Season Looms

Well it's getting near crunch time with the start of the season more or less proper only days away. Things kick off at the Highlands and Islands up in Oban this weekend, the British Legion the week after and the first major band championship on the 16th May at Dumbarton. Advice for soloists? Remember the bagpipe is 99.9% of the battle. Get the magic instrument and everything else falls into place. We usually have some good reeds at the CoP Shop so get in touch if you're struggling. Lochearnhead Games (where the CoP sponsors the junior piobaireachd) have asked me to point out that this same contest starts at 10am, repeat 10am. Last year there were a few young pipers who turned up too late to take part. All other piping is at 12.30pm. Date is July 25th.
While mentioning the bands I hear a rumour, only a rumour mind, that there may be some security concerns regarding the police bands scheduled to take part in the British Championships at Banbridge on June 27. I hope what I hear is completely unfounded and that there will be nothing to stop Strathclyde, Tayside, Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, Central Scotland, Lothian and Borders, and Grampian police bands taking part. Would take a big chunk out of the day wouldn't it? The CoP Training and Development band under P/M Barry Donaldson is minus sufficient drummers for the Scottish but will be out in force for the Worlds. Barry (right) tells me he has around 40 pipers. Any drummers who'd like to play with the band should get in touch. All the other contact details are on the Fast News page as well. I should point out that anyone can play in the band so long as they are a CoP student or member. If you are coming over for the Worlds and want to play on the big day then get in touch with Barry. Names have to be registered with the RSPBA at least 21 days before the contest. The band wears their own kilts, white shirt, College tie and glengarry with CoP badge. The band has its first engagement soon (a gala day) and will be doing it sans drums. Now there's a novel idea.
Getting near the target on the Strath Police PB petition. At 3,000 I'll present it to the powers that be. Once recent message re Commander McGuire, the woman in charge of the band, read: 'As you can see from the attachments, she's upsetting many others too. Nobody expects her to be a George Dixon of Dock Green but it seems her heavy-handed personal policy is to cause upset rather than get more public support for the police. I wonder if the Chief Constable is now getting fed up receiving complaints about her?'

Overseas now, and Ken Rogers in Calgary is being kept busy with his Scottish Tradition Piping School. It is a good set up Ken has with a full roster of students both in piping and drumming. The good thing is that they get gigs to play at and this brings the pipers and drummers on leaps and bounds (same idea that we have for the CoP Training and Development band). Here's a picture of Ken and his band playing at recent curling tournament closing ceremony.

Chris Armstrong, Piping Exams, Piob.Soc.

Met Chris Armstrong (right) at the PDQB meeting yesterday and had a chance to congratulate him on his win at the Uist and Barra. There's a report in the next PT. Chris tells me his band, Scottish Power, is sounding well and is ready to go at the Scottish in a couple of weeks. The band has certainly made great strides under his and World Solo Drumming champion Barry Wilson's leadership, and last season showed that they are definitely on the up. Don't be surprised if they are knocking on the door of the top four this season - or better.

   The PDQB meeting went very well with the way forward spelled out now that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has validated our exams and we are getting closer to implementation. I have concerns, perhaps ungrounded, as regards costs and delivery. My point is that we have a successful set of examinations at the moment which have been very well received around the world. I don't want them suffocated by bureaucracy and high fees.  I will raise these points at our next meeting with the SQA. The College has been completely behind the SQA project from the start. The previous SQA exams were out of date and updating and aligning them with the PDQB has been a great step forward for our schools and colleges and everyone working on our music in academia. 

         This notwithstanding, other musicians have highly respected and internationally recognised examinations outside the UK academic structure - the Associated Board Exams (joint examinations from Grade 1-8 recognised by the Trinity College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and the Royal Colleges of Music) for example - so why shouldn't pipers and drummers have the same if they wish? Is a twin track approach such a bad thing? It's good enough for piano. I don't see a non-SQA exam structure and an SQA one as necessarily mutually exclusive. Of course there is improved status in having the SQA on board but in my experience most pipers are not that interested in getting education credits - they want to be better players. They sit exams to progress their performance levels more than anything else. In the end it is really all about choice for the piper and drummer. Still, if the cost and delivery issues can be satisfied, and as I say, my fears may be groundless, then I see no problem in the SQA/PDQB exams becoming the norm.  The College has a good working relationship with Stow College in Glasgow and they are already an SQA examination centre so they too should be able to help us overcome any difficulties. I had a meeting with them today in fact and will meet with them again following the next PDQB/SQA meeting. The CoP is committed to promoting a relevant, respected and affordable piping and drumming exam structure. 

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John Dow, Piobaireachd Society webmaster, has reported a big interest in the 'Fingerlock Haka' by Dr Roddy Ross recorded on video at this year's annual conference. It can now be viewed on the Members' Area of the PS site. If you haven't seen it then it's time you joined the Society and availed yourself of such goodies. Allan MacDonald wept tears of joy when he saw Roddy's performance. Other excerpts from his stimulating talk to follow so get joining now. 

      John has also asked me to remind members who haven't yet got access information to the Members' Section to get in touch with him at jockdow@gmail.com . 

Loose Ends

Got most of the May PT away to the printers this afternoon. Only a few loose ends to tie up before proofing starts. 

         Went for a coffee during the day and bumped into a few pipers from Strathclyde Police. One, Bill Geddes (right), tells me he has an invite to the Silver Chanter. They'll let anyone 

play at Dunvegan these days. 

The 'polis' said they are continuing to practice for the Scottish at Dumbarton as before - so no news is good news as they say. Hopefully the pressure that has been put on the commander etc is paying off and they'll keep their hands off the band. We're getting close to our target of 3,000 names on the petition. If you haven't already signed it then please do so now - and encourage your friends and family to do the same. We need to press home any slight advantage we may have and I want to present the list of names to someone in authority by the end of May. 

         Stuart Cassells of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers has been in all week helping Joe during the second week of the Easter School. Stuart has lost a lot of weight and is determined to keep the svelte pop star shape intact.  Willie Park is threatening to take him hill walking. The CoP offering personal trainers! Is there to end to what we do for piping! Hope you enjoyed the week Stuart.

        Have put the third excerpt from my CoP Lecture of last year on CoP TV. YouTube only takes 10 minutes at a time so these shorter extracts are the only way to do it I'm afraid. If anyone reading this has any piping footage they'd like to submit please fire in a DVD. Mpeg4 format is good.

        I see from the Stornoway Gazette that Canadian Alan Bevan  won the overall at the Donald Macleod contest. Congratulations to you Alan (right). Must be one of the few times that a first timer has actually won the thing. If anyone up there in Lewis is reading this please make sure you send down a report and some pictures for the PT. If we don't have the information we can't give you coverage. If the SG can give permission to use their stuff that would do.

        

Back Home and Auld Acquaintance

Well pleased to be back in auld Scotia now that spring is beginning to spring. Straight to work of course and no time for hanging about. CoP Radio should be on air any hour now - see the blurb on the CoP Radio button for more info. PT for May well underway. All reports from Carbisdale v positive. Easter School going well under Joe's direction with Stuart Cassells' help. CoP Shop all intact and busy with Gary and Willie at the helm.
                One of our instructors at Carbisdale, Craig Munro of Wallace Bagpipes, tells me he is heading for Western Australia in a few weeks for a workshop, a recital and a spot of judging. Enjoy the trip Craig.
                Bumped into an old Muirheads pal this afternoon. Stuart Brown (above right) left the band in 1975. I hadn't seen him for 34 years. I had my Jimi Hendrix hairdo then. He only recognised me from photographs in the PT. Stuart was a very fine piper and a real stalwart of the band in the early 70s. He was taught by Jimmy Buist one time pipe major of the Kelty and Blairadam band. A genial and knowledgeable man Jimmy and an excellent pipe major. He did huge work for piping in Fife. I first met him on one of our trips to Lorient when Eddie McGuire, the flautist in the Whistlebinkies, composed a tune for him and the band 'The Kelty Pipers'. Good tune too. From Jimmy, Stuart graduated to Peter Snadden's 153TA band and won many a contest with them before moving to Muirheads. Bob Hardie had a real soft spot for him, impressed I am certain by both his playing ability and quiet, dignified demeanour. Complete contrast to the loud mouth travelling show that used to come through to Grangemouth from the west for practices. After leaving the band Stuart told me he went back to the 153 but couldn't settle and finally gave up playing and sold his pipes - something he now regrets. However Stuart has bought a set of smallpipes from Blue MacMurchie and is getting the fingers going again. Whilst in the College he met Dugald MacNeill and I suggested that as he lives in Edinburgh he might like to go along to Dugald's class which he has run for 40 years in the capital. It is now held every Monday in the RSPS Rooms and every second Tuesday there is a 'Piobaireachd for Pleasure' night. Everyone plays a tune irrespective of ability. Piping is such a communal business it is always a pleasure when you have company around. Plugging away in a backroom playing to that ornament you've always hated with a only once a fortnight hour with an instructor is not a lot of fun. Bands, College classes or clubs are the way to go. Great to see you again Stuart.

            Before I go, apologies for the technical hitch that has prevented Derek Boyce's winning tune mentioned in this month's PT being heard on PT Extra. Hope to put that right today.

Africa 5

Day 10 - Apr 7
Firstly apologies to all PT correspondents who have not had replies to their emails re advertising, subscriptions and articles. It is not possible for me to do them at this moment but will attend ASAP.
Started on pipes first thing with piobaireachd pipe band. It actually works quite well and is a great way to keep everyone together on a school. They're not all off in a corner somewhere doing their own thing. After coffee we went on to the 'Lament for the Only Son' and everyone took to it quite well. Later we listened to recordings of each performance from Saturday and went through each tune analysing and criticising. Everyone was up for it and didn't mind being torn to shreds. They have a very healthy attitude in South Africa. The prize is important but not the only thing that matters to them. They want to get to the soul of the music and understand what separates the ordinary from the exceptional. Prizes come along - great, but we also want to know how we got there. In the evening I gave a talk on the MacCrimmon heritage and it seemed to be appreciated. Discussion followed at which the point was made time and again - piping is a a world endeavour now and irrespective of background can be played and enjoyed by all provided they have good tuition.
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Day 11 - Apr 8
Beautiful morning and we started on the 'Old Woman's Lullaby'. Everyone picked it up quickly and we went outside and tried it on the pipes with the music held down with sticks and stones. Invergordon eat your heart out. Team photograph and then inside for another run through the 'Only Son'. In the afternoon we had a competition of sorts in which we tried to simulate contest conditions - final tuning room, five minute lights etc. Each piper had to play one tune and the rest took notes as judges of sorts. When everyone had played each took turns at leading the discussion on the individual performances. No holds barred and some candid views were expressed. All taken in a positive light and no punches pulled. All credit to Chris Terry and John Decker who put in tunes they had only learned this week, Chris 'Lament for Alan' and John 'MacNeill is Lord There'. Other tunes heard were 'Clan Chattan', 'Donald of Laggan', 'Massacre' and 'Mary MacLeod'. Evening ceilidh had visit from Paul Nettleship, Simon Workman, Peter Holgreaves and Chris Mullinder. Cyril Hall played 'MacGregor's Salute', Liam O'Flaherty 'Cill Chriosd', and John Decker the 'King's Taxes'. As a group the class then played a few tunes including piobaireachd. One of the boys said he was putting it on YouTube.
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Day 12 - Apr 9
The school ended at lunchtime. The students all made good headway and I want to thank them for making the school what it was. mp3s of tunes on way lads. As we headed to the airport I felt pretty pleased with progress made.
Thanks too to Alan Munro, Chris MacRoberts, Chris Mullinder, Paul Nettleship and all the others who made the trip so memorable.

Africa 4

Day 8 - Apr 5
Up early for the Junior Guineas. Standard mixed. A lot of young pipers playing tunes too difficult for them. Overall winner was Kgabe Melopo. He played a very good 'Donald of Laggan' and was a credit to his tutor Chris Mullinder. Kgabe is Pipe Major of the boys pipe band at King Edward VII school. As such it is his privilege to play the bagpipe which belonged to George Ackroyd the school's first piping instructor back in the 40s. George left the instrument to the school when he died. Believe me they are a superb set, silver and ivory Henderson by the look of them. After the prizes it was back to gather kit for the Piobaireachd School to be held in the Methodist Convention Centre in Bedford. Nice place with adequate facilities. After supper we had a teaching ceilidh at which students played a chosen tune and I ran through it with them suggesting improvements. Tunes covered and students who played were 'Desperate Battle' - John Decker, 'Massacre of Glencoe' - Angus Nixon, 'Donald of Laggan' - Joshua Hogg and 'Glengarry's March' - Liam O'Flaherty. Pipes generally speaking were pretty good.
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Day 9 - Apr 6
Beautiful autumn day (southern hemisphere remember). Started by running through some exercises and then we had our first tune Duncan Johnstone's 'Lament for Alan, My Son'. Some of the students had been taken with it at the recital and wanted to learn it. Chris Terry was particularly impressed with Duncan's compositional skill and likened the tune to a piece of poetry, which I suppose it is really. After this we went through 'MacNeill is Lord There' which was fresh in my mind from teaching it to John Angus Smith for the College Lecture. It's a great bold piece. A complete contrast to the first tune of the day. After lunch we tried 'Lament for Alan' as a collective. Pipes weren't too bad considering. Spent some time later with the younger student showing them how to tune their pipes and the importance of getting into a routine. After dinner we had the evening ceilidh with Chris Terry playing 'Beloved Scotland' and Kgabe Melopo playing his winnng tune 'Donald of Laggan'. Craig Sked then played 'Lady MacDonald's Lament', his winning tune (even better than Saturday). Roaring fire outside then bed.

Africa 3

Day 6 - April 3
Prepared for recital. Pipes going v well. Interviewed Alan for CoP Radio. He also showed me a nice photograph of his father's old band, Pretoria Juveniles, with their instructor Ewan Gillies. The photograph was taken in 1918. Alan still has his father's manuscript book in which Gillies would write out by hand all the exercises and tunes he had to learn. Apparently he did this for all the boys in the band. No Tutor 1 in those days. Alan brought out a box full of the Society's tapes. They all seemed in pretty good nick, even though they were reel to reel. I explained that when we were confronted with a similar situation with the Masters of Piobaireachd source material, again mostly reel to reel tapes, I took the lot along to a studio and got a price for the digitising as a job lot. As there was no deadline the studio - and our subsequent engineer Dave Fisher - were able to slot the work in between studio sessions and that way kept costs down. In our case the Scottish Arts Council generously stepped in with a grant and four months or so after first delivering them we had scores of DAT tapes on which the MoP series was founded.
To the recital. Good crowd. Played light music and 'Lament for Alan, My Son' and the 'Big Spree'.
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Day 7 - April
100 Guineas contest won by Joshua Hogg a pupil of Herbie Campbell. Herbie was an acquaintance of P/M Angus MacDonald when he was out here and had a few nights on the town with him. I remember judging Herbie on one of my last visits when he played the Ceol Mor version of 'Tulloch Ard' much to my surprise. The 100 Guineas piob was won by Craig Sked. He played very well despite some scares in the crunluath. Nice to see Craig back on form. The main prizewinners at the Guineas all played well and there is great potential here. With the right teaching anything is possible. The man who blazed a trail for South African pipng was at the contest listening. Many in Scotland will know and remember Chris Terry. God knows how much he spent over the years traveling to Oban and Inverness and acquitting himself very well in the Medal. Chris tells me he is just back from California where his daughter has delivered his first grandwean.
Peter Candy from London was also here. Peter is currently working at a mission up in southern Sudan. He says it is so hot that the best way to practice is with next to nothing on - he is dripping in sweat within a few minutes.
Went for a meal with all the gang and sat next to the great Chris Mulinder - the other Chris who has striven so hard for piping down here.
Report on the Guineas in the PT. Junior Guineas tomorrow then the piob school at night.

Africa 2

Day 5 - April 2
Up v early for drive back to Jo'burg. Got there about 3pm and blew the pipes. Not as sharp as I thought, despite altitude, so decided against using Shepherd chanter. Lifted reed and adjusted tape instead. Tried through a few tunes for tomorrow's recital. Blew pipes again later and notied they had settled a little more and made a few fine adjustments to tape and replaced bits that had started sliding in the heat. Reception for the SPSW committee and guests was at 6pm. Great to see so many familiar faces again. Alan announced that he was retiring after 30 years as President and introduced the new President Chris MacRoberts. Chris Mulinder explained that the Society wanted to make a complete break with the past generation and set things solidly in the future hence the promotion of Chris, a very mature 22 years old. The new President then made a presentation of a plaque and a book to Alan and Merlyn and there were congratulations all round.
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Day 6 - April 3
Prepared for recital. Pipes going v well. Interviewed Alan for CoP Radio. He also showed me a nice photograph of his father's old band, Pretoria Juveniles, with their instructor Ewan Gillies. The photograph was taken in 1918. Alan still has his father's manuscript book in which Gillies would write out by hand all the exercises and tunes he had to learn. Apparently he did this for all the boys in the band. No Tutor 1 in those days. Alan brought out a box full of the Society's tapes. They all seemed in pretty good nick, even though they were reel to reel. I explained that when we were confronted with a similar situation with the Masters of Piobaireachd source material, again mostly reel to reel tapes, I took the lot along to a studio and got a price for the digitising as a job lot. As there was no deadline the studio - and our subsequent audio engineer Dave Fisher - were able to slot the work in between studio sessions and that way keep costs down. In our case the Scottish Arts Council generously stepped in with a grant and four months or so after first delivering them we had scores of DAT tapes on which the MoP series was founded.
To the recital. Good crowd. Played light music and 'Lament for Alan, My Son' and the 'Big Spree'.

Southern Africa

Day 1 - March 29
Would you believe it. We're sitting having a cup of coffee at Heathrow and who appears out of the corner of my eye but Stuart Liddell. Stuart was returning from Dusseldorf where he had been doing a workshop for the Rhinepower band along with drummers Jim Kilpatrick and Tyler Fry. Though he flew out from Prestwick he had been re-routed home via London and Glasgow. Problem was his car was at Glasgow.
Stuart was telling me that he was now full time with the Inveraray band and was looking forward to the coming season in Grade 2. He'd been going out to Vancouver for the SFU for 11 years. Now there's dedication.
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Day 2 - March 30
Have arrived Jo'burg after 10 hour flight. Alan and Merlyn Munro met us and a five our drive took us to the Botswana border where a metal cage ferried us across the Limpopo. Dramatic. Crocs below we were told. Drove through game reserve, saw variety of wild life and am now giving the pipes a blow after a full 24 hour journey from Glasgow. Did two sets after substantial brai (BBQ). Our host, John Dewar (of a Perthshire family), regaled us with a few stories not least of which was the anniversary day his old regiment, the Transvaal Scottish, re-enacted the Battle of Magersfontein with local Africaaners playing the part of the Boers.
John also told of an Atholl Highlander killed in another Boer War struggle, Spion Kop. The previous day the unfortunate victim had arranged a few after battle drinks with his former Harrow schoolmate Winston Churchill a correspondent for (I think) the News Chronicle during that bitter conflict. Passing the bodies of the fallen the day after hostilities ended Churchill noticed that of the dead Harrovian and managed to have a more dignified committal for his former chum than in the communal ditch that was planned. When the present day Atholl Highlanders visited SA a couple of years ago they went to the grave and paid tribute to the soldier. Duncan MacDiarmid, farmer and band member, has named a hill on his farm at Weem, Perthshire, Spion Kop, said John.
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Day 3 - March 31
Superb game drive today seeing many different animals. At night came back and played a few tunes and ran through some stuff for the recital on Friday. The pipes are holding up well in the heat. The still African air seems to have a calming effect. Maybe it's just the duty free. Have kept them in a poly bag with damp cloth inside. Seems to be working. They only take a few minutes to settle. Jo'burg 6,000 feet up will be the real test. Having done this gig before I know how the pipes go through the roof in the thinner air, so have brought a Shepherd 'Orchestral' chanter with me in the hope that the lower pitch will compensate and I won't have to change the drone settings. We'll see. Played a few tunes for the safari lodge staff and they seemed to enjoy it. I was told they had probably never heard the pipes before. They joined in with some percussion and dancing.
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Day 4 - April 1
Leopard and its kill and other treats. Later Alan revealed that the Scottish Piping Society of the Witwatersrand's tape archive, it goes back around 50 years, had been recovered. It had not been seen for a number of years after it was loaned to a member who passed it on to someone else who then vanished into the ether. An ad. was placed in a popular South African magazine appealing for information and out of the blue the phone rang and Chris Mulinder, who'd placed the ad., went to collect the tapes.
Played a few tunes at night. Again the warm African air seems to suit the bagpipe but had no effect on the elephants who were still chewing away outside our lodge when we turned in.