Seumas and CoP Radio

I'm currently putting the September PT to bed so this will have to be quick. The edition will carry my thoughts on the Worlds as usual so no point in repeating them here. 

I hope you'll have a listen to the new CoP Radio show which has Jonathan Greenlees's winning tune from Skye as the 'Piobaireachd of the Month'. A pretty good performance of the 'Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay' I think. Just shows you what a roller coaster business the piping game is. There was Jonathan last week up in the clouds and this week brought back to earth with disappointment at the Worlds with FMM. Still runner up is a great prize and no shame in coming second to SFU on this form (incidentally you can hear their Worlds sets in rehear

sal on SFUtube).

Also on the radio show is an excerpt from an old LP I found in Jeannie's Grotto (the Museum of Piping). It's by Seumas MacNeill (right) and is entitled 'An Introduction to Ceol Mor'. Apart from the actual value to the beginner in what he says, we also learn what a consummate communicator Seumas was. Whatever you thought of him (and I had plenty of run ins) you cannot deny his abilities as a writer and broadcaster on piping, certainly the best I've ever read and heard. 

The archive spot is a scratchy recording of my old band Muirhead and Sons playing in Toronto in 1977. I played it during the 'Great Debate' last week and got nothing but abuse from messrs Livingstone, Mathieson, Aitken and Noble. Probably something to do with the fact that I introduced it by saying it was the greatest ever performance in pipe band history, by the greatest pipe band in history, by the greatest pipe corps in history, with the greatest left sided back rank in history (me and McBride). Now what's wrong with that? Some people just can't handle the truth can they? Anyway have a listen and see what you think. 

The focus for many solo pipers will now be the games this weekend and Oban to follow next week. Any overseas pipers should be aware that if they are stuck for somewhere to practice when they are over then they can come into the College 9-5pm and grab any room that is available free of charge.

Gordon Walker and Surprise Donation

Gordon has just finished his recital at the CoP to thunderous applause. The Lecture Hall was packed as you can imagine and this added to the general atmosphere. We had visitors from all over the piping world but none more welcome than P/M Rose Fletcher who in her 91st year looked younger than ever. Gordon thrilled the listeners with his electric fingerwork but never over-showy. There was great control and precision more than flash. The pipe was beautifully set with the drone sound smooth and full. He played part of 'Scarce of Fishing' and the only regret was that he didn't play the whole tune. Gordon explained that he had been given it by the late Andrew Pitkeathly former Director of Army Bagpipe Music at Edinburgh Castle. Gordon was serving as a Corporal in the Royal Highland Fusiliers at the time. At the conclusion of his hour long set Rose asked Gordon for 'The Black Bear' as an encore. He kindly obliged and left the stage with the audience cheering and clapping along to 'No Awa' Tae Bide Awa'. Hopefully he'll be true that sentiment and give us another recital at the CoP during next year's World's Week.

Well that rounds things off for another year and I think it has been a great success overall with some good yarns emerging along the way. Canadian Geoff Neigh told me an interesting tale which came about at a reed workshop run by Colin MacLellan at the Piping Centre. Colin decided to auction one of his best specimens and the successful bidder was Andrew Berthoff who runs the Canadian Piper and Drummer website. Andrew paid £13.50 for the reed. Suggestions for what should be done with the money were asked for and it was decided that it should go to the College Building Fund. Luckily for all concerned none of the Centre's top brass was lurking behind any pillar -- at least not as far as we know! Once the cash is received I'll add Colin and Andrew's names to our benefactor's Roll of Honour.

Great Debate - The Future of the Pipe Band

What an interesting two hours that proved to be. We split the session into two halves the first dealing with the MSR and the second the Medley. I played some recordings of Strathclyde Police from 1990 and compared it with last year's MSR from FMM. My main grumbles were over the drum sound and the need for expression in tunes. Bill Livingstone and Robert Mathieson basically said that I was out of date in my thinking. I retorted that tunes still needed to be pointed and phrased to bring the best out in them and that the reason for the deterioration in MSR playing was because bands saw it as secondary to the medley and spent less time on it. They both disagreed and said the reverse was the case. I said that this was because more time was necessary to make a fist of the most demanding discipline. Joe Noble and Alastair Aitken said that drums had lost some of their snare sound and the rising drum pitch set to match the rising chanter pitch was not necessary. Robert and Bill agreed with this. Next I rounded on strathspey playing and the drum beats employed in the modern band. All except Robert agreed with me on this one. Robert said strathspeys could be played differently depending on the style that was wanted. I said that whatever the style, all strathspeys had to have lift. From the audience Hector Russell said there was a difference between pointing and lift.
At the interval Joe Noble said there was no blood on the carpet --yet. We started the second half by listening to Strathclyde Police's opening march from 1990 and then the Muirheads at the CNE in 1977. I contrasted these 'dot and tail' performances with the flat line hornmarches or marchpipes that we hear today and how one was bright and cheery and the other boring. Robert said the round style of playing needn't be boring if it was played with rhythm and demonstrated this very well with the tune 'Sandy's New Chanter'. I turned on content and asked why adjudicator's didn't mark down bands who played meaningless 'tunes'. Alastair Aitken said some adjudicator's did but that it was stated in the RSPBA rule book that the judge was to judge how tunes were played and not the quality of them. We all agreed that this was something that needed to change.
At the conclusion each panellist was thanked and then asked to give his views on where we should be going next with our bands. Robert felt that the barriers had to come down in the medley whilst preserving the intergrity of the MSR. Alastair said the RSPBA had to get its rule book into line with current playing styles and standards. Joe agreed and called for everyone to enjoy their music more. Bill said that we had to make our presentations more audience friendly perhaps moving the Worlds to a venue such as the Scottish Exhibition Centre.
Everything was recorded and will be made available later.

Shotts Concert

Whatever happens on Saturday, Shotts had a triumph at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall tonight. I don't think I have ever heard them sounding better and came away from the auditorium more convinced than ever that the ideal shape for the pipe band is the semi - circle of pipers facing the audience with the drum corps  in line and at a tangent behind. The projection of sound the band achieved was stunning. Drone tone and chanter were on your lap. It could not have been surpassed. 

There can not be a better showman in the pipe band world than Robert Mathieson (above right). He led his troops brilliantly on the night. Humour, control, great playing (what fingers he still has) and sheer ability to command his charges and an audience simultaneously -  a rare gift. 

Now this may surprise you but the stand out for me was the MSR playing. Shotts often get criticised for this not least from yours truly. But their 'Highland Wedding', 'Bogan Lochan' and 'Mrs MacPherson' was exemplary. When played well the 'big' MSR is a completely satisfying musical product, the best the pipe band can deliver. Robert stood in front and conducted and 

this seemed to make a world of difference. P/M Robert Reid is on record as saying that pipe bands would do much better if they had a conductor and here it was, manifest.

Jim Kilpatrick's corps were frightening in their virtuosity, and so young they all seemed, running through the whole repertoire of stick juggling and wrist magic that the pipe band drummer is capable of. The bass section guided by the masterful Tyler Fry (below right) held the large crowd in sway, the tuned drum effects pleasing every discerning listener in the crowd. Other highlights?

Composer Dr Bruce Thomson was asked to take a bow before the band launched in to his 'Tommy MacDonald of Barguillean' the band's medley opener.. you'll have read about it in the PT.

In the audience judge John Wilson won a pipe tuner in the raffle and there were 

various suggestion as to what he should do with it.

MC Ken Eller (above left and cheaper than Worrall said Mathieson) stumbled at times but won the audience over with his brassy banter....nobody cared.......

That superb young Breton piper Xavier Bouderiou wowed everyone with his sax playing, yes sax, as did the guy on the Deger pipe.

Gregor Lawrie brought life to Gaelic song - he is a natural - and there were dancing girls (just how did Urquhart and Cowan keep their minds on the music?) , fiddles and flute.

But hey, you know what really came through to this listener? Shotts are back. This is a pipe band with 13 new players who found their feet tonight. They are ready to take on the best. Hear them if you can at Glasgow Green. And before I leave you, hats off to Phoenix Honda Glasgow Skye for another great promotion. Well done to all concerned.

Alasdair Gillies

We had a very informative hour and a half with Alasdair today.

He took us through his approach to March, Strathspey and Reel

playing and offered some first class advice to the audience - a mixed collection of abilities and ages. He illustrated the talk with some of his favourite tunes such as Mrs John MacColl (which he told us he now does not put in for competition such is his association with the tune), Inveraray Castle and Roddy MacDonald's Reel. After the break Alasdair looked at some simpler tunes and I know this chimed with some of the beginners.
He stressed how important it was to be realxed and comfortable when playing. Blowsticks were crucial and should neither be too long nor too narrow in the bore. Bags should not be larger than necessary he said, and indeed he played on a small sheepskin. He explained to the audience how vital preparation was, irrespective of the engagement the piper was about to play at. Competition, funeral, wedding, top table - they all had to be approached in a methodical and well rehearsed manner if they were to be enjoyed. He explained how when practising for Former Winners' events he would play tunes three times through instead of the required twice just to build up his stamina. One young questinner asked Alasdair how he was attracted to the pipes and he explained that he had had no option. At the age of five his father Norman had placed corks between his fingers so that they would stretch over the holes of the chanter. He began in earnest with CoP Tutor 1 aged nine and the rest (my words) is history.
Great to catch up with Geoff and Ed Neigh and Peter Aumonier and thanks to Hector Russell who made a DVD of the event for us and I've recorded some excerpts for possible use on CoP Radio.

Strathclyde Police Concert

Strathclyde Police are in fine shape for Saturday's Worlds of that

there can be no doubt. Their performance at the the CoP this

lunchtime was full of assurance and steadiness. The drone sound filled the room and the large audience were certainly appreciative of the mix of styles they heard. The band kicked off with some 6/8s and it was immediately noticeable that P/M Don Bradford (below) had an easy control of his pipers and drummers. And how nice to see the former pipe major Donald MacKay in the centre of the front row. Clearly there are no hard feelings over the change at the top and it is to the credit of all concerned that the transition has gone so smoothly. The fine acoustics in the hall meant that all the fingerwork was heard clearly above the drums. These last were led of course by the brilliant Eric Ward. Just before the interval that brilliance was given free rein when Eric led the corps through an intricate drum salute called 'Front Row Duck' a reference to the odd flying piece of willow liable to come the audience's way during the stick juggling. After a short interval for tea and coffee the band was back on playing a set of reels, a Breton selection, an MSR (a fraction slow I thought) and another medley. They left the auditorium to well deserved applause. As a generous gesture the band donated their fee for the performance to the College Building Fund and I was able to thank them.

Piping on the Clyde and Gordon Ferguson

Just enjoyed a fine 'Piping on the Clyde' night at the Renfrew Ferry courtesy of Wallace Bagpipes. A large crowd heard performances from the firm's Craig Munro and an excellent young drummer Craig Lawrie, Stamperland PB, Stuart Shedden's Lanark, and Milngavie (right) Clydebank and Fife Constablulary PBs. The sponsor laid on plenty of refreshments ensuring a very pleasant atmosphere on board. A great way to start World's Week and all free of charge. Stuart Shedden (below left) has not been out much on the solo scene this year having been too busy with the band but he told me he plans to play at Oban for the Gold Medal, so good luck to him there. His band, as one would expect from a man who keeps an immaculate bagpipe, sounded very well and certainly Grade 3 and probably above in the sound department. I have a recording of them which I hope to play on CoP Radio.

Enjoyed chatting to Nat Russell (below), Ian McLellan, Joe Noble, Malky MacKenzie and and Sam Young who were all in good form. Nat told me that my old friend and fellow 214th GCBB and Muirheads piper Gordon Ferguson, now living in Queensland, had fallen ill and I want to pass on my very best wishes to him and the kindest regards from his many friends in the homeland. Gordon was my Staff Sergeant in the BB and I later followed his example by joining Muirheads. Gordon won five World titles with the band during their great run in the 60s and was a superb piper. I last met him when I was in Brisbane doing a recital a couple of years ago and he hadn't changed a bit - still the same genial manner and welcoming smile. Those who know him will understand exactly what I mean. So get well soon Gordon.

Earlier today Sandy Keith from Florida called in to the CoP. He'd been at the Shotts practice and said they were in excellent form. Sandy was too I might add.

The consensus view seems to be that the Worlds on Saturday is wide open with many predicting a surprise from SFU. As ever it all depends on who plays for it. Whoever gets the nod I'll be there recording my thoughts for the PT and taking some snaps.