Description
Welcome to our exciting workshop “CANNTAIREACHD – FROM THE VOICE TO THE CHANTER (BASIC COURSE)”! This is about learning the time-honored teaching and learning language “Canntaireachd”, focusing on the Campbell Canntaireachd. Don’t worry, previous experience is not required!
In this course you will first learn the syllables for the scale as well as for the scale with single grace notes. With this basic understanding, you then dive into the original Canntaireachd text and actually learn your first piece in this special way.
What is Canntaireachd?
Briefly summarized, Canntaireachd is an ancient method of teaching, learning, and memorizing piobaireachd (pronounced “pibroch”), a special type of music played primarily on the Great Highland bagpipes. In the Canntaireachd method, the teacher sings or hums the melody for the student, using specific syllables that represent the sounds to be produced by the bagpipe. It used to be used as written notation, but today many pipers still use singing or humming to convey the subtleties of piobaireachd, as written notation cannot fully convey the nuances of musical expression.
Traditional teaching and learning language
Canntaireachd also makes it possible to study older melodies exactly as they were published in the original collections. The method consists of invented words that represent the sounds to be played, with vowels representing the melody notes and consonants representing the gracenotes and ornaments. There is also a movement toward individual terms or simple humming without set words to represent the tones and ornaments.
The Canntaireachd Basic Course
We’ll show you the basics and background of the Campbell Canntaireachd, one of the largest and oldest sources of Pibroch music with a whopping 168 tracks!
In this course you will learn the Canntaireachd syllables – starting with the complete scale and ending with all the single gracenotes. You will understand the systematics of the Campbell Canntaireachd and even work out and sing your first piece in this unique way!
In addition to over an hour of video material, we offer step-by-step learning quizzes to test your knowledge level. You will receive worksheets in PDF format to help you learn. And as a special highlight, you’ll get a transcription of the featured piece, combining canntaireachd and musical notation.
This course is suitable for everyone – you don’t need any previous knowledge of Canntaireachd. Primarily it is aimed at players of Scottish bagpipes such as the Great Highland Bagpipe, Borderpipe or Scottish Smallpipe. But also everyone who is interested in one of the most original and unbroken musical traditions of Europe is welcome! Here we dive into “Ceòl Mòr” (Scottish Gaelic = great music) or “Pibroch” or also “Piobaireachd”.
Our goals are clear: you will gain initial access to the Campbell Canntaireachd and lay the foundation for your own Canntaireachd system. This will help you memorize not only Pibroch, but also Light-Music.
Are you ready for this musical journey? Then sign up now and discover the fascinating world of Canntaireachd!
We look forward to diving into the fascinating world of Canntaireachd together with you! When you’re ready to get started, just sign up for the class. It will be an exciting and educational experience that will open new musical horizons for you.
