The original album had such a profound impact on me. I used to listen to it day and night, day after day. Every note is burned into my mind. Although there have been many great performances and recordings since, the "Live in Ireland" will always be pure magic to me. From time to time when I get burnt out or lose motivation I'll go back and listen to this and it never fails to ignite the fire again.
So I wasn't the only one. I actually wore out the cassette tape and my mother had to buy my a 2nd one. I learned every tune. I played in a band that had ties to Donald McCleod through our pipe major (James McWilliams) as well as many of the pipers in the 87 band. Bruce Gandy was my hero at that time, the other soloist also taught at our band school one year (can't recall his name, it'll come to me...). So many of us in our band were very young, high school or late elementary (lots of adults too), and every one of us listened to this album on various trips. We did a tour of the Pacific in 1988 as Canada's guest band for EXPO 88's world fair in Sydney that year, and I remember the 150 or so band members, family, and others that came on tour packages we sold to fund the trip, were listening to this album on the 747 to Hawaii from Vancouver.
As a classical violinist I'm always amazed how the pipe bands play such rhythmically intricate music without a conductor only the pipe major tapping his foot obscured much of the time to the pipers and drummers alike. I doff my hat to them all !!!
Just keeps getting better. So many favorites ! This is how it is done. Well done indeed ! Stellar performances throughout. Blew me away ! Great performance !
My all time favorite live album!! I bought this back in 1994 and memorized the entire album!! I had only been playing for three years at the time. This was bagpipe 101 for me.
I get a real kick out of watching Reid Maxwell trying to hold on for dear life whilst his boy, Grant, just crushes it. Happens even to the best of the best.
I purchased the original recording of this on Vimeo but am glad it's here on YT now because it's easier to find tracks. I love that they play the "Argyllshire Gathering" set! I wish this set had not been cut out of the original '87 recording due to a blown attack. I am obsessed with that MSR and listen to the '88 World's recording of it frequently. The tempos, the expression, the drumming, the ensemble - everything awesome. I do prefer how, in the '80s, the Frasers went from the march immediately into the strathspey, whereas here there's a dramatic pause or whatever you call it (1:19:00). Bill Livingstone was reflecting on the band from '87 in a Piper's Persuasion interview and said, "[We had] no discipline at the breaks." Who am I to disagree with the great Bill Livingstone? Nobody, but I feel that going immediately into the next tune makes a musical statement and is more hard-driving and exciting. It's forward motion, and - rather than showing a lack of discipline - makes a strong musical statement. The 78th F.H. of the '80s were hot stuff; they had swing and swagger and talent out their ears, and driving forward into the next tune without waiting was, for me, very effective.
I tend to prefer getting straight to business, too, in breaks. Depends on the day. The pause tends to eliminate any added performance surprise in telegraphing that something is about to happen ... seems to me.
Beautiful through out . Pleasantly surprised that the standard of unison is so good considering this is a composite band . Just goes to show there is no substitute for ability . Many thanks for making this gem available to the piping public .
So who was the original soloist in the '87 version of Cliffs of Dooneen? By the pitches of their drone reeds when they struck up, the two or three different vibrational stages sounded different than those of Bill's or Bruce's. Both Bills and Bruce's start flat and then kind of "click" up to the tuned pitch but this other soloist's tenors were sharp midway through the strike-up process. Actually, when you first strike up the drone reeds basically tap staccato on the reed bed, and when you're playing the chanter they vibrate legato. I discovered this purely from hearing the difference in harmonics when the tongue is opened or closed then blowing across the open end of the drone. I realize Bill did the original solos for Lord Lovat's and Journey to Skye.
What chanters are they playing? The C has that rare type of sound you barely hear with modern chanters. A strong harmonic 5 (25 times the bass drone frequency) giving a sort of A/C/F-natural kind of sound because C times 5 is F-natural. If the frequency of C were 600 Hz (bass is 120), then that strong harmonic would be 3000.
2:35 "Beverley's Wedding" medley 8:09: "Alan MacPherson of Dumbarton" and "The Korgi" 37:00 "Brigadier Cheape" set 1:17:20 "The Argyllshire Gathering" set
![[PART 1] The Dubliners - Live from The Gaiety: 40 Years (2003) | FULL CONCERT](/img/n.gif)
The original album had such a profound impact on me. I used to listen to it day and night, day after day. Every note is burned into my mind. Although there have been many great performances and recordings since, the "Live in Ireland" will always be pure magic to me. From time to time when I get burnt out or lose motivation I'll go back and listen to this and it never fails to ignite the fire again.
❤
So I wasn't the only one. I actually wore out the cassette tape and my mother had to buy my a 2nd one. I learned every tune. I played in a band that had ties to Donald McCleod through our pipe major (James McWilliams) as well as many of the pipers in the 87 band. Bruce Gandy was my hero at that time, the other soloist also taught at our band school one year (can't recall his name, it'll come to me...). So many of us in our band were very young, high school or late elementary (lots of adults too), and every one of us listened to this album on various trips. We did a tour of the Pacific in 1988 as Canada's guest band for EXPO 88's world fair in Sydney that year, and I remember the 150 or so band members, family, and others that came on tour packages we sold to fund the trip, were listening to this album on the 747 to Hawaii from Vancouver.
Every time I hear this concert it brings tears to my eyes. I was there. Wonderful
As a classical violinist I'm always amazed how the pipe bands play such rhythmically intricate music without a conductor only the pipe major tapping his foot obscured much of the time to the pipers and drummers alike. I doff my hat to them all !!!
Just keeps getting better. So many favorites ! This is how it is done. Well done indeed ! Stellar performances throughout. Blew me away ! Great performance !
On behalf of everyone on stage : thank you!
My all time favorite live album!! I bought this back in 1994 and memorized the entire album!! I had only been playing for three years at the time. This was bagpipe 101 for me.
Pure Magic, what a line up of Stars. Thanks for Sharing. 👍👍👍🇮🇪👌Met John Wilson years ago when he did a workshop weekend with us. A pure Gent. 🏴
One of the best concert ever ... 1987 and also 2016. I love it.
i love the way that in some of their songs they pitch bend the pipes!!!!! it is darn cool!
I get a real kick out of watching Reid Maxwell trying to hold on for dear life whilst his boy, Grant, just crushes it. Happens even to the best of the best.
Susan Brown crushes the Fair Maid💚💚💚
Félicitations. Bravo
To whoever shared this - Thank you!!!
You are welcome.
Piper Michael Grey shared it 1 of the finest bagpipers in the world and a member of the band from 1987
I purchased the original recording of this on Vimeo but am glad it's here on YT now because it's easier to find tracks. I love that they play the "Argyllshire Gathering" set! I wish this set had not been cut out of the original '87 recording due to a blown attack. I am obsessed with that MSR and listen to the '88 World's recording of it frequently. The tempos, the expression, the drumming, the ensemble - everything awesome.
I do prefer how, in the '80s, the Frasers went from the march immediately into the strathspey, whereas here there's a dramatic pause or whatever you call it (1:19:00). Bill Livingstone was reflecting on the band from '87 in a Piper's Persuasion interview and said, "[We had] no discipline at the breaks." Who am I to disagree with the great Bill Livingstone? Nobody, but I feel that going immediately into the next tune makes a musical statement and is more hard-driving and exciting. It's forward motion, and - rather than showing a lack of discipline - makes a strong musical statement.
The 78th F.H. of the '80s were hot stuff; they had swing and swagger and talent out their ears, and driving forward into the next tune without waiting was, for me, very effective.
I tend to prefer getting straight to business, too, in breaks. Depends on the day. The pause tends to eliminate any added performance surprise in telegraphing that something is about to happen ... seems to me.
I was curious for a long time where I might be able to find this. Thanks for sharing it Michael, nice to listen to the concert in full!
Glad you had a listen, Austin!
Thank you my Father for gifting me my heritage.
Was there with some of my family, this one not in 87. My mother brought the bass drum skins as her carry on over on the plane
Thanks, Jim and thanks to your mum!
Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for posting this Michael! That was fantastic and a great trip down memory lane!!!
Such a brilliant piping event...thanks Michael.
What a treat… a wonderful project featuring the world’s best pipers… what a great recording with the “story behind the story”! 😊👍
Still brilliant
Does something brilliant diminish? :-)
Thank you so much for sharing this ❤️
Beautiful through out . Pleasantly surprised that the standard of unison is so good considering this is a composite band . Just goes to show there is no substitute for ability .
Many thanks for making this gem available to the piping public .
Thanks ringside.
Can't believe I've only just found about this... I shed a tear when the early e was played in journey to skye. Brilliant👏👏. Thank you for sharing.
So did I - but likely not for the same reason as you!
Thanks for uploading Michael... Very cool
You're welcome, Chris!
If I didn’t wrong that Allen came to Homg Kong at 1987 working at Mandrain Hotel then I met him.
I have no idea! 🤷♂
Wow!!
More concerts !!
Yes, they need to cover the "Megantic Outlaw" concert now!
Ha. :)
Awesome Celtic music
Unbelievable
So who was the original soloist in the '87 version of Cliffs of Dooneen? By the pitches of their drone reeds when they struck up, the two or three different vibrational stages sounded different than those of Bill's or Bruce's. Both Bills and Bruce's start flat and then kind of "click" up to the tuned pitch but this other soloist's tenors were sharp midway through the strike-up process. Actually, when you first strike up the drone reeds basically tap staccato on the reed bed, and when you're playing the chanter they vibrate legato. I discovered this purely from hearing the difference in harmonics when the tongue is opened or closed then blowing across the open end of the drone. I realize Bill did the original solos for Lord Lovat's and Journey to Skye.
Terry Tully played this solo.
RIP Gordo.
Absolutely brilliant. I love the intentional early E in Journey to Skye.
Question is. Was it the same piper?
I am certain it was not. Ask Bernard Bouhadana! :)
Somehow I don't think so 😅. Happens to the best as well. 👍
What chanters are they playing? The C has that rare type of sound you barely hear with modern chanters. A strong harmonic 5 (25 times the bass drone frequency) giving a sort of A/C/F-natural kind of sound because C times 5 is F-natural. If the frequency of C were 600 Hz (bass is 120), then that strong harmonic would be 3000.
Michael - These are plastic McCallum chanters.
where's the tenor drums?
None were used in this show. The 78th of the vintage of the 1987 concert had 3 tenor drummers and the scoring then, such as it was, was very low key.
Didn't need them.😉
What were are the sexy tennor drummers
They didn't have sexy tenor drummers back in '87, fool! LoL
2:35 "Beverley's Wedding" medley
8:09: "Alan MacPherson of Dumbarton" and "The Korgi"
37:00 "Brigadier Cheape" set
1:17:20 "The Argyllshire Gathering" set