What better way to open it than with Strathallan’s Cameron Drummond on his trademark outstanding instrument with a set of classic 4/4 marches?  Included in his selection was the beautiful March of the King of Laois – an Irish tune with very strong similarities to the piobaireachd Duncan MacRae of Kintail’s Lament.  The academics amongst you can debate the provenance of each tune and whether or not the King of Laois came from Kintail.

Cameron will be playing with The Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band at the Celtic Connections concert on Saturday 28^th January in Glasgow.  An historic show not to be missed.

Dr Fergus Perks, one of the NHS’ finest, took the floor with his Sinclairs and gave us a superb show of popular and melodic tunes all put together with great aplomb.  Heights of Cassino and Ishbel T Macdonald were followed by the airs She Moved Through The Fair (the inspiration for Simple Minds’ 1989 No. 1 hit, Belfast Child) and the amusingly named Danish Knife Grinders’ Spring Song.  Fergus then gave us a set of numerous two parted strathspeys and reels before finishing with the Ass in the Graveyard and Mozart’s 4th Horn Concerto.    

Another piping doctor, Robert Gray, played next on his sparkling Naills.  His tunes included the moving Bloody Fields of Flanders plus a heavy MSR of Arthur Bignold of Lochrosque, Susan Macleod and The Smith of Chilliehassie.  Is this last tune referring to Killiechassie in Perthshire where author J. K. Rowling owns the big hoose? 

Our final player tonight was Angus Lutton.  Having now recovered from his victorious rugby injuries, Angus has been practicing for the Scottish Schools CCF Piobaireachd contest this Friday.  He gave us a strong rendition of the evergreen Company’s Lament on a well set up bagpipe with some fine musical touches.  An excellent reflection on his tutor at The Edinburgh Academy, Pipe Major Michael Gray, MBE.  If Angus can repeat this form on Friday, he will certainly give the judges something to think about.

On the strength of tonight, we look forward to the rest of the year and beyond with a great deal more optimism than the Mayans.

Douglas Gardiner

Douglas Gardiner was first with pipes out of the box, beginning the end of 2011 on a set of Niall pipes, which were made in the 1990s for the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band, and have surprisingly short drones, creating a challenge in ‘reeding’ them. Gardiner has obviously discovered the secret, and he fired into the compound time signatures, with the 9/8 Ian MacFadyen’s Tuning Phrase and the 12/8 Jock Masson, followed by classic 6/8s Mrs Lily Christie and P/M Donald Maclean’s Farewell to Lewis. Gardiner finished his set with an Air called Morag Duncan, written by John Wilson and the lovely march The Centenary Jewel.

Robert Gray took the opportunity to blow away the cobwebs that were hanging around after a certain seasonal work function, and cracked out some great wee sets including The Man From Skye and The Seagull which was flying furiously in the conditions of the night.

A dedicated group of students joined us tonight from Glasgow amid speculation that they had been blown east-wards by the fierce winds, and also prompting the tune name The Weegies’ Welcome to the Eagle Pipers, although no such tune exists yet. We look forward to publishing the tune on eaglepipers.com soon. We were also joined by Don Bogue from Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA. Don is a Drum Major with his local band, and as always, we are very pleased that our international friends look us up when they’re in Edinburgh.

Jenny Hazzard kept the tunes flowing, fresh from her win at the Scots Guards Knock-Out competition, with an MSR and a stunning set of contemporary compositions including 3 from the pen of fellow Canadian Mike Grey,The Bottler, Doubled-Over Happy, and The Mallaig Ferry. Intricate and cleverly constructed pieces that demand nimble fingers!

The feature players of the evening were two brothers from a family of four piping sons who learn their piping at Edinburgh Academy. 13 year old Angus McPherson began with Argyll’s Crossing the River Po and Colin’s Cattle before a tremendous MSR of Achany Glen, the Caledonian Canal and Alick Cameron. It was pointed out to me by Donald Macleod that the march was written by Angus’ namesake, being the Angus MacPherson of Invershin. As a reward for making pertinent and very interesting links, Donald shall be making an appearance as Match Reporter in the future…

Older brother Hamish then took the floor and gave us a very musical and thoroughly enjoyable rendition of The Detroit Highlanders as an entrée to his first public performance of a piobaireachd, which was Too Long In This Condition. Hearty congratulations to both young men.

Eagle Pipers resumes for 2012 on Tuesday 10 January. We do hope you have all had a safe and happy festive season and we look forward to seeing you soon. 

Tracey

“It was a special pleasure to be at the gathering of the Eagle Pipers Society at the the Scots Guards Club in Edinburgh on 1 November.  My only previous visit was in 1973 (ie nearly 40 years ago) on my first trip to Scotland from my native South Africa.  At that time, I had particularly wanted to visit the Eagle because I had previously been the winner of the silver salver presented by the Eagle as the prize for the Marches at South Africa’s main solo contest, popularly known as the “100 Guineas”.

It was with some tridation that I ventured into the big wide world of Scottish piping for the first time. Coincidentally, the first person I introduced myself to happened to be Ronnie Ackroyd whose brother George (ex PM of the Black Watch) was the leading light in South African piping and my tutor at the time. Ronnie made me very welcome right away, although I was a bit surprised by having a set of pipes thrust on me and being told I had the floor for 10 minutes!  However well I might have played, it was nothing compared to the pleasure and to me complete novelty, in hearing some outstanding players who, I think, that night included Duncan Johnstone.

That night I was also introduced to George Stoddart.  A few years later that acquaintance became a firm friendship when George came to South Africa to take charge of the pipe bands at the Durban Tattoo I was the pipe major.  

My visit this year refreshed other connections to Edinburgh piping.  Captain John MacLellan was a frequent visitor to South Africa as a judge and tutor in the mid and late 1970s.  On several of his trips he was accompanied by Bunty, so I was delighted to to be able to meet Colin at the Eagle this year.  On one of his visits to Siuth Africa, John had described a cutting edge water trap which Colin had shown him – nothing more than a long tube inserted into the blowstick stock which is old hat these days but was very novel then. How things have moved on.  Bunty was very interested in Hector MacDonald – Hector the Hero – who had been in South Africa during the Boer War and was able to visit some of the Boer War battlefield sites associated with him.

The welcome this time was just as warm as on my first visit and we heard some good tunes.  I now live in London so hopefully it won’t be 40 years until the next one.”

Thanks Len and hope to see you back soon.

Douglas Gardiner kicked off the evening playing John Haynes’ The Cockney Jocks; a tune written about The London Scottish Regiment in whose ranks Gardiner served a decidedly undistinguished part time military career.

Donald Macleod followed looking set to break the EPS record of consecutive playing appearances.  His set of airs including Oran Na Navy and Loch Broom Bay was a highlight for many with the latter tune named after the beautiful loch where Donald grew up.

There is a theory put forward (very convincingly) by some of the more celebrated EPS members that it is impossible to be a good piper and a good golfer.  Our next piper of the night, Dr Fergus Perks, proved it can be done.  Not content with a single figure golf handicap, Fergus displayed his talent with a set of Sinclairs playing such classics as 10^th HLI Crossing the Rhine and Mrs Lily Christie.  However, those jealous aspirant golfers listening may have taken some solace from the piping equivalent of three fresh air shots in Fergus’s playing of David Ross.

During the pie break, the Hon President reminded everyone of the forthcoming Scots Guards Knock Out Heats on Sunday 4^th and 11^th December.  Our own Jenny Hazzard will be playing in the second date against John Mulhearn.  A further date to look out for is Fred Morrison’s concert in Longniddry on Friday 16^th December.  Tickets can be reserved by calling Frances Cunningham (01875 852 958).

Visiting us tonight were John and Victoria McCain from Texas.  Judging by the Hon President’s recollections of typical Texan cuisine, they may have found our steak pies a little bland.  Also sampling his first Eagles’ pie was Tam Peterkin’s younger (and taller) brother Henry.  In his youth, Henry was one of the most renowned pipers on Lour Road in Forfar.

Post Pie Piper was Dr Peter McCalister who introduced a cleverly devised quiz to be completed whilst he played.  The questions included identifying his eight strathspeys and reels, speeding texting accurately his four marches (some with the longest names in our repertoire) and correctly identifying the Canntaireachd of six piobaireachd.  It was a quiz which truly sorted the medallists from the buskers.  The winning team was Tam Peterkin, Colin Campbell and Douglas Gardiner

In an effort to test the mettle of the readership of this website, we are offering one Eagles steak pie with a brown sauce sachet to the first person (who didn’t attend tonight) with the correct answers to the Canntaireachd question (see bottom of report).  Only one is Nameless.  Place your response in the comments section.

Our first EPS debut performance of the night was from Brandon Summers of Calgary, Alberta.  Brandon now plays with Fife Constabulary and gave us a very musical selection including a classy MSR of the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, Susan Macleod and the Sheepwife with all the hallmarks of a strong Grade 1 piper.

Lachie Dick of North Uist gave us our second debut on a wonderful bagpipe.  His selection showed his Western Isles upbringing and climaxed with the Gaelic Air Tuireadh Iain Ruaidh and reels Cota Mor Ealasaid, Brenda Stubbers and the Gravel Walk.

Tonight’s piobaireachd was originally due to be from Angus Lutton.  However, in preparation he unwisely chose to play rugby for The Edinburgh Academy in the Scottish Schools Rugby Cup Final at Murrayfield.  Very sadly this involved breaking his nose although his team did win.

EPS anchorman and pie eating champ, Andrew Gray, manfully rose to the challenge at 24 hours notice.  He played a very strong and musical Corrienessan’s Salute with a dexterity and bagpipe that showed all the benefit of his first term’s hard work at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire.

Another busy but hugely enjoyable night!

Douglas Gardiner

Quiz Question:

Name these well known piobaireachd:

1. Hiharin odin hiharin dro hihorodo odin hihorodo dro
2. Hiemotra hiaho hioem hodinotra chelalhodin
3. Hiharin hienhodro hahodro hihiodin
4. Hiharin dro odro hiodro traotraen
5. Hiemto hiharara hientro hiharara
6. Cherede cherede cherede cherede

This cost him a broken nose but it was worth it !

EDINBURGH Academy, beaten finalists last year, went one better with the narrowest of wins over a strong George Watson’s side at Murrayfield last night.

This wasn’t a classic final but it was never dull and was played with a palpable intensity from beginning to end. Nor was the result ever a foregone conclusion, with Watson’s scrapping right to the final whistle.

The Academy, unbeaten all year and starting as slight favourites, rarely looked like a side in control, as Watson’s harried them from first to last. Indeed, the Academy may not have won had Watson’s second row Matt Poole not been sin-binned moments into the second half, a decision which turned the game.

The Academy had been sluggish and fitful in the first half, trying to force the game. Neither side developed any continuity and both sides committed a seemingly-endless succession of basic errors. Watson’s had probably edged a nip-and-tuck first half and led 3-0 at the break thanks to a second-minute Andrew McMillan penalty.

Yet Poole’s sidelining seemed to galvanise the boys in blue and, by the time the Watson’s second row returned to the pitch, the Academy had scored two tries, taking a lead that would be whittled away but which they would never entirely surrender. The first of those tries came six minutes into the half when Alexander Muir, who to that point had performed like a nervous debutante, spun through two tackles in heavy traffic on the Watson’s 22, drawing full-back Fraser McKay and putting Robbie Orr over for the opening try.

Within four minutes the Academy had added another, Freddie Smith scooting into the left corner after some good work by Tom Salisbury. Crucially, Alex Swain, after a comedy attempt at the previous conversion, struck over the two extra points from the touchline. When things got tight later on, it was a crucial cushion as Watson’s stormed back.

Watson’s applied incredible pressure on the ball carrier throughout and the Academy were lucky not to be on the wrong end of a sin-binning themselves as they racked up penalty after penalty, especially in the last quarter. On such things do these matches turn.

Watson’s still almost made it though. Coach Ally Donaldson eventually got the message to them to kick one of the many penalties they were offered and McMillan brought them back to 12-6 down. Then Smith suffered a rush of blood to the brain and chucked a crazy ball deep in his 22, the ball going loose and Watson’s second row Neil Irvine Hess piling over the line, Swain’s missed touchline conversion leaving them just one point adrift.

Yet, despite a frenzied final ten minutes, the Academy held out. Skipper and man of the match Chris Deans was immense throughout but really stepped up during those dying minutes. Watson’s were driven forward by impressive little scrum-half and skipper Ramsay Young. The only pity was that one side had to lose.

Scorers: Edinburgh Academy: Tries: Orr, Smith. Con: Swain. Watson’s: Try: Irvine Hess. Pens: McMillan 2.

Edinburgh Academy: R Orr; T Salisbury, A Swain, T Grey, F Smith; A Muir, A Glashan; J Haining, A Lutton, A McWilliam, R Seydak (T Mitchell, 38), C Thomson, C Simpson, R Simpson, C Dean (c).

Colin and the two Tams.

This evenings meeting of the Eagle Pipers Society got off to a relaxed start with PM Euan Anderson opening with a set of three 2 parted 2/4 marches composed by himself. Some interesting and innovative melodies were on show but unfortunately Euan has not named these compositions despite apparently writing them around a decade ago so we will wait and see if fitting names can be assigned. He rounded his stint off with an air, The Haunting, then his own arrangement of the 4/4 March version of the same tune finishing with Murdo’s Wedding.

There was no rush to proceedings this evening and the relaxed atmosphere continued when Michael Gray took over from Euan and raised the tone of the evening….. Or rather pitch, playing the Killworth Hills to warm. We then heard a mini MSR; PM Willie Ross’s Farewell to the Scots Guard, O’er the Bows to Ballindaloch and The Piper of Drummond. There was more music to come and Michael continued with two big Marches; The Glenfinnan Highland Gathering and The Balmoral Highlanders. Next was a competition style Strathspey and Reel that powerfully finished Michael’s selection off.

Donald has a few tunes

After a flick and a kick start of a cane bass reed, Donald MacLeod set off with another march, this time Lieutenant Colonel DJS Murray, both warming his pipes and showing off their booming sound. Donald was on form and keen to air some competition material, playing; Hugh Kennedy, 74^th Farewell to Edinburgh, The Piper’s Bonnet, Tulloch Castle, The Sound of Sleat and the Smith of Chillichassie.

Susan tucks into a pie washed down by the famous Guinness

A modest amount of pies were consumed at the break and we heard the news that the Scot’s Guards knock out competition set for this Sunday, 20^thNovember has been postponed in order to run the Scots Guards Junior Solo Piping Competition held over the same weekend at Redford Barracks. Good luck to all involved. Congratulations were in order, yet again, at the Eagles as a number of our members had good tunes and took some of the top prizes down in London, well done!

The glutton in action

Before jetting off to Canada to judge the top Amateur competition there, the George Sheriff Memorial, Colin MacLellan gave another glimpse of his huge repertoire, beginning with an air heard on the 78^thFraser Highlander’s Live in Ireland album.

Colin

This was great to hear and brought back fond memories of the first piping album I ever owned. Some heavy 6/8 Marches introduced some even heavier 2/4 marches, The Abercairney Highlanders and The Braes of Castle Grant. MacBeth’s Strathspey and Inveraray Castle gave way to a trio of competition reels, Broadford Bay, Bessie MacIntyre and Alick C McGregor. Colin finished off with a Hornpipe and a deluge of Jigs beginning with the Jig of Slurs and ending with “Jig by DA Campbell”.

The evenings Piobaireachd

Our last player of the evening was Doctor Robert Gray who warmed his pipes up with a pipe version of the Border Ballad. A couple of Marches to start; PM Bob Martin and Leaving the Field then into some 2/4s, Donald MacLean’s Farewell to Oban and John MacDonald’s Welcome to South Uist, played with purpose and swagger. It was good to hear another two tunes that brought back early memories for me, two of my first competition tunes I learned with Donald McBride in Edinburgh. Robert then offered his Piobaireachd services and the room was grateful and eager to hear his tune, MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart’s Lament No1. An enjoyable tune that rounded the night off in a very satisfactory style.

 Angus Lutton from Edinburgh Academy will be on the next meetings piobaireachd.

Note: There will be no Eagles meeting on Tuesday 27^th December.

Me looking after the PM-again- in some bar somewhere in Australia

Cameron Drummond

Donald tells a tale

After the Hon P/M opened proceedings with a couple of gaelic airs followed by the great 2/4 march The Young MacGregor, Donald Macleod provided a polished selection including Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, A Luaidh and Old Wife of the Mill Dust.

CPA President, Robert Gray, followed with some wonderful words about the stories he heard from Jimmie including one about a competing piper who practicing in a bee keeping suit to keep the midges at bay. His selection included the ground of the Lament for the Only Son in tribute to Jimmie.

The Doc plays Lament for the Only Son

Colin Campbell then played us some classic 9/8s and 6/8s on his mellow 1890s Glens in readiness for the SPSL contest in London. His MSR included Leaving Glenurquhart a tune which P/M Jimmy MacGregor, Jimmie’s father, took many a prize with.

John Fraser

Lothian & Borders Police piper and ex-Scots Guardsman, John Fraser borrowed the Hon P/M’s bagpipe to provide a selection of classic tunes such as the Battle of Waterloo and the Garb of Old Gaul – the Regimental slow march of the Scots Guards.

Our special guest and Post Pie Piper for the evening was Canada’s Bob Worrall. Bob was judging the light music at the Glenfiddich the previous weekend where Jimmie MacGregor was posthumously awarded the Balvenie Medal – a hugely deserved honour.

Bob gives us a tune

Bob gave one of the most musical displays heard at Eagles for a very long time. His chanter was complemented by a set of drones that just simply would not shift despite Bob’s engaging breaks to introduce each set. His selection included Willie Ross’s Flight of the Eaglets (a tune with both Scots Guards and EPS connections) and two of Bob’s own compositions, Salute to Cap Caval and the Last Train to Malaga. The latter set can be found on the latest album by Bob’s band, Scantily Plaid- www.scantilyplaid.com

He finished with the ground of Donald MacLeod’s piobaireachd Cabar Feidh Gu Brath followed by Donald MacLennan’s Tuning Phrase.

At this point it would be remiss not to mention the success of the Hon Treasurer in winning the Piobaireachd at the Glenfiddich with a commanding performance of Scarce of Fishing – all 17.5 minutes of it. A terrific tune on a wondeful pipe.

Bringing this reflective evening to a close was Royal Conservatoire of Scotland student, Chris Ross, with a well rehearsed selection including the MSR Mrs John MacColl, Tulloch Castle and Pretty Marion and finishing with Allan MacDonald’s Dr Flora MacAulay of Carradale.

The patrons

And to quote the PM ‘that was the evening’s evening’. However as some donned jackets to head home in the dark winters night others stayed out and regaled countless tales of piping anecdotes about Jimmie and the good times. In travels hats were doffed at the West End Hotel where for once the Inn was closed. Changed days indeed.

and more

A truly wonderful evening. If only the man himself had been there. He would have had such fun.

Douglas Gardiner

Piobaireachd
1st Iain Speirs, “Scarce of Fishing”
2nd Stuart Liddell, Inveraray, Scotland
3rd Roddy MacLeod
4th Willie McCallum, Bearsden, Scotland
5th Angus MacColl, Benderloch, Scotland
Judges: Colin MacLellan, John McDougall, Iain Morrison

MSR
1st Roddy MacLeod
2nd Chris Armstrong, Airth, Scotland
3rd Willie McCallum
4th Niall Stewart, Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland
5th Stuart Liddell
Judges: Gavin Stoddart, John Wilson, Bob Worrall

I see no trams......

I’m sure I’m not the only one battling to negotiate the higgledy-piggledy hotch-potch of road and tram works in Edinburgh’s Haymarket area, but the welcome tonight was well worth it. A great wee crowd tonight with lots of familiar faces, good chat, lovely tunes and sweet, mellow pipes!

Once the PM had put some air through his pipes Chris Gibb took to the floor and wasted no time in livening the evening up, cracking straight into a hornpipe and jig of The Man From Skye and Brae Riach. Chris’s treasured Lawries are sounding very well, well ahead of the London competition that marks the beginning of the new season – although to many of us, it feels like the end! Chris continued with a classic MSR of Donald MacLellan of Rothesay, The Bob of Fettercairn and The Sound of Sleat, and fired on into his final set which was a good-going selection of reels from one of Duncan Johnston’s collections.

Chris Gibb

Donald Macleod continued the evening, and was brave enough to point out that this was his first return to Eagles since our first meeting! Donald played some great marches including Colin Thompson and The Knightswood Ceilidh, followed by a lovely Air,

Donald back at last

The Hills of Kintail and jigs John Patterson’s Mare and the The Rakes of Kildare. Donald is a Highland man, and I can confirm that he plays just as well at silly o’clock on the hard sand of the beaches of North Uist as he does in the warm and comfy surroundings of the Scots Guards Club. We sincerely hope it won’t be as long until his next return to Eagles.

The pie

The pies were particularly delicious tonight, and while many were still munching on their second (or third…or fourth!!!) pie, EPS President, Colin MacLellan, struck up the pipes and gave us some tunes. Amongst the airs, jigs and lovely wee marches was a tune by Archie MacNeill by the name of Bernalee’s Wedding March. Great wee tune. This weekend’s Glenfiddich Piping Championship at Blair Castle will see Colin on the judges’ bench for the piobaireachd event, and our next piper was using tonight as preparation for that event.

Iain gives us a few tunes

Iain Speirs qualifies for this year’s Glenfiddich by virtue of his winning of the Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering, but warmed everyone up with some ceol beag, including an air that I distinctly remember from Fred Morrison’s 1993 recording, The Broken Chanter. It is a tune called Malcolm Ferguson and is hauntingly beautiful. I for one was being spoiled tonight with favourites left, right and centre, and Iain continued with another showing of Donald MacLellan of Rothesay in his MSR set before settling the pipe for Thug mi pog do Lamh an Righ (the most Gaelic I know…), I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand. Isn’t this a fabulous tune. Based mostly around A, C, F and E with the odd B and occasional low G, it is crafted so beautifully as to use contrasting and complimentary phrases, and in Iain’s hands is simply a delight.

With the Premier Piping Season in its intensity, it has been decided to alter the timetable slightly, and hold an additional Eagles meeting on Tuesday 1st November to coincide with visiting international players and judges. Bob Worrall will be having a tune, as will Bruce and Alex Gandy.

The evening shall be dedicated to EPS Life Member and all-round wonderful man, Jimmie MacGregor, who passed away just a few short hours after our last EPS meeting. His funeral will be on Tuesday morning where he will be laid to rest at Blairgowrie Parish church. We will then head to Edinburgh for a few tunes, a dram and a good old natter to celebrate his life.

Tracey Williams

Having been up and running for a couple of years now we realise that our Tuesday fortnightly cycle is missing the week before the Worlds and the week between The Glenfiddich and London.

As a result we have decide to have an extra meeting this coming Tuesday 1st of November, where I am delighted to announce we will be having a tune from Bob Worrall and Alex and Bruce Gandy who will hopefully oblige with the piobaireachd if his schedule permits.

We will then continue with fortnightly meetings thereafter-15th November-29th November etc and if the RSPBA don’t change the date of the Worlds our first August meeting in 2012 will fall pre Worlds allowing the masses to escape the Weege and head through to the City of culture.

On a more poinant note by now most of you will have heard of the untimely death of Jimmy MacGregor. The Eagle Pipers would like to dedicate next Tuesdays evening to his memory.