The rankings: MSRs using Alan Jones’s ensemble formula (updated)

Editor’s note: The four-part series by former Grade 1 snare drummer and mathematician Alan Jones of New Zealand outlined his attempt to break down marches, strathspeys and reels for their suitability for pipe band ensemble success.

If you have not read them, they’re well worth your consideration, and the links to the articles follow.

Of course, piping and drumming are arts, but, at least the version most pipes|drums readers enjoy, is focused on competition. Just as there is art in sports, there is a degree of sport in our arts. Every pipe band looks for an edge in competition.

Many of the innovations involving bagpipes and drums are based on science. The pipe band snare drum itself is, in many ways, a work of physics, and most instrument manufacturers consider the latest innovations in manufacturing to get a business edge.

Don’t worry, no one is going to take your LAK away.

We find it ironic that the great 2/4 march “Lord Alexander Kennedy” is beloved by many pipers, drummers and pipe bands, yet when Alan Jones applies his theories and formulas, it ranks as the most unsuitable composition for successful ensemble.

On paper, that is.

There’s also no doubting that it is the creative and technical skill of the drum score composer that can overcome the challenges – real or theoretical – that the tune might or might not present. Pipe bands love a challenge. A Grade 1 band would be laughed out the park if they played, say, “Walter Douglas MBE” in their MSR.

Then again, there’s no formal reward for “hard,” especially in pipe bands where judges might well have never have even heard of, much less played, “Colonel Stockwell.”

The debate continues over whether we should challenge ourselves in competition, and thus potentially reduce the chance of a prize, or make things as easy as reasonably possible to increase the opportunity to win.

Here are 2019 World Champions Inveraray
& District playing “Lord Alexander Kennedy”
on their way to winning the title.
Ensemble judge David Brown
placed the band first.

Silver Stars at the Northern Meeting have been won with “Charlie’s Welcome” and “Thompson’s Dirk,” and probably far more often with the latter.

One does not have to agree with Jones’s discoveries. But, if you’re like us, we try to keep an open mind, gather the information, and make an informed decision.

Don’t worry, no one is going to take your LAK away.

Pipe band judges would be ignorant or just plain stupid to summarily conclude that no band can make a good job of “Lord Alexander Kennedy” based on a scientific analysis. There can be no replacing skill and nuance.

In Part 3, Jones concluded that Ann Gray’s lesser-played 2/4 march, “Andrew Wright of Dunblane,” provides optimal ensemble opportunities, according to his mathematical formulas.

Here, then, are the more popular competition marches, strathspeys and reels that Alan Jones put through his calculations to determine their theoretical propensity for ensemble success.

As they say, your opinions may vary.

What Makes Ensemble Click: Is this the end for “Lord Alexander Kennedy”? – Part 1
May 23, 2021

What Makes Ensemble Click: Is this the end for “Lord Alexander Kennedy”? – Part 2
May 26, 2021

What Makes Ensemble Click: Is this the end for “Lord Alexander Kennedy”? – Part 3
May 29, 2021

What Makes Ensemble Click: Is this the end for “Lord Alexander Kennedy”? – Part 4
June 6, 2021

By Alan Jones

The following scores result from a spreadsheet program that measures the piping tune’s rhythmic compatibility with the pipe band snare drum, based on the five criteria: Flow, Rhythm, Lift, Drive, and Repetition.

This is a preliminary analysis, based on the tune’s own rhythmic structure.

The higher the score, the greater the potential ensemble match between the two instruments.

For example:

“Lord Alexander Kennedy”
Flow	0.55	Good
Rhythm	0.10	Poor
Lift	0.07	Poor
Drive	0.34	Poor
Repetition	0.58	Good
SCORE: 33%

A second analysis, based on an enhancement of the tune’s rhythmic structure, can be found in Part 4.

Here are percentage ratings for marches commonly played in competition.

Higher-level Marches

77%	Dugald MacColl’s Farewell to France
74	The Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band
74	The Highland Wedding
74	The Links of Forth (6 parts)
74	The Links of Forth (8 parts)
69	The Balmoral Highlanders
69	The Clan MacCrae Society
68	Pipe Major Willie MacLean
66	Jeannie Carruthers
62	The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society
61	Captain Carswell
61	John MacDonald of Glencoe
61	The Young MacGregor
57	Pipe-Major Willie Gray’s Farewell to the Glasgow Police
56	The Conundrum
55	Mrs. John MacColl
54	Pipe-Major Jim Christie of Wick
54	The Braes of Badenoch
53	The Argyllshire Gathering
53	The Lochaber Gathering
52	Donald Cameron
51	Colin Thomson
50	Hugh Kennedy
44	Brig.-Gen. Ronald Cheape of Tiroran
44	Carradale Bay
44	The Clan MacColl
41	Jimmy Young
33	Lord Alexander Kennedy

Higher-level Strathspeys

79%	The Ewe wi’ the Crookit Horn
73	Arniston Castle
71	Inveraray Castle
68	Shepherd’s Crook
58	Atholl Cummers
58	The Islay Ball
54	Bob o’ Fettercairn
52	The Caledonian Society of London
47	Dora MacLeod
39	Blair Drummond
39	The Cameronian Rant
34	Maggie Cameron
31	Tulloch Castle
31	Susan MacLeod
30	Monymusk

Higher-level Reels

84%	Willie Murray’s Reel
81	Cabar Feidh
79	Charlie’s Welcome
78	Alick C. MacGregor
78	Pretty Marion
76	Johnnie MacDonald’s Reel
72	Mrs. MacPherson of Inveran
68	Over the Isles to America
67	Dolina MacKay
66	John Morrison, Assynt House
65	Major David Manson
62	The Brown-Haired Maiden (6 parts)
60	McAllister’s Dirk
45	The Smith of Chilliechassie (arr. Ramsay, 8 parts)
44	John McKechnie
41	The Smith of Chilliechassie (arr. MacLellan, 6 parts)
41	Ca’ the Ewes (6 parts)
41	Loch Carron
38	Ca’ the Ewes (4 parts)
27	The Sheepwife

MSR pipe tune rankings based on the pipe tune’s enhanced rhythmic framework

The following scores result from a spreadsheet “program” that measures the piping tune’s rhythmic compatibility with the pipe band snare-drum.

Each tune has now been analyzed twice by the program.

The first analysis, based on the tune’s own rhythmic structure.
The second analysis, based on the tune’s enhanced rhythmic structure.

The results of this second analysis provide a more accurate indication of the tune’s potential to deliver a close rhythmic match between the pipe and drum sections.

The higher the score, the greater the potential match between the two instruments.

For example:

Andrew Wright of Dunblane

87% – The tune’s ensemble rating – based on its “enhanced” rhythmic framework.

55% – The tune’s preliminary score – based on its own rhythmic framework.

32% – The ensemble points gained.

N.B. So that an accurate and direct comparison between all types and levels of tune can be made, enhanced framework results have been allowed to exceed 100%.

MARCHES

RSPBA prescribed two-part Marches:

116	58	58	Corriechoillie’s 43rd Welcome to the Northern Meeting
115	55	60	The Earl of Mansfield
114	65	49	Mrs H.L. MacDonald of Dunach
114	74	40	The Drunken Piper
112	67	45	The Liberton Pipe Band Polka
110	69	41	McKay’s Polka
110	63	47	The Weary Maid
108	84	24	Coppermill
108	82	26	The 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar
107	83	24	Greenwood Side
106	62	44	Duncan McInnes
106	64	42	Miss Delicia Chisholm
106	64	42	Prince Charles’ Welcome to Lochaber
104	52	52	Highland Lassie Going to the Fair
104	63	41	Mairi Bhan
104	63	41	The Sweet Maid of Glendaurel
101	61	40	Highland Laddie
101	70	31	The High Road to Gairloch
99	49	50	Major C.M. Usher OBE
99	85	14	The 72nd Highlanders’ Farewell to Aberdeen
97	70	27	Rantin’ Rovin’ Robin
97	78	19	The Siege of Delhi
96	73	23	MacKay’s Farewell to the 74th
96	76	20	Teribus
96	73	23	The McKenzie Highlanders
96	68	28	Walter Douglas MBE
95	64	31	The Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering
95	80	15	The Burning of the Piper’s Hut
95	68	27	The White Cockade
93	61	32	Muir of Ord
93	70	23	The Brown Haired Maiden
92	48	44	Australian Ladies
92	74	18	Corn Riggs are Bonny
92	41	51	Lady lever Park
91	60	31	The Haughs of Cromdale
89	57	32	Glen Caladh Castle
88	70	18	The 2nd Rhodesian Regiment
87	57	30	Campbell’s Farewell to Redcastle
87	66	21	The 51st Highland Division at Wadi Akarit
86	53	33	Hugh Kennedy
86	63	23	The Barren Rocks of Aden
85	75	10	Jenny’s Bawbee
85	63	22	Men of Argyll
84	54	30	Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen
84	61	23	Captain Norman Orr-Ewing
84	49	35	Donald MacLean’s Farewell to Oben
83	60	23	The Dundee Military Tattoo
83	51	32	The Hills of Perth
81	81	0	I’ll Gang Nae Mair Tae Yon Toon
81	61	20	King George V’s Army
81	64	17	The Piper’s Cave
78	41	37	John MacMillan of Barra
76	61	15	Dornoch Links
74	49	25	The Taking of Beaumont Hamel
73	73	0	The Inverness Gathering
73	72	1	The 25th K.O.S.B’s Farewell to Meerut
70	46	24	The River Irvine
66	53	13	Pipe Major Willie Gray’s Farewell to the Glasgow Police
65	57	8	Achany Glen
65	60	5	Pipe Major William Ross’s Farewell to the Scots Guards

RSPBA prescribed four-part Marches:

111	73	38	The 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar
110	78	32	The Siege of Delhi
107	64	43	The Liberton Pipe Band Polka
104	66	38	Prince Charles’ Welcome to Lochaber
104	87	17	The Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering
102	57	45	Lady Lever Park
101	63	38	Duncan McInnes
100	49	51	Major C.M. Usher OBE
99	68	31	Muir of Ord
98	65	33	Miss Delicia Chisholm
98	52	46	Mrs H.L. MacDonald of Dunach
97	59	38	Donald MacLean’s Farewell to Oban
97	73	24	Walter Douglas MBE
95	69	26	The Dundee Military Tattoo
95	61	34	The Haughs of Cromdale
94	53	41	John MacMillan of Barra
92	64	28	The 51st Highland Division at Wadi Akarit
91	50	41	The Australian Ladies
88	58	30	Glen Caladh Castle
88	63	25	The 2nd Rhodesian Regiment
87	70	17	Captain Norman Orr-Ewing
85	75	10	The Inverness Gathering
84	47	37	Miss Elspeth Campbell
84	71	13	The Burning of the Piper’s Hut
80	50	30	The Hills of Perth
79	66	13	KIng George V’s Army
79	75	4	The 25th K.O.S.B’s Farewell to Meerut
73	56	17	The Taking of Beaumont Hamel
72	49	23	Men of Argyll
71	56	15	Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen
65	58	7	Achany Glen

Higher-level Marches:

107	56	51	The Conundrum
103	61	42	Captain Carswell
99	74	25	The Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band
94	66	28	Jeannie Carruthers
94	61	33	The Young MacGregor
92	77	15	Dugald MacColl’s Farewell to France
92	55	37	Mrs John MacColl
92	74	18	The Highland Wedding
91	69	22	The Balmoral Highlanders
91	62	29	The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society
88	68	20	Pipe Major Willie MacLean
86	61	25	John MacDonald of Glencoe
86	44	42	The Clan MacColl
88	50	38	Hugh Kennedy
84	54	30	The Braes of Badenoch
84	69	15	The Clan MacCrae Society
84	64	20	Pipe Major Jim Christie of Wick
83	74	9	The Links of Forth (8)
82	74	8	The Links of Forth (6)
80	44	36	Carradale Bay
79	52	27	Donald Cameron
78	57	21	Pipe Major Willie Gray’s Farewell to the Glasgow Police
77	44	33	Brig. Gen. Ronald Cheape of Tiroran
74	53	21	The Argyllshire Gathering
72	51	21	Colin Thomson
70	53	17	The Lochaber Gathering
64	41	23	Jimmy Young
53	33	20	Lord Alexander Kennedy

STRATHSPEYS

RSPBA prescribed two-part Strathspeys:

124	112	12	The Inverness Fiddler
120	98	22	Lady MacKenzie of Fairburn
126	99	27	Munlochy Bridge
117	87	30	The Oyster Wives’ Rant
113	65	48	The Keel Row
111	79	32	Because he was a Bonny Lad
111	91	20	Nellie’s Strathspey
111	95	16	The Marquis of Huntly’s Highland Fling
109	74	35	Colonel MacLeod
109	95	14	The Maids of the Black Glen
108	77	31	The Cowal Society
107	93	14	The Inverness Rant
102	60	42	Highland Harry
102	61	41	Molly Connell
100	62	38	Orange and Blue
99	75	24	Campbelltown Kiltie Ball
97	72	25	The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman
95	61	34	Dornie Ferry
95	75	20	O’er the Bows to Ballindalloch
93	85	8	Archie Duncan
92	65	27	Castle MacGillivray
91	81	10	Arniston Castle
89	59	30	The Spirits of Old Pulteney
89	67	22	Struan Robertson
88	59	29	Strathconon
88	72	16	The Marketplace of Inverness
87	64	23	Lady MacKenzie of Gairloch
85	68	17	Lady Carmichael’s Strathspey
85	57	28	Louden’s Bonnie Woods and Braes
83	37	46	Maggie Cameron
83	55	28	McPhedran’s Strathspey
82	53	29	A.A. Cameron’s Strathspey
81	54	27	Captain Colin Campbell
80	42	38	Clementina’s Strathspey
80	51	29	J.F. MacKenzie of Garrynahine
80	19	61	Pipe Major Hector MacLean
78	71	7	Dalnahassaig
75	40	35	Captain Horne
76	32	44	Jennifer Finlayson
75	50	25	Kathleen Mala
74	58	16	Dorrator Bridge
72	64	8	The Caledonian Canal
70	59	11	Aspen Bank
70	69	1	Donald Bane
64	45	19	The Fiddler’s Joy
63	51	12	Dora MacLeod
60	48	12	Miss Jackson
60	38	22	Susan MacLeod

RSPBA prescribed four-part Strathspeys:

105	87	18	The Marquis of Huntly’s Highland Fling
92	60	32	Dornie Ferry
91	68	23	Struan Robertson
90	48	42	Highland Harry
89	79	10	Archie Duncan
89	55	34	Lady MacKenzie of Gairloch
88	67	21	Pipe Major Hector MacLean
83	61	22	Captain Colin Campbell
82	73	9	The Caledonian Canal
79	62	17	Cabar Feidh
79	59	20	Dorrator Bridge
77	37	40	Jennifer Finlayson
70	51	19	John Roy Stewart
69	42	27	Kathleen Mala

Higher-level Strathspeys:

101	80	21	The Ewe with the Crooked Horn
97	68	29	The Shepherd’s Crook
90	73	17	Arniston Castle
85	71	14	Inveraray Castle
81	58	23	The Islay Ball
73	34	39	Maggie Cameron
68	54	14	Bob O’Fettercairn
67	30	37	Monymusk
66	58	8	Atholl Cummers
66	47	19	Dora MacLeod
59	31	28	Susan MacLeod
58	52	6	The Caledonian Society of London
54	39	15	Blair Drummond
52	31	21	Tulloch Castle
49	39	10	The Cameronian Rant

REELS

RSPBA prescribed two-part Reels:

110	61	49	The Brown Haired Maiden
110	75	35	MacKay from Skye
110	75	35	Piper of Drummond
108	72	36	The Auld Wife A’Hint the Door
106	71	35	Over the Isles to America
106	67	39	Eastwood Cottage
102	81	21	Marion and Donald
101	84	17	Johnnie MacDonald’s Reel
100	70	30	The Sound of Sleat
99	77	22	The Fairy Dance
99	83	16	Molly on the Shore
99	89	10	Willie Murray’s Reel
98	58	40	High Road to Linton
98	72	26	Major David Manson
96	68	28	Thomson’s Dirk
95	65	30	Colonel MacLeod
94	56	38	The Circassian Circle
93	87	6	Alick C. MacGregor
93	76	17	Flora, Mrs MacLeod of MacLeod
92	74	18	Caber Feidh
92	58	34	The Ale is Dear
89	83	6	Duncan Findlay’s Reel
89	77	12	Lexy McAskill
89	79	10	Mo Chuachag Laghach Thu
88	66	22	Forrest Lodge
87	59	28	Miss Girdle
86	39	47	Ca’ the Ewes
86	73	13	The Famous Ballymote
82	63	19	Capt. Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree
82	65	17	Lord James Murray
82	77	5	Sheila McMurchy’s Dance
81	77	4	Angus MacLellan
80	74	6	Jock Wilson’s Ball
80	61	19	The Blackberry Bush
77	41	36	Pipe Major Callum Campbell
76	27	49	Tail Toddle
74	65	9	The Bridge of Garry
70	44	26	Bessie MacIntyre
69	38	31	Kalabakan
69	58	11	The Man from Glengarry
64	38	26	Sleepy Maggie
57	38	19	Lt. Col. D.J.S Murray

RSPBA prescribed four-part Reels:

110	93	17	MacKay from Skye
110	63	47	The Brown Haired Maiden
99	67	32	Colonel MacLeod
99	82	17	Molly on the Shore
99	93	6	Murdo Lamont’s Spree
98	56	42	Fiona MacLeod
97	85	12	Gena MacLeod
92	87	5	Duncan Findlay’s Reel
90	72	18	Capt. Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree
88	69	19	The Blackberry Bush
88	63	25	Thomson’s Dirk
87	74	13	Jock Wilson’s Ball
84	70	14	Lexie McAskill
84	71	13	Willie Cummings Rant
83	68	15	Flora, Mrs MacLeod of MacLeod
83	57	26	The Sound of Sleat
81	76	5	Sheila McMurchy’s Dance
80	46	34	Pipe Major Callum Campbell
76	72	4	Angus MacLellan
73	47	26	Bessie McIntyre
66	55	11	The Man from Glengarry
65	32	33	Kalabakan
58	44	14	Sleepy Maggie
56	40	16	Lt. Col. D.J.S. Murray

Higher-level Reels:

103	62	41	The Brown Haired Maiden (six parts)
101	68	33	Over the Isles to America
97	84	13	Willie Murray’s Reel
94	78	16	Pretty Marion
91	81	10	Cabar Feidh
91	79	12	Charlie’s Welcome
91	66	25	John Morrison of Assynt House
90	67	23	Dolina MacKay
88	76	12	Johnnie MacDonald’s Reel
86	60	26	McAllister’s Dirk
83	78	5	Alick C. MacGregor
80	38	42	Ca’ the Ewes (four parts)
80	72	8	Mrs. MacPherson of Inveran
79	65	14	Major David Manson
77	37	40	Ca’ the Ewes (six parts)
71	41	30	Loch Carron
71	41	30	The Smith of Chilliechassie (6) – MacLellan
66	44	22	John McKechnie
59	45	14	The Smith of Chilliechassie (Ramsay setting, eight parts)
49	27	22	The Sheepwife

Now in his sixties, Alan Jones began learning the side drum at the age of 12 with the Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band, in Palmerston North, New Zealand. By his early twenties he had achieved a national solo drumming title, two national pipe band drumming titles (as a corps drummer), and had travelled to Scotland for a year to play a full competition season in Grade 1. Upon returning home to New Zealand, Alan and his wife (whom he met in Glasgow) settled in Hamilton, where he was to become the lead-drummer of the local Grade 2 band, a position that he held for many years. A teacher of Mathematics and Gifted-and-Talented children for most of his working life, Alan has always had a great interest in working with young people, with much time invested, and success achieved, over the years with various drum-teaching initiatives. Although now retired from bands, he still assists locally as a learner-drumming tutor or score-writer, when required.

We hope that subscribers have enjoyed Alan Jones’s interesting and scientific approach to attempting to discover what might make a composition more conducive to more effective ensemble.

Again, there’s no replacement for enjoying the challenge of a subjectively appealing composition, but, if you like the idea of finding an edge in competition, this and all detailed analyses and approaches can only provide alternative approaches to the game of winning.

What Makes Ensemble Click: Is this the end for “Lord Alexander Kennedy”? – Part 1
May 23, 2021

What Makes Ensemble Click: Is this the end for “Lord Alexander Kennedy”? – Part 2
May 26, 2021

What Makes Ensemble Click: Is this the end for “Lord Alexander Kennedy”? – Part 3
May 29, 2021

What Makes Ensemble Click: Is this the end for “Lord Alexander Kennedy”? – Part 4
June 6, 2021

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The rankings: MSRs using Alan Jones’s ensemble formula (updated)

By Alan Jones

MSR pipe tune rankings based on the pipe tune’s enhanced rhythmic framework

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