Introduction

The Highlands of Scotland provided an ideal backdrop for the development of traditional Scottish Bagpipe music as heard around the globe today. For ages, the bagpipes have been known in every corner of the world. However, it is the Great Highland Bagpipe that has raised an awareness of the music for many, with a sound as unique as the region where it was developed. -Eric Albert

To book Eric for your special event, click here!

In addition to the familiar marches, jigs, strathspeys and reels there is Piobaireachd, pronounced pea-broch, the classical form of music developed

specifically for the highland bagpipes and is considered by many to be the

pinacle of the pipers art.

Traditionally taught orally using cantaireachd or “chanted music”, piobaireachd was handed down through the generations with teacher singing to student to accurately reflect the unforgiving nuances of the music. Unlike other instruments, where volume control can be used to create dynamics, this is not possible with the sustained tones characteristic of the Bagpipe. Instead, this instrument uses carefully crafted combinations of gracenotes to produce dynamics, where the minute timing of theme notes and gracings alike is critical to maintaining the musical flow.

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To the make of a piper go seven years of his own learning, and seven generations before. At the end of his seven years one born to it will stand at the start of knowledge, and leaning a fond ear to the drone he may have parley with old folks of old affairs. -Neil Munro

Bio

Beginning his piping career over 27 years ago, Erics first local instructor was Fred Hellenberg. Fred played with the 87th Cleveland Pipe Band. Following his introduction to piping with Fred, Eric began taking instruction from Dr. Robert Dalton.

It was Robert who first encouraged Eric to become involved in competitive piping at the earliest stage. At his suggestion, Eric also began his study of Piobaireachd, the classical music of the pipes under Donald F. Lindsay of the Invermark School of Piping in Petersburgh, NY.

through the years Eric received both light music and piobaireachd instruction from Alasdair Gillies of Pittsburgh, PA, In addition, Eric has studied with James MacGillivray, Jake Watson and Iain Donaldson. Iain Donaldson is former Pipe Sergeant of Torontos 78th Frasier Pipe band and most recently played with the 2005 World Champion Shotts and Dykehead pipeband . Iain is also proprietor of The British Shop .

medals

march

As a solo competitive piper, Eric has won a number of the major contests in the Eastern United States Highland Games circuit and was ranked among the top ten players in the Eastern United States in Grade 2 by the EUSPBA for the 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006 seasons. The EUSPBA boasts both the largest territory and greatest solo player membership of any piping association in the world with a territory extending from Maine to Texas.

Competitive accomplishments include: Winner of over 50 career first place medals in both Piobaireachd and light music at Highland Games and Piping competitions accross the Eastern United States and Canada.

In addition to the competitive solo circuit , Eric is a former member of the Rochester

Scottish Pipe Band (1988-1990), Mohawk Valley Frasers Grade 3 Pipe Band (1990-1991), and Oran Mor from (1992-1998). In 1993, Eric co-founded the Penfield, NY based pipeband, Feadan Or of which he participated as co-instructor, and playing member. Eric was Pipe Major of the Feadan Or Grade 3 competitive unit (2005-2007).

Performances at numerous public and private functions over the last 24 years include such events as weddings, anniversaries, funerals and corporate and sports events. Career highlights include piping in the American and European teams at the Opening ceremonies of the 1995 Ryder Cup Golf Tournament at Oak Hill C.C. in Rochester, New York. and solo Piper for Byron Nelson's Induction to the Hill of Fame at Oak Hill CC Rochester, NY.

Eric has performed and coordinated Scottish weekend at the Renaissance Faire in Sterling, New York for over 11 seasons.

With over 15 years of teaching experience Eric offers instruction to students who are interested in developing their piping skills to the highest level in a relaxed but progressive program. Students are encouraged to study both light music (marches, reels, jigs) and Piobaireachd, the classical music of the bagpipe. When ready, students are also encouraged to participate in solo competitions to receive continuous independent feedback from knowledgeable adjudicators.

Instruction

Eric offers instruction to students of all ages who are interested in developing their piping skills to the highest level in a relaxed but progressive program.

Students are encouraged to study both light music (marches, reels, jigs) and Piobaireachd, the classical bagpipe music. When ready, students are also encouraged to participate in solo competitions to receive continuous independent feedback from knowledgeable adjudicators.

Evening lessons are offered by appointment. To book a lesson click here.

Student Showcase

As an adult student, you will need to purchase a beginners lesson book and practice chanter. While either the standard or long practice chanter is acceptable, long chanters offer the actual finger spacing of a bagpipe chanter.

2010

• B. Shaw upgraded to Grade 3 for 2010 season

2009

• C. Bauer awarded 1st place 2/4 March at the Higland Spring Pipers Challenge

• B. Shaw awarded 1st place in the Piobaireachd at the Higland Spring Pipers Challenge

• A. Duncan awarded 2nd place in the 2/4 March at the Higland Spring Pipers Challenge

• M. Weasner awarded 2nd place in the Strathspey/Reel at the Higland Spring Pipers Challenge

• C. Macaluso awarded 1st place in the Highland Spring Pipers Challenge parade piper contest. S Barrett and B. Ritchie place 2nd and 3rd in the event as well!

When your child is ready to begin lessons, a standard practice chanter is best. Eric can provide the childs beginners book at the first lesson.

Finally, When you are ready to purchase a full set of pipes, Eric can recommend a set that meets your needs and budget....

Whats New

Erics Competitive Results

Upcoming Events

2011

Charleston Indoor Games

* Piobaireachd 1st Place playing MacGregors Salute

* March, Stratspey, Reel 2nd Place

* Piper of the Day Grade 2

Cary Indoor Games

* Piobaireachd 1st Place playing MacNeil of Barra's March

Loch Norman Highland Games

* Piobaireachd 1st place AGL awarded playing MacNeil of Barra's March

2009

Highland Spring Piper’s Challenge

• Piobaireachd, 1st place Playing MacNeil of Barra’s March

• 2/4 March, 2nd place

• Strathspey and Reel, 2nd place

• 6/8 March, 1st place

2008

Genesee Valley Indoor Meeting

• Piobaireachd, 1st place , played MacGregor’s Salute

• 2/4 March, 2nd place

• Strathspey and Reel, 2nd place

• 6/8 March, 3rd place

2007

CFHG Indoor Competition, held at the Altamonte Marriott:

• 2/4March, 1st place AGL awarded

• Piobaireachd, 1st place, played MacDougall’s Gathering AGL awarded

• Strathspey and Reel, 1st place

Genesee Valley Indoor Meeting

• 2/4March, 1st place AGL awarded

• Piobaireachd, 1st place , played MacGregor’s Salute

• Strathspey and Reel, 1st place

• 6/8 March, 3rd place

2006

CFHG Indoor Competition, held at the Altamonte Hilton:

• Piobaireachd, 2nd place, played MacDougals’ Gathering AGL awarded

Citadel Indoor Contest held at the Citadel, SC

• 2/4March, 1st place

• Piobaireachd, 2nd place, played MacGregors’ Salute

Edinboro Highland Games:

• Piobaireachd, 2nd place, played MacGregors’ Salute

• Strathspey/Reel, 2nd place

• 6/8 march, 4th place

CNY Scottish Games:

• Piobaireachd, 1st place, playing MacNeil of Barra’s March

Virginia Scottish Games:

• 6/8 march, 2nd place

• Piobaireachd, 3rd place, playing MacNeil of Barra’s March

• March/Strathspey/Reel, 4th place

• Hornpipe/ Jig, 4thplace

New Hampshire Scottish Games:

• Piobaireachd, 2nd place, playing . Lament for Hugh

• March/Strathspey/Reel, 4th place

• 6/8 march, 4th place

October

Stone Mt, GA Scottish Games:

Piobaireachd, 2nd place, playing MacGregors’ Salute

Feb. 18-19

Queen Mary Scottish Festival

Long Beach, California

Scott MacDonald

949- 643-0750

scottlascots.org

March 3

SANCTIONED

as of 1/9/12 Northern Branch-Redding Solo Piping Contest liz cspbsymbol for at signaol.com

(916) 812-4277

March 24-25

Arizona Scottish Gathering & Highland Games

Phoenix, Arizona Kathy LeVar

racepipessymbol for at signaol.com

March 24

Harry Moore Memorial Competition

Canyon Crest Country Club

Riverside, California

Mike Terry

951-827-4880

mike.terrysymbol for at signucr.edu

April 14

SANCTIONED

as of 1/9/12

Northern Branch Contest at the Ardenwood Celtic Festival

Fremont, CA

Liz Tubbs

LizCSPBsymbol for at signaol.com

TBD

Scottish Gathering & Highland Games

Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield, CA

Chris Parke

44059 Ruthron Avenue

Lancaster, CA 93536

(661) 492-9481

chrisparke1symbol for at signgmail.com

Apr. 14-15

Las Vegas Celtic Gathering & Highland Games

Floyd Lamb State Park. (15 minutes north of downtown Las Vegas, NV.)

Scott MacDonald

949- 643-0750

scottsymbol for at signlascots.org

Gallery

Booking Special Events wedding

Contact Eric, click here

Standard performance Rates:

Solo Piping (first hour) ................................... $275.00

each additional hour ................................... $75.00

Compliment your function with the following options,

available on request:

Piping w/ Highland Dancer (first hour) .......... $350.00

each additional hour ................................. $125.00

Piping w/ Drummer (first hour) ....................... $375.00

each additional hour ................................. $150.00

Piping w/ Drummer & Highland Dancer ..... $450.00

each additional hour ................................. $200.00

*Listed pricing is subject to change. All pricing is finalized prior to event.

Tune List & Press Kit

Tune List

Click HERE to view a complete press kit to include addio samples, photos and more.

Wedding tunes

Ode to Joy - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Simple Gifts - trad

Highland Cathedral - Roever and Korb

MacKenzies Wedding March - trad

Skye Boat Song - trad

Scotland the Brave - trad

Mairi's Wedding - trad

Jimmy's Tune Set - Chris Armstrong

3/4 Retreat Marches

Balmoral - D-M Robert Bruce

The Battle's O'er - William Robb

The Bloody Fields of Flanders - John McLellan of Dunoon

Castle Dangerous - J. Haugh

Green Hills of Tyrol - Gioachino Rossini

Lochanside - John McLellan of Dunoon

Magersfontein - John McLellan of Dunoon

My Land - Norman MacLean

On the Road to Passchendaele - Gavin Stoddart

Killworth Hills - GS McLennan

Funeral Tunes

Amazing Grace - John Newton

Flight of the Eaglets (Lady McRoberts' Lament) - Pipe Major Willie Ross

Flowers of the Forest - trad

Going Home - Antonin Dvorák

Loch Rannoch - John Wilson

Mist Covered Mountains - trad

Morag of Dunvegan - trad

Tommy Tully's Air - Terry Tully

The Dark Island - Iain McLachlan

Piobaireachd (See category below)

2/4 Marches

42nd's March - trad

Barren Rocks of Aden - James Mauchline

Black Bear - trad

Brown Haired Maiden - trad

Corriechoillie's 43rd Welcome - Pipe Major Willie Ross

High Road to Gairloch - trad

Teribus - trad

4/4 Marches

At Long Last - James MacHattie

Battle of Waterloo - trad

Bluebells of Scotland - trad

Crags of Tumbledown Mountain - James Riddell

Flett from Flotta - Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Follow My Highland Soldier - trad

Road to Balquhidder - Trad

Wee Highland Laddie - Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Gardens of Skye - A. Harper

Lord Lovat's Lament - trad

Minstrel Boy - trad

Murdo's Wedding - Gavin Stoddart

Rowan Tree - trad

Wings - trad

Slow Airs

The Bells of Dunblane - Robert Mathieson

The Haunting - Neil Dickie

Hector the Hero - James Scott Skinner

Highland Cradle Song - trad

Loch Monar - Pipe Major Willie Ross

Mingulay Boat Song - trad

Road to the Isles - John McLellan of Dunoon

Scots Wha Hae - trad

The Water is Wide - trad

Flower of Scotland - Roy Williamson

2/4 Big Marches

79th's Farewell to Gibraltar - PM J. MacDonald 79th Highlanders

Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering - William Fergusson

Balmoral Highlanders - Angus Mackay

Clan MacColl - John MacColl

Clan MacRae Society - William Fergusson

Donald MacLellan of Rothesay - Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Glen Caladh Castle - John McLellan of Dunoon

Hugh Kennedy - Peter R. MacLeod

Major Manson's Farewell to Clachantrushal - Pipe Major Donald MacLean

Miss Elspeth Campbell - Thomas Douglas

Mrs H L MacDonald of Dunach - William Lawrie

Lieut Col AE Cameron of Aldourie - Pipe Major R Crabb

Strathspeys

Arniston Castle - trad

Caledonian Canal - trad

Highland Harry - trad

Maggie Cameron - trad

Struan Robertson - trad

Susan MacLeod - Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Cpt Colin Campbell - Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Reels

Alick C. MacGregor - G. S. McLennan

Bessie McIntyre - William MacLean

Brown Haired Maid - trad

Captain Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree - Peter Farquhar

John Morrison of Assynt House - Peter R. MacLeod

Traditional - trad

Sound of Sleat - D MacKinnon

6/8 Marches

Atholl Highlanders - trad

Muckin' of Geordie's Byre - trad

Angus MacKinnon - Donald Shaw Ramsay

Colonel Craig Brown - Pipe-Major Charles Cameron

Doctor Ross's 50th Welcome - Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Donald MacLean of Lewis - Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Duncan McGillivray Chief Steward - Jim McGillivray

Farewell to the Creeks - James Robertson

John D Burgess - George Cockburn

Mrs. Lily Christie - Donald Shaw Ramsay

Murdo MacKenzie of Torridon - Bobby MacLeod

Sweet Maid of Mull - A. C. Beaton

Tug Argan Gap - Pipe Major John M. MacKenzie

6/8 Jigs

Alan MacPherson of Mosspark - Pipe Major A MacDonald

Braes of Mellinish - trad

Cork Hill - trad

Donella Beaton - George Johnstone

Old Wife of the Mill Dust - trad

Paddy's Leather Breeches - trad

Skymans Jig - trad

Hornpipes

Lucy Cassidy - George McIntyre

The Man from Skye - Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Pipe Major George Allan - Pipe Major Donald MacLeod

Piobaireachd

Sir James MacDonald of the Isles Lament

MacNeil of Barra's March

The MacGregors Salute

MacDougall's Gathering

Munros Salute

Lament for Donald Doughal Mackay

His Fathers Lament for Donald MacKenzie

Lament for Hugh

The Wee Spree

Military Set

The Marine Corps Hymn - Jacques Offenbach

Caisson's - 1st Lieut. Edmund L. Gruber

Over There - trad

Odds and Ends

Happy Birthday - Mildred Hill

Its a Grand Old Flag

Dance Tunes

Battle of the Somme - William Lawrie

The Heights of Dargai - trad

Athol Highlanders - trad

Whistle O'er the Lave o'It (Seann Triubhas) - trad

The Liberton Pipe Band - trad

Ghillie Calum (Sword Dance) - trad

Longueval - George Stoddart

Farewell Set

We're No Awa' Tae Bide Awa' - trad

Will Ye No Come Back Again - trad

Auld Lang Syne - Robert Burns

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Contact Me

Please complete the form below if you wish to get in touch with Eric for comments, questions or bookings.

Please be specific in the message portion describing what you are looking, with as many details as you have so Eric may be best prepared to meet your needs and answer your questions.

You may also reach him via email directly at e.albert_live.com or by calling (541) 505-4031.

Links

USA's first and finest piping and drumming magazine focused on the education of pipers and drummers

Links

north american academy of piping and drumming

EUSPBA- Eastern Unuted States Pipe Band Association

The British Shop

Scottish Tartan Museum of the South

Scottish Cultural

Organization of North Carolina

Beag air Bheag, means 'little by little' a taste of Scottish Gaelic for absolute beginners.

Tom Foote School of Drumming & Drumming Supplies

Catch and Release- A traditional Celtic band located in Rochester, NY

Genesee Valley Pipe Band

The Haggis Man of Rochester, NY

Bagpiper.Com

Directory of Bagpipers World Wide

Bagpipe History

A brief history of the instrument would describe the pipes as one of the oldest instruments in existence. One of the earliest sets of pipes were to be found in Panapolis in Egypt and dated back to 1500 B.C. The only older instruments to be found within a Celtic context are the Bodhran (drum), clarsach (harp) and feadan (whistle or flute), , the latter being perhaps a forerunner to the pipes. The actual country of origin of the pipes is not known, its popularity being so widespread, reaching every region of the world. This was probably due to the Roman empire and its many conquests, for the Roman infantry was known to have pipers within its ranks

Later, during the Medieval period, most Europeans started to prefer being indoors where loud musical instruments were not suitable. It was during this time that the big pipes were replaced by a number of quieter more gentle sounding instruments.

However, during this time, there was a particular nation with whom the big pipes remained popular and for them, it became a national instrument. This was in the Highlands of Scotland. Here, where the older ways of life persisted and the majority of activities were still taking place out of doors the louder volume of the pipes was fully appreciated.

If you mention bagpipes and Scotland, another name springs to mind - the MacCrimmons of Skye. They were hereditary pipers to the clan MacLeod and their contribution to the piping world in many ways helped to develop the evolution of the instrument itself, particularly with regard to the refinement of the music of the pipes.

The big music of the pipes, known as piobaireachd, was developed to an amazing standard by this family, and some of their masterpieces seem immortal. One of the finest is called Cumha na Cloinne or the Lament for the children, composed by Padraig Mor MacCrimmon who lived in the 17th century. Padraig Mor had eight fine sons but an outbreak of smallpox claimed all of his sons but one. He is said to have composed that timeless piobaireachd while listening to the mournfull cries of his wife.

There is a common set of stages played for a piece to be classed as piobaireachd. The first stage is called the ground or Urlar, this stage establishes a theme or 'air' of the tune. It is a slow melody which is ornamented by gracenotes. The next stage is known as Siubhal, it transforms the melody of the Urlar into a regular rhythmic figure. The third stage, the Taorluath, with its intricate patterns is imposed on this. This in turn leads to the final and most complex section, the Crunluath, which places on top of the Taorluath an additional three notes to every bar of the music. The difference is almost indiscernible to the non piping ear, yet it adds embellishment to the classical music of the pipes.

There are many different types of piobaireachd, laying to rest the myth that they are all laments. There are marches, satires, gatherings, rowing tunes (to keep rowers of a galley together) or even battle pieces to celebrate famous victories or incite warriors prior to battle.

ThePipers Page

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Bio

Instruction

Whats New

Gallery

Booking Special Events

Tune List & Press Kit

Contact Me

Links

Bagpipe History