Arnish Light reel

By Peter MacLeod Jr.

I heard it being played by the Saint Lawrence O Toole Pipe Band, Dublin.

I have this tune in a 1937 collection (John Wilson’s Collection Book 1), and it’s a four-parter. Interesting that the St Lawrence band reduced it to two parts. Loch Arnish is in Lewis.

I think it’s quite common, Nigel, in the pipe band competition scene (reducing the number of parts). After all, there it’s not about showing off the tunes but showing off the band’s skill.

It’s happened with another tune I recently added, The Strutting Jig, heard with all four parts or only the first two.

Thing is, many composers of Highland pipe tunes come up with a catchy "hook" but the well quickly runs dry, and only the first two parts have interest.

It became very apparent to me when I spent a rainy day reading through a number of Highland pipe collections: there’s Donald MacLeod, and everybody else.

Not only would he continue introducing quality fresh material throughout four parts, but he would sometimes have a unique 2nd ending to the fourth part, as if saying "I haven’t begun to run out of ideas for this tune!"