This album was the idea of Gordon Duncan and it is he who produced same for Greentrax . It features four of Scotland's up and coming young pipers -Christopher Armstrong , Gordon Maclean , Stuart Cassells , and Andrew Wright . It is interesting to note that all the performances were recorded at the first take which is something some of our top soloists might baulk at .
All the pipers featured have a string of solo wins to their credit and they all have received tuition from some of Scotland's best teachers of the highland bagpipe . Although they range in age from 16 to 17 years at the time of recording the standard of performance is excellent . Don't let the age tags fool you . This album features some top class playing .
The tunes played include traditional tunes and newly composed tunes and the selections played consist of marches , strathspeys ,reels , jigs , hornpipes and a piobaireachd .
Christopher Armstrong is from Bathgate and started playing when he was six . He is currently Pipe Sergeant with Dumbarton and District PB .
Gordon Maclean is 17 and comes from the village of Balfron in Stirlingshire . He started playing at the age of five and is currently a member of the Grade 1 Black Bottle Scotch Whiskey PB .
Stuart Cassells is 17 and comes from Falkirk . He began playing when he was eight and is curently a member of the McNaughtons' Vale of Atholl PB .
Andrew Wright is 16 and comes from Dundee . Andrew started pipes when he was nine and also plays with the Vale of Atholl band and was featured as a soloist on their Live 'n Well Album released last year .
These pipers will all be around for many years to come .
This type of album is certainly a first and once again Greentrax have to be complimented on breaking new ground . If for no other reason than to hear the standard of young pipers in Scotland I would recommend this album - especially to young pipers thinking of a solo career . This is the standard you have to attain to . For those of you not soloists , just enjoy the excellent piping.
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