The Bagpipe Society

Review: On Ruberslaw

Compositions May 2018 – March 2021 for Pipes, Fiddle and other Melody Instruments by Matt Seattle

Ruberslaw is a prominent hill standing between the towns of Hawick and Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. The volcanic remains which make up this hill are surrounded by rich farmlands and woodland, and the summit of Ruberslaw commands sweeping views.

It is places such as this and the things found in the landscape of the Scottish Borders that are the inspiration for Matt’s new book. Through the book we meet the friends and fellow musicians who frequent Matt’s life, as well as the birds and the bees.

There are 75 pipe tunes contained in On Ruberslaw. Most are written as single line melodies, there are several with harmony lines and a few as short variation sets. At the end of the book there is one additional piece for guitar, which reflects Matt’s earlier life! The book is beautifully made and includes many colour photographs, stories and anecdotes about the tunes. In his introduction to the book Matt talks a little about 2020 and the challenges it presented to him, he also goes on to tell us about the art and process of composition. The tunes are clearly presented and easy to read. There is however one hitch if you play only G or D pipes. The tunes are laid out for pipes and pipers who are playing or reading for pipes in A. So this can involve some transposition.

The nature of Matt’s composition and playing has led him to explore more fully the capabilities of his instrument. So, some of the tunes use an extended range of notes as well as flattened 3rds and 6ths, giving a wide range of modes, keys and feels. This can also exercise the brain in trying to work out the transposition and what key you should be playing in on your G or D pipes!

Several of the tunes, however, do not need transpositions as they can be played as written. Iain Gelston’s Rant is a very fine example of this and can be played immediately on the G pipes.

(You could also play this a tone down on a G pipe too.)

The contents of the book are divided into tune types. Airs, rants, jigs, slip jigs, reels, marches waltzes, brawls and triple-time (3/2) hornpipes.

There is, in addition, a section of the book that includes Matt’s Gala Water Suite – a Tapestry of Border Tunes. This separate section has 16 tunes and includes two traditional melodies, Gala Water and the epic Soor Plums o’ Galashiels.

There is a lot in this book. I have had it for a while now and am really enjoying getting to know the tunes, Matt’s friends and the musical landscape. It is not a book which I can read from beginning to end, I find I want to dip in and out and explore the different sections. Some of the tunes are harder than others and take time to get under the fingers, but it can be really worth the work. The other day I came across the Musselpecker (Oystercatcher), as you would do taking a walk along the shore! This is a dorian four part jig and if you close your eyes you can imagine the cries of the bird and sound of water. It took me away to the Orkneys where I have often been and seen and heard these birds. It is a beautiful tune.

So, get the book and travel the Borders with Matt, navigation may be difficult at times, but the view from the top is worth it. On Ruberslaw is available from https://www.mattseattle.scot/shop, where you will also find other books and music produced by Matt.