Pibroch

PIBROCH (Gaelic Piobaireachd, a pipe tune). A series of variations for the bagpipe, founded on a theme called the urlar. Pibrochs are the highest form of bagpipe music, and are often very difficult to execute properly. The variations, generally three or four in number, increase in difficulty and speed, until the composition concludes with a creanluidh, or quick movement. Like all bagpipe music, pibrochs are not written in any proper scale, and it is impossible to note them down correctly for...