Tryst kick-starting musical evolution

before 1903 the art-form was evolving and creatively thriving. Other prominent pipers like Allan MacDonald and James MacColl have been progressive and outspoken in their research and presentations into how the music was originally intended to be played.

“At the centre of the Big Music Society’s philosophy is the fact that evolution of [piobaireachd] did stall –a long time ago!” Mulhearn continued. “However, I don’t think it’s fair to point the finger solely at the Piobaireachd Society. Many individuals and organizations have been complicit in it, and I would suggest probably with the best of intentions, too. From our perspective today, the natural conservatism of these bodies feels short-sighted and that’s what Calum MacCrimmon and I, with the Big Music Society, are trying to address, from various angles.”

Mulhearn insisted that they’re not trying to “redefine” piobaireachd, and the term “Big Music” is intentionally used to try to get distance from the traditional idea of what ceol mor must be, at least since 1903.

“In terms of composition, the form has not been given the opportunity to evolve in any lasting way,” Mulhearn said. “There have been attempts, but ultimately the competition platform is where piobaireachd is performed and it’s not a suitable arena for testing out new experimental music. The desire of some pipers to play alternative settings from old manuscripts seems like a relatively tame expression of a desire to try something new, and even that is frequently met with apprehension, if not direct opposition.

“With the Big Music Society we’re trying to create new performance contexts and encourage evolution of the art because it has to survive. When we talk of evolution we’re not talking about the composition of new piobaireachd – pieces that essentially follow the guidelines of what’s gone before. We’re talking about real change and there’s a lot of time to make up for!”

Tryst made its first appearance at the Scots Trad Music Awards in Dundee in December.

+ North Lanarkshire Schools, Piping Live! scoop Trad awards

What exactly is on tap for January 21st is left largely to the imagination, but with creative spirits like Ali Hutton, Finlay MacDonald and Lorne MacDougall – as well as the other seven artists – almost anything could be heard as Tryst makes up for the evolution of a once-creatively-thriving music largely stalled for a century.