Role

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Composer

Country

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Ireland

 

Hamish Moore is a Scottish musician and composer who has made significant contributions to the world of traditional Scottish music. Born in Dunblane, Scotland in 1955, Moore grew up in a musical family and began playing the bagpipes at a young age. His father, Archie Moore, was a well-known piper and pipe maker, and his mother, Jean, was a singer and fiddler. Moore's early musical education was largely informal, as he learned to play the pipes by listening to recordings and attending local ceilidhs and festivals. However, he also received some formal training, studying under the renowned piper and composer Donald MacLeod. In the 1970s, Moore became involved in the Scottish traditional music scene, playing with various bands and collaborating with other musicians. He also began to develop his skills as a composer, writing original tunes and arrangements for the pipes. One of Moore's most significant contributions to Scottish music is his development of the Scottish smallpipes, a type of bellows-blown bagpipe that is quieter and more versatile than the traditional Highland pipes. Moore worked with pipe maker Nigel Richard to design and refine the smallpipes, and he has since become one of the foremost players and advocates for the instrument. Moore's compositions draw on a wide range of influences, including traditional Scottish music, jazz, and classical music. He has written numerous pieces for the pipes, as well as for other instruments and ensembles. Some of his most notable works include the suite "The Bees Knees," which was commissioned by the Scottish Arts Council and premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 1990, and the album "The Wallace Collection," which features his arrangements of traditional Scottish tunes. In addition to his work as a composer, Moore is also a respected performer and teacher. He has played at festivals and concerts around the world, and has taught workshops and masterclasses on the pipes and smallpipes. He has also written several instructional books and recordings, including "The Bagpipe: The History of a Musical Instrument" and "The Scottish Smallpipes Tutor." Moore's contributions to Scottish music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1998, he was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to traditional music, and in 2014 he was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Overall, Hamish Moore is a highly influential figure in the world of Scottish traditional music. His innovative compositions and arrangements, as well as his work in developing the Scottish smallpipes, have helped to expand the possibilities of the genre and bring it to a wider audience.

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