This evening I picked up my pipes with some trepidation, as (all together now) it's an age since I played. Felt immediately comfortable and went through That Tune a couple of times. I did record it - but have managed to lose the recording. It wasn't perfect, anyway.
I ran through the usual tunes. I've got enough to keep me going for the best part of an hour, provided I go over some more than once, either because it's going so well I'm happy to play one twice, or because one needs picking over and some work. Work needed on gracing - half double F, which was one of the first gracings I learned, I seem incapable of doing. Time to dig out those books of exercises.
After 15 minutes I felt very tired, pushed on through, generally happy, felt less tired, and then had to abandon mid tune just under an hour in as arm-ache and general fatigue kicked in. The fan is at a session tomorrow so I will have another go.
My playlist, I realise, is falling into three, or perhaps four, categories. First up is hangovers from the chanter - Green Hills of Tyrol, Lochanside, Highland Cathedral Hector the Hero. Playing these for old time's sake, but feeling that once my repertoire increases they may drop off the end.
Second category is tunes that the fan has suggested I play, because he likes them: The Battle of Waterloo, Leaving Friday Harbor, Mull of the Mountains. Not sure which of these I'll stick with, although Friday Harbor is a really lovely tune.
Potential third group - tunes written or played by Vicki, some, but not all, from the tutor book: The Golden Birch, Dusty Pipes, The Broken Drone, Polska efter Carl Magnusson, Roros Polskan.
Final group (which is where the third group might also live) is tunes I have heard, like, and want to play. I hope eventually all my tunes will be in this category, and some tunes in other categories may eventually slide into this one. Tunes here are: Heights of Casino, Nigel's tune, Atholl Highlanders, The Rowan Tree. I wonder if I've got enough and should just concentrate on bringing these up to scratch for now (whatever scratch may be....)
For anyone in search of real pipes, there will be plenty in Colchester next month.
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