Pibroch flourished in Gaelic Scotland between 1550 and 1750. An elite class of pipers became the highest-ranking court composers, accompanying chieftains on official trips and composing works to mark events, display power, summon clansmen, for contemplative pleasure, or to contact divine forces. Their excellence became a vital status symbol and many patrons achieved immortality, insofar as their laments are still played, year after year, three or four centuries later.
A repertoire of about 300 works was written down by pipers in the early nineteenth century after generations of oral transmission. At this stage, it became known as ceòl mór, or "big music". This distinguished it from the dance and military music which was rising in status while pibroch was becoming archaic. Back to previous page.
|
|