Three comments
Itchy Fingers
Composed by Pipe Major Rab Pinkman of the “King’s Own Scottish Borderers”. It should be in A mixolydian, I think, not D.
To be honest, I’d always thought it composed by P.M.Robert Mathieson, who included it in one of his books of tunes, but it appears he was the arranger on this occasion, not the composer.
It is a hornpipe, not a reel, although as I’ve said before , bagpipe hornpipes are played like Irish reels.
I did an internet search on this tune before posting these comments, and found a pipe-band who play this tune and precede it with “The Ass In The Graveyard”. They call it “The Ass and Itchy” set. Just as well they didn’t play them the other way round!
Recorded by a fine Scottish group called “Calluna”.
Thanks to xbigtimepiex and Kenny for the tune and details.
When did Pinkman live?
Any other version anyone? Or name? or similar sounding tunes?
I first heard this tune played at great speed on the scottish pipes in 93 on Harmony hill. (definitely sounded like a reel not a hornpipe; Aren’t scottishpipe reels often played like hornpipes nnot the other way round?) It made an impact on me which isn’t quite matched by the only mild pleasure I get from it today. Which shows once more music should be heard / experienced live, not just read!
It is still a classic tune with a name to match!
It’s when I first attempted to look for it on the net that I came across this great site! which made me fast forgot my original query : remembered it only today after two years of distraction!
(that is: attraction to all the other gems people have posted here!)
Have a good quest everyone!
PS: Calluna is latin for heather.
Itchy Fingers
Pipe Major Robert R. Pinkman was born in Edinburgh in 1953 and died in Penicuik on 3 December 2012. In 1971 he joined the 1st Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers and in 1979 became their Pipe Major.