Cheap The Highland Pipe and Scottish Society 1750-1950 (Book) (William Donaldson) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Highland Pipe and Scottish Society 1750-1950

A milestone for piping
Dr. William Donaldson's work is perhaps the most well-researched and sensible study of Highland bagpipe music yet published. His exhaustive work examines both the positive and negative impact that the Scottish "societies" had on the music. His conclusions are startling illuminating and founded on totally solid ground. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Scottish music and culture. For anyone who plays the Highland pipe, it is required reading.

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A History of Pipe Music
This book was quite interesting. I am new to the piping world and this book made me want to know more of the history of the pipes and piobaireachd especially. I want to learn to play even more than before.

At the same time, I was saddened by the apparent loss of the traditional style of play and the music written before the 1700s. But I suspect that to be true of many historical arts, especially those passed on in a bardic style.

I felt the author had a somewhat negative opinion of the modern standards of piobaireachd and The Piobareachd Society. He was apparently displeased with their decisions on the way piobaireachd should be played. He, or people with his opinion, should form a second society with a different idea on standards and what they consider to be the "true" traditional style.

Regardless, I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of piping and the changes that have taken place in the last 250 years. The evolution of the notation was interesting and I am not any kind of music expert. The book does read a little slowly in many places, but a short session with it here and there and you will find that information gathered was very worthwhile.