Before you know it St. Patrick’s Day will be here. Streets and pubs will be flooded with pipers and drummers providing various interpretations of tunes to celebrate the occasion. Unfortunately, you’ll hear some less-than-stellar renditions of favorites played by enthusiastic and well-meaning people. Today we’re going to look at The Wearing of the Green. All three of these audio files are played at the exact same tempo. Referring to #1 above, here are the first two measures played as written.

It’s a busy tune with lots of bottom-hand work. It’s not easy but, when played properly, it’s a stirring and widely recognized melody.

Now have a look at # 2 above. This is how many will play it, blowing through the first dotted note and shortening just about every note thereafter. I’ll hear this in pub after pub. Pipers will tumble through the tune with disregard for proper note value or timing. Compound the situation with poorly tuned instruments and made-up embellishments and it’s just a freakin’ mess! Some of you are wincing right now. Some of you are nodding your heads.

To be certain, the situation is further complicated by cold fingers and too many pints along the way. When you peel back a couple of layers of excuses, you may find the following:

1. The first two measures can be a handful. There is considerable work there!
2. The tempo is probably inconsistent and too quick. It’s a race to the end.
3. The tune hasn’t been broken down into its parts and practiced properly.
4. Execution of embellishments is haphazard. Admittedly, the embellishments in this recording are a lot better that you’ll hear on the day.
5. All these issues are “baked” into mind and body. Performers are mostly oblivious to this or may have given-up trying to do things correctly.

I contend that this tune, and many more, are physically beyond the abilities of many “Average Pipers.” They’ve been coerced, bullied, and otherwise led to believe that if you don’t put in every grip, toarluth, or doubling, you’re a hack! Accordingly they’re willing to sacrifice everything else for the sake of these embellishments. Folks, it’s time to stop the insanity. For some (many) their fingers simply won’t allow the inclusion and proper execution of complicated embellishments. Have a listen to the recording below. Again, this is the same tempo as the others but has been stripped of all but single grace-note embellishments. The melody, timing, and tempo are all intact. All one needs to do is to present the tune on a well-tuned instrument and you’re making music!

As a piper, which version would you rather hear, #2 or #3? I’ve touched on this before and know that my thinking is not universally embraced. I will expand on my thinking and rationale tomorrow.