Pibroch

What it means

Pibroch (Gaelic piobaireachd, "piping") is the classical, demanding art music of the Scottish Highland bagpipe. It is also called ceòl mór, "big music". A pibroch consists of a slow theme, the ùrlar or "ground", played calmly over a drone, followed by a series of variations with ever denser ornamentation.

Musical use

The pibroch tradition goes back to the 16th century and is closely linked with the Highland clans. The MacCrimmon family on the Isle of Skye was long famous as hereditary pipers and teachers. Pibrochs are laments, salutes, remembrances or commemorative pieces and often last more than ten minutes. They stand in contrast to "light music" (ceòl beag), which includes marches, dances and songs.

The pibroch should be distinguished from marches and dances on the bagpipe, which are rhythmically tight and meant for marching, and from folk music, which is kept in simple song forms.

Performance practice

When you hear or play pibroch, take your time: the theme is slow and free, and the ornaments are expression, not decoration. Pay attention to calm in the course, for the build-up in the variations arises through condensation, not through tempo.