Robert Brown & Robert Nicol, Masters of Piobaireachd Volume 4 ( Greentrax Recordings Limited 2002)

Masters of Piobaireachd, Volume Four, is one of a series of recordings, by Greentrax Recordings, that is preserving the music of Robert Brown and Robert Nicol. These two individuals were giants of the piping world. Born and raised in Scotland, they studied and played a highly evolved form of bagpipe music called Piobaireachd. Taking lessons with John MacDonald (Inverness), they became the foremost in their musical field. This album is not meant for the average Celtic music loving enthusiast. Masters of Piobaireachd is a serious instructional tool for Highland pipers.

That being said, the album presents seven Piobaireachds for the listener. Brown and Nicol provide oral instruction on several tracks providing valuable instruction into the subtle nuances of these classic tunes. This series of CDs is creating a wonderful library for pipers everywhere. Never before has such a wealth of instructional information on piobaireachd been available to such a wide audience.

"The Prince's Salute" and "Too Long in this Condition" are two highlights of the album. The Brown and Nicol show their sheer brilliance and mastery of Ceol Mor. The tone of their lower pitched pipes are preserved for younger generation who have grown up hearing only high pitched synthetic sounds of the modern instrument. In short, this album is a must have for any serious Ceol Mor student. May Masters of Piobaireachd be one of many more to come in the future.

[Iain Mac Harg]