, "A Walk Supreme," is a perfect example of the Ontophony sound. Since it's not possible to completely avoid the sound of the pipes, we're presented with that trademark drone. Thirty seconds in, a very angular melody forms, supported by the melodic signature of the tablas. Periodically, other bagpipes move in to add circular and repetitive lines that would not be out of place in a Steve Reich composition. With its intertwined melody lines, Ontophony has a modern sound unlike anything else I've ever heard.
"Migration of a Triad" take the sound a bit further out with lots of magnificent dissonance. In a jazz composition, notes from the next octave up are often added for coloration (flatted nineths, elevenths, etc.) "Migrate" takes advantage of the presence of multiple instruments to allow notes only a half-step apart to be sounded. While this may set some listeners ears on edge, I happen to hear beauty in the chaos.
Drawing on the entire bagpipe and percussion ensemble, "Luffness" features an extended weave of pipes, taiko drums, shakuhachi, and didgeridoo. It somehow manages to sound traditional and 'out' at the same time. While "World Music" has become an almost meaningless in descriptive usefulness (sort of like "ethnic food"), this particular composition does showcase the cross-cultural aspects of the Vancouver music and arts scene—melding various Eastern and Western musics to produce sounds that neatly fuse all elements. Impressive and sometimes magical stuff.
So, two bagpipers walk into a bar...
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Hey, anybody know any good bagpipe jokes? Let's start off this review with a nice, juicy Highland kneeslapper? OK, here goes...
Oh alright, maybe not.
See, when I first listened to Michael O'Neill's Ontophony, the idea came up that it would be fun to turn the tables on those people who are always having fun at the expense of the bagpipes. But after several more listens, it became fairly obvious that O'Neill's music more than holds its own.
Ontophony brings together O'Neill's Mearingstone group (four bagpipes, plus percussion) with the percussion ensemble Uzume Taiko. With three taiko (Japanese drum) drummers, tablas, shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), and snare drum, this makes for a big group with an even bigger sound. Imagine the bagpipes acting as a gamelon orchestra, taking on the music of Philip Glass, leavened with the percussion approach of Bill Laswell. This is not music from the St. Patrick's Day parade.
The opening track, "A Walk Supreme," is a perfect example of the Ontophony sound. Since it's not possible to completely avoid the sound of the pipes, we're presented with that trademark drone. Thirty seconds in, a very angular melody forms, supported by the melodic signature of the tablas. Periodically, other bagpipes move in to add circular and repetitive lines that would not be out of place in a Steve Reich composition. With its intertwined melody lines, Ontophony has a modern sound unlike anything else I've ever heard.
"Migration of a Triad" take the sound a bit further out with lots of magnificent dissonance. In a jazz composition, notes from the next octave up are often added for coloration (flatted nineths, elevenths, etc.) "Migrate" takes advantage of the presence of multiple instruments to allow notes only a half-step apart to be sounded. While this may set some listeners ears on edge, I happen to hear beauty in the chaos.
Drawing on the entire bagpipe and percussion ensemble, "Luffness" features an extended weave of pipes, taiko drums, shakuhachi, and didgeridoo. It somehow manages to sound traditional and 'out' at the same time. While "World Music" has become an almost meaningless in descriptive usefulness (sort of like "ethnic food"), this particular composition does showcase the cross-cultural aspects of the Vancouver music and arts scene—melding various Eastern and Western musics to produce sounds that neatly fuse all elements. Impressive and sometimes magical stuff.
So, two bagpipers walk into a bar...
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Weekly Update
Oct-02-2006 18:47 |
Weekly
Update |
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Weekly
Update – 10/02/06
Greetings All,
We have had a couple of good practices in the past few weeks. Last night was the "Mandatory Practice before a Gig" practice and we had a fairly good turnout. There were a couple of folks missing who had called in sick or had other legitimate excused absences. Those present were:
PIPERS: Jeff Burton, Steve Cochran, Kevin Donnelly, Karen Killmeyer, Dana Moore, John Murray, Scott Philben, Ed Snyder and Clarence Soong.
DRUMMERS: Rob Agnew and Ron Kuley
We had a brand new beginner piper show up. Everyone should welcome Kate Weatherby, a firefighter with Fairfax County.
EMMITSBURG: Here are the basic's on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg. Here is the list of the folks that I have going:
Rob Agnew, Brian Brendel, Jeff Burton, Kevin Byrne, Steve Cochran, Kevin Donnelly, Dave Foley, Karen Killmeyer, Ron Kuley, Dana Moore, Pete O’Brien, Scott Philben, Jay Rubin, Ed Snyder, Clarence Soong, Gary Winemiller, Pat Carroll. For those staying overnight, your rooms will be available after 5:00 pm on Friday, Oct. 6. So you are welcome to check in Friday night and join me at the Ott House.
SCHEDULE:
SATURDAY:
* The Honor Guards are going to be practicing in the morning and would like a drummer or two to help them get their pace.
* At noon, there is the Red Helmet Ride. There is a need for one or two pipers, in uniform, to play Amazing Grace. In the past, this has been handled by Charlotte, NC.
* After the Red Helmet Ride, all pipes and drums need to gather for practice with the Honor Guards in front of the monument.
* We will all need to be in uniform by 4:30 to form up and pipe the familes from the Academy to the Basilica at 5:30.
* After the Candle Light Vigil, we all gather at the Ott House.
SUNDAY:
* Memorial Service will start about 9:00 a.m. For those staying on Campus, you will need to be up, dressed, packed and ready to leave before you go to breakfast before the Memorial. There will be places to store your baggage and change into street clothes before you leave. The reason for this is that there are students for the following weeks classes who will be arriving in the early afternoon and they have to get the rooms ready. For those who are not staying on campus, you will need to plan to arrive very early. You will not be able to park on campus and you will also have to go through security to get on campus. Everyone’s name and numbers have been given to security so even if you are not staying on campus, you are on the list as a member of the band. But you must plan to arrive early.
ADDIDTIONAL INFO:
UNIFORM OF THE DAY: We will be wearing tunics. As not everyone has a wool cape they will not be worn, BUT bring your green RAIN CAPE. The weather forecast as of this evening is for temperatures in the 50’s & 60’s (10-15c) with the chance of light rain on Saturday morning.
ALSO: As security on campus has been greatly increased, DO NOT BRING YOUR SGIAN DUBH. For that matter, leave all your weapons at home, unless you have federal credentials to carry.
AND, as there will be no parking on campus, pack accordingly. Parking will be at Mount St. Mary’s College with shuttle busses to bring you on campus.
If you have any other questions, feel free to call me.
===============================================================================
Greetings All,
We have had a couple of good practices in the past few weeks. Last night was the "Mandatory Practice before a Gig" practice and we had a fairly good turnout. There were a couple of folks missing who had called in sick or had other legitimate excused absences. Those present were:
PIPERS: Jeff Burton, Steve Cochran, Kevin Donnelly, Karen Killmeyer, Dana Moore, John Murray, Scott Philben, Ed Snyder and Clarence Soong.
DRUMMERS: Rob Agnew and Ron Kuley
We had a brand new beginner piper show up. Everyone should welcome Kate Weatherby, a firefighter with Fairfax County.
EMMITSBURG: Here are the basic's on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg. Here is the list of the folks that I have going:
Rob Agnew, Brian Brendel, Jeff Burton, Kevin Byrne, Steve Cochran, Kevin Donnelly, Dave Foley, Karen Killmeyer, Ron Kuley, Dana Moore, Pete O’Brien, Scott Philben, Jay Rubin, Ed Snyder, Clarence Soong, Gary Winemiller, Pat Carroll. For those staying overnight, your rooms will be available after 5:00 pm on Friday, Oct. 6. So you are welcome to check in Friday night and join me at the Ott House.
SCHEDULE:
SATURDAY:
* The Honor Guards are going to be practicing in the morning and would like a drummer or two to help them get their pace.
* At noon, there is the Red Helmet Ride. There is a need for one or two pipers, in uniform, to play Amazing Grace. In the past, this has been handled by Charlotte, NC.
* After the Red Helmet Ride, all pipes and drums need to gather for practice with the Honor Guards in front of the monument.
* We will all need to be in uniform by 4:30 to form up and pipe the familes from the Academy to the Basilica at 5:30.
* After the Candle Light Vigil, we all gather at the Ott House.
SUNDAY:
* Memorial Service will start about 9:00 a.m. For those staying on Campus, you will need to be up, dressed, packed and ready to leave before you go to breakfast before the Memorial. There will be places to store your baggage and change into street clothes before you leave. The reason for this is that there are students for the following weeks classes who will be arriving in the early afternoon and they have to get the rooms ready. For those who are not staying on campus, you will need to plan to arrive very early. You will not be able to park on campus and you will also have to go through security to get on campus. Everyone’s name and numbers have been given to security so even if you are not staying on campus, you are on the list as a member of the band. But you must plan to arrive early.
ADDIDTIONAL INFO:
UNIFORM OF THE DAY: We will be wearing tunics. As not everyone has a wool cape they will not be worn, BUT bring your green RAIN CAPE. The weather forecast as of this evening is for temperatures in the 50’s & 60’s (10-15c) with the chance of light rain on Saturday morning.
ALSO: As security on campus has been greatly increased, DO NOT BRING YOUR SGIAN DUBH. For that matter, leave all your weapons at home, unless you have federal credentials to carry.
AND, as there will be no parking on campus, pack accordingly. Parking will be at Mount St. Mary’s College with shuttle busses to bring you on campus.
If you have any other questions, feel free to call me.
===============================================================================