THE STUDY
Concept CLARIFICATION
The author clarifies his position regarding some of the basic concept inconsistencies found in MSR bagpipe and side-drum music.
Rhythmic and Melodic ANCHORING
The author shows how drum-scores anchor themselves both rhythmically and melodically to pipe-music.
Pipe-Drum Rudiment INTEGRATION
The author describes how bagpipe and side-drum music integrate at a rudimentary level.
Off-Beat LIFT
The author explores the use of off-beat melodic LIFT, within a dot-and-cut rhythm, in MSR pipe-music.
CORE Rhythm
The author introduces a simple numerical method that reduces all bars of MSR music to one of 16 possible rhythms.
Adding RHYTHM
The author shows how certain anticipatory piping embellishments can help add dot-and-cut rhythm to a drum-score.
Rhythmic DRIVE
The author defines the concept of rhythmic drive and applies it in an MSR pipe-music context.
Measuring DRIVE
The author explains how drive-value can be attached to a bar of music, and applied in an MSR pipe-music context.
The Dot-and-Cut STRING
The author explains the importance of dot-and-cut strings in MSR pipe-music for optimal pipe-drum rhythmic integration.
Measuring SYNCOPATION
The author shows how drum-syncopation value can be attached to one-bar pipe-tune rhythms.
2/4 March END-PHRASE Impact
The author explains the importance of the end-phrase in adding impact to a 2/4 march tune.
Measuring BEAT-NOTE Weighting
The author applies a method by which a single bar of MSR rhythm can be measured for beat-note emphasis.
Pipe-Drum RHYTHM Study: Reels
The author undertakes a study of a large number of 2-parted piping reels, and their side-drum accompaniments, in order to identify the one-bar rhythms, rhythm positions, and beat-note weightings that occur most commonly in the music of each instrument.
Measuring Pipe-Drum PHRASE Compatibility: Reels
The author uses a phrase-scoring method to determine how closely a single bar of piping reel rhythm matches the ideal side-drum rhythm for that same position in the music.
Rhythmic REPETITION: Reels
The author defines his ideal rhythm repetition structure for MSR reels, and then tests that definition against the use of rhythmic repetition in competition bagpipe music.
ENSEMBLE-FRIENDLY Pipe-Tune Composition: 2/2 Reel ‘Benny and Jimmy’
The author composes an ENSEMBLE-FRIENDLY pipe-band reel.
Pipe-Drum RHYTHM Study: Strathspeys
The author undertakes a study of a large number of 2-parted piping strathspeys, and their side-drum accompaniments, in order to identify the one-bar rhythms, rhythm positions, and beat-note weightings that occur most commonly in the music of each instrument.
Measuring Pipe-Drum PHRASE Compatibility: Strathspeys
The author uses a phrase-scoring method to determine how closely a single bar of piping strathspey rhythm matches the ideal side-drum rhythm for that same position in the music.
Rhythmic REPETITION: Strathspeys
The author defines his ideal rhythm repetition structure for MSR strathspeys, and then tests that definition against the use of rhythmic repetition in competition bagpipe music.
ENSEMBLE-FRIENDLY Pipe-Tune Composition: 4/4 Strathspey ‘The Inner Sanctum’
The author composes an ENSEMBLE-FRIENDLY pipe-band strathspey.
Pipe-Drum RHYTHM Study: Marches
The author undertakes a study of a large number of 2-parted piping marches, and their side-drum accompaniments, in order to identify the one-bar rhythms, rhythm positions, and beat-note weightings that occur most commonly in the music of each instrument.
Measuring Pipe-Drum PHRASE Compatibility: Marches
The author uses a phrase-scoring method to determine how closely a single bar of piping march rhythm matches the ideal side-drum rhythm for that same position in the music.
Rhythmic REPETITION: Marches
The author defines his ideal rhythm repetition structure for MSR marches, and then tests that definition against the use of rhythmic repetition in competition bagpipe music.
ENSEMBLE-FRIENDLY Pipe-Tune Composition: 2/4 March ‘Drum Sgt. Ron Wood’
The author composes an ENSEMBLE-FRIENDLY pipe-band 2/4 march.
MSR Tune SELECTION
The author suggests how the competition tune-selection process, undertaken by the musical leaders in a band, might be optimised.
ENSEMBLE Adjudication
The author defines the role of the MSR ensemble judge.
MSR Tune RANKINGS
The latest individual data profiles, for most of the MSR pipe-music, in common use, in pipe-band set and medley competition today (including all
music prescribed by the RSPBA).