Random piping video

There are of course literally thousands of piping videos on YouTube, featuring playing of all levels.  This one came to my attention a while ago, and it features some great playing from a great piper.



Roddy MacLeod, MBE, is without question a legend among pipers.  There isn't a major prize he hasn't won, and although most of his prizewinning took place in 1990s, he's had a bit of a resurgence lately, winning the senior piobaireachd at Oban, the piobaireachd at the Glenfiddich, and the Silver Chanter in 2008, as well as being named Piper of the Year by the online magazine pipes|drums.

This video features Roddy playing the strathspey Arniston Castle and the reels The Sheepwife and The Brown-Haired Maid.  The playing is spectacular, the pipe magnificent, which is to be expected from Roddy.  For pipers who watch the video, pay attention because there are lessons to be learned from his playing.  For the non-pipers, this is what bagpipes are supposed to sound like.  There aren't many people in the world who play at this level.

As well as he plays these big competition strathspey and reels, I think Roddy's true passion is piobaireachd.  He is one of the foremost authorities on the subject, and you can tell he lives and breathes the stuff.  His website, Roddy MacLeod Piobaireachd, offers recordings and manuscript of individual tunes for sale, and is a great collection of piobaireachd recordings played by one of the best in the business.

In this video, Roddy plays the piobaireachd "A Flame of Wrath for Squinting Patrick," which is a fabulous tune.  You can see that he's really at the top of the line of piobaireachd players.