Being part of an around-the world, around-the-clock, 24 Hour Poptastic online community, means that life is always full of surprises.
I was having an early morning cuppa here at our holiday cottage in Öland when I got a text message from Simon in Alice Springs, commenting on the fact that the New Yorker have a rather decent article on Brigdhe Chaimbeul, the young piper from Skye who has been making a lot of international waves.
I was interested to read it. After being tipped off about her by @retropath2, I saw her gig at the Roskilde Festival a while back and the Danish youth all sat spellbound throughout the set .
Things got a little rowdier for the final tune when a couple of Viking lads jumped up onto the stage and got the people dancing, creating a spontaneous mini-ceilidh. Definitely great fun.
I hope she was happy with this response. Brighde is something of a chamber piper and would not be out-of-place on ECM.
Here is an introduction from THE NEW YORKER
The 27-year-old Scottish musician Brìghde Chaimbeul is considered one of the most skillful and interesting bagpipe players in the world. Chaimbeul grew up a native Gaelic speaker on Skye, an island in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, in a family of artists. Since pivoting, as a teen-ager, from the Great Highland pipes to focus on the smallpipes, she’s won national folk competitions and released three solo albums (the latest, “Sunwise,” in June), but also made pilgrimages to places such as Bulgaria, where other pipe traditions have flourished; collaborated with the indie singer-songwriter Caroline Polachek; and played for a Dior runway show. “In doing so, she has redrawn the bounds of her instrument,” Elena Saavedra Buckley writes.
The Scottish smallpipe, which has roots that go at least as far back as the 15th century, was nearly lost to history. “These bagpipes had mostly been hidden away in the backs of cupboards,” the Lowland and Border Pipers’ Society journal explained in 1989, “or they had found their way, as curiosities of a former age, into museums, where they would lie dead and silent in display cases.” But, over the years, Scottish musicians advocated for smallpipes as a cultural corrective: something that could revive a lost, jubilant character of communal Scottish music, and that could help disrupt not only the regimented Highland piping culture but the kitschy idea of Scotland forged by English imperialism. Chaimbeul, lauded as a “musical genius” by her peers, is part of this lineage of bagpipe players who are luring tradition into the present. “It all stems from her tacit understanding of the tradition. It’s a kind of focus on the depth in our music, in which the layers of virtuosity are stripped away,” one of her collaborators said.
Read the full story:
https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/YwJIJW
You’ll need to know someone with a subscription to read the whole thing
The Musician Bringing the Bagpipes Into the Avant-Garde | The New Yorker
Are there any more fans here?
My second surprise of the day occurred when I visited the local Systembolaget ( State Liquor Store) in Vedborm. You’ll be surprised to hear, it’s only open in the summer.
I’d scarcely got out the car when a young cop comes over and asks me to breathe into a breathalyser. I was sober as a judge but it felt a bit weird.
Hanging around in the liquor store car park was really shooting fish in a barrel.
Have any of you had any surprises This weekend?
Here’s a recent tune,
And here she is live.
I like Brighde, but you have to be a true fan to gain entry into all of her work, which can be, on occasion, somewhat impenetrable. I just love the tone of the pipes, which gets me through some of the more challenging areas. She certainly isn’t a purveyor of shortbread tin jigs and reels, nor even necessarily of the slow airs that pipes can be such a good conveyor. But if you like some Caledonian inspired exotica, somewhere between ambient and chamber jazz, she’s yer lassie.
Her big sister plays harp in Nova Scotia based band, The Aerialists, who are quite fun.
I see what you mean about impenetrability.
Big Sis, Marie and her band, would be far more fun at a party. Thanks for mentioning them…
Her last name reminded me of this the chalumeau a single-reed aerophone with cylindrical bore and fingerholes, which I thought was quite apt. I found out her surname means Campbell.
The last part beul is possibly linked to puirt à beul a traditional form of song native to Scotland that sets Gaelic lyrics to instrumental tune melodies though in this case it means mouth. Don’t bells have mouths?
Puirt à beul – essentially “mouth music” – so it means mouth in both cases…
And a fascination with the glorious work of Martyn Bennett will take you to the band of the same name:
https://www.discogs.com/master/164187-Mouth-Music-Mouth-Music
Some of my most blissful concert experiences were courtesy of Mouth Music. A magical blend of Celtic, African and electronic music before Afro Celt Soundsystem. I wansn’t aware until today that Martyn Bennett was involved right from the first album, which I still love for its sparse, almost harsh rawness. The second (Mo-di) was interesting, if a bit too pop, and the only other one I have (the 7th – The Scrape) I haven’t listened to for may years, but I recall as being starightforward fiddle music with no African or electronic elements.
I found YT clips of their 6th album (Seafaring Man) this morning and it’s a gentle, but still richly instrumentally supported collection of songs. Here are two that appealed to me, sung respectively by Ishbel MacAskill and (I think) Martin Furey:
https://youtu.be/yJQ6sZ-Xvlo?si=2p94PipMG0LJizUU
There seems to be a Celtic/E.European/Baltic connection as Mouth Music’s main man, Martin Swan’s musical journey took him to Croatia, though now he seems to make musical instruments rather than music.
Thanks for putting Mouth Music on the map for me, @salwarpe. I look forward to exploring their back catalogue and reading Jim Swan and his trips to Croatia.
OOOPS. Martin Swan , not Jim!
I’m disappointed that the album Seafaring Man Is not on Spotify. I must keep my eyes open for it. Here is an informative review.
https://markelliswalker.net/music/albums/mmusic-sm.html
This is one of the most sorrowful albums I have in my collection.
I suspect that many of the songs are on Ytube.
Wiki provides some excellent background on Mouth Music for beginners like myself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouth_Music
The original singer who appeared only on the first album was Talitha Mackenzie, an American with Scottish roots.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talitha_MacKenzie
And here to my surprise is another link with Bulgaria.
In September 1992, MacKenzie set up the a cappella women’s group Sedenka. The name comes from a Bulgarian word meaning ‘a gathering of women for the purpose of enjoying each other’s company while working through the long winter nights’ and its purpose was to gather and share songs and dances from around the world in a variety of styles and languages.
They appear on this track from her first album.
Salwarpe mentioned Martin Swan’s connection with Croatia.
I stumbled across this review of an album by Croatian band Kries.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/mar/14/folk.shopping
Martin plays fiddle on the album, the only non-Croatian.
Here they are live in London at the Pizza in the Park in 2008 with bagpipes and Martin Swan on fiddle.
This might also interest you..
As will this clip in which Martin play fiddle with the Lidija Dokuzovic Sevdah Trio.
The sister’s name is Mairi Chaimbeul
http://mairichaimbeul.com/
Take a look at Mairi’s cv! She has been very successful as a musician, teacher and academic in North America.
Thanks for mentioning Martin Bennett @vulpes-vulpes. Another pioneer taking Celtic music in an exciting new direction.
I was interested to read Brigdhe’s wiki page.
She’s one of four siblings from a bohemian family who all studied at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh. Her sister Steph is also a harpist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%ACghde_Chaimbeul
Brighde gets invited to play with some of the very best Scottish traditional musicians.
I saw the article, and had two thoughts:
1. That’s really interesting, and sounds good. Shall pursue.
2. I know who’d be really interested in this…
You were right there, Si!
This morning I’ve been digging around to find out more about the history of piping and its relation to Gaelic language.
https://share.google/1snq2nZeG5YZ0lQlA
This article about the history of piping is excellent. It mentions all the Scots who migrated to Novia Scotia and also the myth that the bagpipes were banned after the battle of Culloden.
I’d never heard of Pibroch before this morning.
The word pibroch is Lowland corruption of the Gaelic word for bagpipes.
The Wikipedia page on Pibroch is well worth reading.
Here, piper James Rattray provides an excellent introduction:
He is a very interesting chap.
I’m startled that you’ve never heard of pibroch, KFD – I think It’s been mentioned at various points on here where piping was discussed (although I don’t think it ever had a thread of its own, therefore difficult to find using the search function).
You are right, @fitterstoke. It is rather odd that I don’t know the word. Then again, I am very forgetful.
I did a search using Google to see if the word has appeared before on the AW.
The AW search engine does not work well!
On a Dylan thread called Cairngorm Skyline in August 2023, The Californian uses it, but I couldn’t see much other use.
My apologies @Kaisfatdad – clearly this is all in my head! Most odd…
No apologies needed. I suspect it is a word or concept so common in Scotland that one forgets that foreigners won’t know it.
Just like a wee dram, a bampot, auld lang syne or neaps and tatties
Aside from the pipes, if we’re talking about Nova Scotia, don’t forget the fiddle music – check out Natalie MacMaster too:
A new name to me but clearly a big star over in Canada, @vulpes- vulpes.
Let’s have more songs from Natalie and other musicians from Novis Scotia!
Your wish is my command; the great Stan Rogers.
You are really spoiling us, @vulpes-vulpes. Not only some great music but some spectacular film clips of the Canadian wastes. Look forward to watching it later. Stan was a new name for me.
The Celtic musical heritage of Nova Scotia (and Cape Breton, particularly) is long and magnificent. I first came across it via, first, the Rankin Family, who were, sort of, the Clannad crossed with the Corrs, of their day, and then from Ashley MacIsaac, the Martyn Bennett, if you will, of the area.
Here is one from each:
(My mother thought their Gaelic very odd indeed, but that one is in English)
(Uncharacteristically gentle from Ashley, who often adds ideas from hip-hop and electronica)
And the Barra MacNeills, whose name give some idea their ancestry. A lovely version of the Dougie MacLean classic:
Thanks, Retro! Some excellent input!
That Ashley album is one of my greatest favourites!
Blimey @vulpes-vulpes, thought I was the only person who had ever heard (of) it, or him. Mind you, your love of what gets called folktronica would explain finding him. Are you familiar with Kan? Or The Iron Horse, each of whom have a little of that in their mix.
*waves farewell to wallet*
Can you give me the name of an album by the aforesaid Kan? Discogs lists lots of artists called Kan!
It is Kan (10) on Discogs. One album, Sleeper. Brian Finnegan from Flook and Aidan O’Rourke from Lau (and, small world, Brighde Chaimbeul’s debut).
Just realised that I have this! It will take some time to find it, but I think I need to listen again!
This blogspot about Pibroch by Stephen Jones is informative and amusing.
https://stephenjones.blog/2024/02/05/pibroch/
He mentions similar musical traditions in other countries.
Mr Jones is a fascinating bloke with a great knowledge of Chinese Daoism (me neither) and a lively sense of humour.
https://stephenjones.blog/
The Bright Young Folk review of BC’s first album is also an excellent read and explains why the folk world were so thrilled by her debut,
https://brightyoungfolk.com/records/the-reeling-brighde-chaimbeul
That mention of Nova Scotia made me realise how very ignorant I was about it.
I knew a little about the music scene and the Celtic Colours Festival which attracts a lot of major acts from the Celtic music scene.
What I didn’t know was that Canadian Gaelic is an official language of the province and that there are several poets and songwriters who are using it rather successfully.
And let’s not forget how the Nova Scotians have developed Celtic music that is uniquely their own.,,,
Here is one the Bulgarian tunes that Brigdhe plays on her first album: Moma e Moma rodila.
https://eefc.org/wp-content/uploads/MOMA-E-MOMA-RODILA_text-and-translation.pdf
Here it is played on Bulgarian bagpipes. A rather different beastie than their Scottish cousin
Here is BC’s version…
And now a Bulgarian bagpipe ensemble!
To my ears there’s a strangely mournful sound to the music. It doesn’t sound a military marching band.
Now an Australian interview with Brighde..
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/musicshow/brighde-chaimbeul-scottish-the-reeling–scruton-music-as-an-art/12598346
In the interview they mention mouth music and explain a little about it.
Brighde mentions that her first contact with the pipes was from a Greek guy who was babysitting her!
It’s mentioned in this informative interview.
https://www.robadamsjournalist.com/index.asp?pageid=670475
In the Aussie interview she tells an amusing anecdote about her to Bulgaria. The only Bulgarian word she knew was гайди which means bagpipes.
If you are planning a trip to Bulgaria, it seems it will get you a long way
I did a YT search using the Bulgarian word for bagpipes. I hit piping gold!
One for the Guinness book …
Here’s some kind of Bulgarian western with full bagpipe soundtrack
Back to Brighde and her research trip to Bulgaria… It got me thinking: have I heard Bulgarian folk music before?
The answer is a big yes. Back in the 80s and 90s, I was a big fan of an album called Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares which featured the polyphonic grannies of Bulgaria and was a big succes.
My favourite East European album is East Wind, by Planxty’s Andy Irvine and Moving Hearts’ Davy Spillane:
That is a beautiful tine, @retroath2.
i was very amused by your mum’s comment on Canadian Gaelic,
Kate Bush joined us all in jumping on the Bulgarian bandwagon. Good for her!
The playlist from this thread is an interesting pot pourri.
If the musical journey from Scotland to Eastern Europe can hop over the border to Poland and then stretch to the Caribbean, here is a bit of crossover from the early 90s that I found intriguing
I see your Caribbean and offer some bagpiped from the Ivory Coast, via some reggae and a song you might know.
The bagpipes come from Michael Cozien, who was the piper and whistle player in French band, Les Witches, who were French mediaeval revivalists.
I dare say @thecheshirecat knows a dance to this one!
Another wonderful find @retropath2. You are spoiling us.
What’s good for the Cat, is good for me.
Les witches have a considerable back catalogue..
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Witches
They won an award for their soundtrack fr this film
Mads Mikkelsen in fine form.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2054790/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_1_in_0_q_michael%2520kolhaas
Wish You Were Here belongs, for me, in the sealed honey pot with Let It Be and I Just Called To Say I Love You as songs that should nevr be played because they are just too sweet.
The Witches song is a far preferable messy and repetitive rattling noise that sounds great fun. I think bagpipe reggae is quite a niche genre. This is all I could find right now – not from my living room, I promise you
The SIDH are new to me. From Italy, no less. I don’t like the rap shouting but I like the rest. No pipes, but if you like trad-reggae fusion, An Danssa Dub are the business. From Skye
That was pleasant , particularly after the first track when more of the reggae (ie bass) came through. Last weekend, the second band at te free Bonn concert was called the Trouble Notes – accomplished violinist, guitarist and drummer, but without a bass player, it felt weightless, particularly for a band doing rhythmic folk music.
A very accomplished violinist indeed. He spent much of last summer in a short-lived folk supergroup, Dream In Colours, who never got around to recording anything. Bennet Cervan is his name and I wil bet he was wearing his red velvet jacket!
Jump to 2.25 to lose the chat!
As soon as I read that last sentence, I thought – is that a monologue from Bennet? He seems a totally warm-hearted and earnest person, but my goodness does he have the gift of the gab…. What is it about violinists? He seems to be a folk version of Nigel Kennedy – so enthuisastic as an evangelist for his music, yet at the same time a tiny bit annoying, which I feel bad about expressing, as he seems so genuine.
Here, his loud and extravagant playing seems matched by the volume of the other instruments, particularly the dhol, but in Trouble Notes, he just overwhelmed the other players, especially the guitarist, who was really talented, but who I couldn’t hear in balance to the fiddling.
Thanks @salwarpe
Another interesting discovery who are clearly well-known among the beardy folky crowd.
I was a tad disappointed that the SIDH were not playing in your living room.
Another fine combo from Skye. An Dannsa Dub sound very promising.
From the album Twinkle in a Polish Stylee from1992. Great find @salwarpe.
https://www.discogs.com/release/728444-Higher-Heights-Twinkle-Inna-Polish-Stylee?srsltid=AfmBOopv1wuWy8TL6fwWYemAYZ2aYNTtQmPt4TNWgpjclS2s8SmAofUK
Brighde is a delicate, restrained, introspective piper. who would be welcome in any Scottish drawing room.
Just by way of contrast, here are a few lasses who are the exact opposite.
From Galicia, the very talented Christina Pato..
The Snake Charmer from India with her version of some popular folk songs.
And finally a hot piping trio. I suspect that Ms Chambeul is unlikely to be invited to play together with these jiving jezebels..
They are READY TO ROCK. But will they be invited to play at The Beardy Folk Festival?