Match Report 27th November 2012

The EPS evening of 27th November 2012 was a pleasantly warm and well attended gathering, featuring a good deal of friendly gossip and chat, punctuated by some excellent piping.
Players included:

- Matt Fraser, a Kiwi now domiciled in Glasgow, and a first timer at EPS, who opened the night in fine style with both light music and a bit of piobaireachd
- Lachie Dick, quickly becoming an EPS stalwart who it was great to hear playing so well, and finishing with some seriously fast and furious reels.
- Donald MacLeod, who has recently returned to active EPS service after a short baby-related hiatus. Donald treated us to the epic Shaggy Grey Buck amongst some other great stuff, and reportedly took the opportunity to air some newly learned tunes, which is one of the things EPS is really all about.
- Andrew Gray, another stalwart who finished the night with some lively light music and the ground of Salute to Donald, a first-rate end to the evening’s piping.

I was busy !

The intention was announced of there being a “special” EPS evening every third meeting, for example an informal competition, quiz night, guest recitalist, or other slightly out-of-the-ordinary event. The first of these was due to be on the next meeting in mid-December, however due to the purported organiser being unable to attend due to work commitments, this will be put off to the new year. The additional time for organisation will no doubt result in a spectacularly exciting occasion….watch this space for further details.

Jenny Hazzard.

Match Report 14 November 2012

From the Ridiculous to the Sublime…and back again?!

I have been away from the pen for some time, dear Match Report readers, and what better opportunity to return than when our Hon Pres, his Hon Wife and the Hon P/M are playing with jelly fish and sting rays in Australia?!

I hear tell of a particular tale from their jaunt whereby a golf match took place between certain members of the Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band (NZ) and our very own Eagles Golf Pros, Pres and P/M. It was, I’m told, a hard-fought battle but the Kiwis came out on top. Clearly the Eagles are more accustomed to a good Scottish haar than blazing sunshine. Alas, this ill-fated golf match coincided with the weekend that the All Blacks (NZ) continued their 107-year winning streak at Murrayfield. It would be fair to say that the author (NZ) took a degree of satisfaction in at least one of these results.

Back in Auld Reekie, Haymarket continues to resemble a battlefield, and as we puddle-jumped our way to the Scots Guards Club, the warm and resonant pipes of Lachie Dick called us in to the throng alive with the chat from last weekend’s Scottish Piping Society of London competition. This continues to be one of the biggest on the circuit, with some of the best stories to come out as a result. The only one fit to be repeated here was told by newly appointed Secretary to the Joint Committee for Judging, Douglas Gardiner, when after stopping 4 bars into his hornpipe, he was presented with a piece of cherry cake by one of the judges as a prize for the shortest hornpipe.

Douglas had further treats in store for us tonight, when he pulled from a mysteriously shaped handbag, a set of 1800s Parlour Pipes. I last saw this set wrapped in paper towels in a lunch box, however Douglas has breathed new life into them, although confessing that “they’re not as much fun as I thought they’d be”. We thought they were tremendous fun and in fact were the source of a few giggling fits, particularly when Douglas’ tutor and Senior Judge, Tom Speirs, and the current Glenfiddich Champion and winner of the 2012 Bratach Gorm, Iain Speirs entered the room. Douglas indeed looks as if he has grown rather a lot to dwarf his pipes – either that or that he has put his pipes through a rather too-vigorous spin cycle.Douglas will bring pancakes to next Eagle Pipers to match the C on the Parlour Pipes’ chanter.

Pies seemed to come around quickly tonight, and at one stage The Pot was overheard telling The Kettle that if he didn’t eat so many pies he would be able to fit between the small gap in the chairs. This was said as both Pot and Kettle were setting about their 3rd pies. Regular readers will perhaps guess who The Pot and The Kettle might be?!
Our Hon Sec/Treas was next with pipes out. Let me tell you readers, this was a treat. Remember all those Olympic athletes in August who would do a victory lap of the stadium? Remember the relaxation, elation and loose-limbed energy that bounded from them? Perhaps Iain would say differently, but this was how he seemed to me tonight. If Iain were less of a humble, thoughtful and quietly-spoken gentleman, perhaps he would have let out a whoop of excitement. As it was, he opened the pipe case, pulled out a near perfectly-tuned instrument, and proceeded to trot out a number of small warm-up marches before launching into an effortless triple S/R set of some of the Big Classics. Flowing, apparently easy and utterly lovely. Like a marathon runner going for a light jog on a warm summer’s day, the tunes oozed off Iain’s fingers. He started into MacLeod of Colbeck’s Lament, playing the ground and first couple of variations, and then diverted again back to the Ceol Beag, ripping through his hornpipe and jig with gusto! This is enchanting listening. As a competitor I know the difference in the way I feel when I am really enjoying my playing. Not battling instrument or memory, cold weather or nerves. It was incredible to watch this in another person. A piper on top of his game and on top of the world.

What footsteps to follow, and following admirably came Cameron Drummond. Cameron decided to keep us all guessing by switching drone reeds half way through his set. Starting out with Canning reeds and then switching to Eezedrone, it was tough to tell the difference and Cameron displayed his expertise in intuitively setting reeds quickly and they both settled to harmonise quickly for his sets. We were treated again to the ground of The Unjust Incarceration which is definitely in my Top 5 Favourite Tunes of All Time.

During a break for a blether and to top up pints, we could hear the unmistakable sound of pipes, albeit distant. Two tables’ worth of Eaglers were searching and swiveling their heads trying to figure out where the playing was coming from. Tom Peterkin happened to be one of the head-swivelers and also joined in with pocket-patting. Was it his phone? No. His other phone? No. Yours? Who is this playing a very decent rendition of The Curlew? Had anyone ducked upstairs to get the pipes out? Then our dear Tam realised that Donald MacPherson had joined us for a wee tune, via his iPod and headphones which had activated when he sat on them!

After this, Tom was obliged to finish a tremendous evening, and while he left his best tuning until the end, he managed to refrain from playing 4 drones tonight.

The Hons Pres and P/M return from gallavanting next time, so do join us for tales and tunes from the Outback.

***HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!***

 Victory for Eagles in the Australian Golf Tour… Series finishes 2-1 to Hons Pres and P/M, and receive bonus points for the fact that this was achieved on borrowed clubs…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracey

 

Match report 16th October 2012

There are no words

19.30hrs and only the PM and the barmaid (nice name for a wee tune) were present. While it was a dreich night it transpired that there was still some interest to see if Scotland and the Tartan Army would be doing the samba through Rio in 2014 supporting their own team. Alas a forlorn hope and once again the Tartan Army will descend into Brazil supporting anyone but England who has any small link with God’s country (exhibit A- Jason Scotland!)

It was 0-0 at half time and time for a quick tune from the PM. A couple of 6/8s during which Belgium scored their opener. With the sound of the timbal samba beat becoming ever weaker the PM continued with some 3/4s. Belgium scored their second and the dream was over. Enough was enough and the pies were ordered to temper the disappointment of the smallish group that were now ensconced in the ‘Scots Guardsa Clun’.

Over pies it was decided that Levin was a ‘Belter’

The PPP was the Hon President himself. Colin played a wide variety of small music before trotting out the Cameronian Rant and Ca’ the Ewes. Some 2/4 marches followed including the great Angus MacPherson tune, Achany Glen. (Achany is a small hamlet in Sutherland on the river Shin and the tune was one of the late great John D Burgess’s favourites.)

Colin plays The Groat

Colin went onto to play The Groat, a smallish but lovely tune. A Groat or fuppence is the traditional name of a long-defunct English silver coin worth four English pence, and also a Scottish coin originally worth fourpence.

‘The tune celebrates the christening of an heir to MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan, perhaps circa 1570.  Some attribute this tune to lain Odhar MacCrimmon, in which case the MacLeod heir could have been either William, XIII^th Chieftain, born 1560 or his son John, XIV^th Chieftain, born 1580 (nephew of Sir Ruaridh Mor MacLeod). Iain Odhar’s son Padruig Donn is also a candidate for the title of composer. Others credit the tune to Donald Mor MacCrimmon, born 1570. It is unlikely that Donald Mor would have composed a celebratory birth tune retrospectively. If Donald Mor did compose the tune on the birth of a MacLeod heir, it could have been for Iain Mor, born 1595, or, for Roderick, born in 1635.

In any case, the tune is a celebration of new life and should be played as such’

With the evening back on track and the round ball consigned to the trashcan Nils Michaels took to the floor with a wee glint in his eye.

No Tam or Iain Speirs in the audience = Nils off the leash.

He warmed the pipe up with the 6/8 marches Martin Kessler (composed by Arthur Gillies) and Perth and Bloom. He then gave us Bonnie Ann, The Abercairney Highlanders and Jimmy Young. Nils played the little heard setting of Abercairney made famous by Tam S. some years ago.

Nils then launched into Gordon Duncan’s High Drive, followed by Phil Cunningham’s Horseshoe Reel. Not quite Guy Fawkes night by there were early fireworks on display here. He closed to rapturous applause and cheers.

And that was the evening’s evening.

Before the masses departed the President announced that he would host the second committee meeting of the Society in his house after the MacColl and MacColl recital on Sunday 21^st. Someone suggested a game of golf in the morning followed by lunch. The perfect Sunday? Almost.

It was announced that the first meetings minutes, held some two years ago, would not be available for perusal and adoption as everyone got so intoxicated that none were taken and no one could remember what was discussed.

The committee members were warned to be on their best behavior this time round and not to take advantage of the copious amounts of G and T at the Hon Pres. hoose. Jenny said she would ensure minutes were taken and diversity was observed. As adult homosapiens will power and moral fiber would be expected.

The minutes of the second meeting will no doubt be promulgated to the membership in the fullness of time.

The Perfect Sunday

Euan Anderson

Hon PM

PS I will not be with you for the next couple of meetings as I am off to Oz for a sabbatical. Please come along and support the Society.

Match Report 2nd October 2012

The evening got under way with the PM opening up with some 5 or 6 6/8 marches before moving onto a couple of slow airs. He finished off his stint with 2x 2/4 marches Hugh Kennedy and Craig-n Darroch. Having rested the pipe he set about finding his first victim of the evening……………

Robert Ross

Next up was first timer Robert Ross who is an Edinburgh lad and a product of the Craigmount High School pipe band system. Once the pipe had settled Robert gave us the MSR, The Links of Forth, Susan McLeod and McAlister’s Dirk. He then finished off with a somewhat innovative set of jigs including the Masons Apron and The Highland Wedding. Both were his own arrangements.  (He confessed later on that he hadn’t finished them yet!)   ‘Really’?

The new Ayrfir

Once I had finished with the Dyson hoovering up Robbie’s gracenotes Cameron Drummond took to the floor. Now what makes a good bagpipe great? An argument with perhaps no satisfying outcome but Rosie was on the new AyrFire chanter resplendent with a brand new silver sole. A new Colin MacLellan reed was the order of the evening and once a few bits of tape were adjusted Cameron settled into a masterful wee recital. The chanter had a Roddy McLeod-esk ring to the high A and one the benefits to this new chanter is the ability to get a piobaireachd high G without all the usual hassle.  Included in Cameron’s spot were The Braes of Castle Grant, The Marchioness of Tullibardine, Piper’s Bonnet and The Little Cascade. Arrangements were then made for a game of Sunday golf. What better way to spend a Sunday?

on fire?

Does a silver sole aid the chanter sound in any way? Oh and does it have to rattle when you shake it? Maybees aye, maybees naw but the silver sole is making a comeback-maybe?

The pre pie piper was Nils Michaels who started off with the great slow air Samantha’s Lullaby, a tune composed by Authur Gillies who taught Nils many years ago in Germany. Nils finished off with Mrs John McColl, Dorritor Bridge and The Brown Haired Maiden.

The post pie piper was Andrew Gray aka High Tower. Andrew was in fine form giving us a variety of light music before finishing with the Fred Morrison tune Mark Sheridan and another reel La Celta Nostra.

Next for shaving was James Gore whom I am pleased to say is becoming a regular visitor. Once the pipe was settled he rattled out The Knightswood Ceilidh, The Pipers Bonnet and Charlie’s Welcome. He finished with one of his own compositions P/M Norman Dodds (his teacher) followed by Kyle Warrens- Golden Brown.

James Gore

Douglas Gardiner was off match report duties this evening but on the Piobaireachd detail. Douglas tiptoed his way through several sets of light music including the MSR The Glenfinnan Highland Gathering, Caledonian Society of London and Bessie McIntyre. On a very solid pipe he then produced a lovely, musical Duntroon’s (McDonald’s) Salute. He played so well that he ran outside took off all his clothes and jumped in the sea-oh no, apologies that was Oban.

Douglas Gardiner

However the feast of piping was not over as Lachie Dick was keen to put some air through the pipe. On a big instrument he gave us a couple of 2/4 marches, The Clan McColl and Mrs John McColl and finished with a couple of jigs The Geese in the Bog and Donella Beaton.

And that was the evenings evening.

A date for the diary: Sunday 21^st October-Scots Guards Club 16.00hrs.  The father and son recital, Angus and Angus MacColl.

Hope to see you all on the 16^th.

Lothian and Borders NYC

Euan Anderson

MATCH REPORT – 18th SEPTEMBER 2012

Eagles tonight provided the perfect tonic to any post competition season blues with two very special performances.

RJ and the PM warm thing up

As usual, the Hon P/M opened proceedings having thankfully ditched the plain clothes look.

We then welcomed RJ from Las Vegas making his first public performance.  RJ has been visiting Scotland with his girlfriend Sam.  After a visit to Borreraig on Skye, Sam is now RJ’s fiancée.  Hopefully the magic of the MacCrimmons doesn’t wear off on the long flight back to the Nevada desert.

RJ (and Sam)

To break RJ in the PM had a couple of tunes with him before RJ went solo and played the 6/8s Fort Augustus Volunteers and Braemar Gathering followed by the ground of Lament for Mary MacLeod.  The latter was particularly enjoyable with RJ’s Strathmores set up beautifully.  For a debut, this was outstanding.

Robert Gray

Next up was the more seasoned and weather worn, Robert Gray.  His appearances at Eagles are becoming as regular and keenly anticipated as Chas’n’Daves’ Christmas Tours.  Robert also has a back catalogue to rival the cockney duo and gave us, amongst other tunes, Dr Ross’s 50th Welcome to the Argyllshire Gathering, Tug Argan Gap and the Seagull.

After the pie break, Dr Peter McCalister of Dunblane took charge.  The residents of Dunblane are very experienced with Andy Murray’s runner up status so it was with some excitement that they greeted Peter winning the Silver Medal at Oban in August.  Sadly no one was excited enough to ask Peter to join the open top bus parade though.

Peter was joined tonight by cellist, Iain McHugh of the Firebird String Quartet.  Iain is also a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.  Peter and Iain opened with a couple of 2/4s followed by Dark Island, Islay’s Charms and Troy’s Wedding.

The Oban 2012 Silver Medalist

Their finale was Janette Montague’s piobaireachd Lament for the Old Man – probably the only piobaireachd written specifically for pipes and cello.  This was also possibly the first public performance of the tune.  The blend of the instruments (with the help of a small amp) was superb, producing a warm and rich harmonic. The tune, written about an elderly man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, captured the best of the two instruments and was a hugely engaging and enjoyable piece.  Many hours of hard work had gone into preparing for this.  Peter’s patients are obviously a fit bunch.

Peter and Iain’s performance will soon be up on our You Tube site. A very interesting listen

Douglas Gardiner

Match report 4th September 2012

With the highs, lows and jolly japes of the Argyllshire Gathering over for another year, tonight’s meeting felt a surge of adrenalin in advance of the Northern Meeting later this week.

The Hon P/M was unusually attired in plain clothes and attracted many admiring remarks over the quality cut of his suit.  Some said he had the appearance of a Royal Bodyguard.  Perhaps Prince Harry is recruiting.

Fergus

First up was our very own golfing and piping medic, Dr Fergus Perks with his harmonic Sinclairs.  The rain has obviously kept Fergus off the fairways as his playing and pipes were as good as we have heard from him.  He gave us a melodic selection of tunes including the Sweet Maid of Mull, Tug Argan Gap and MacPherson’s Lament.  His final set included the outstanding strathspey, Seonaid’s Tune, composed by Fred Morrison.  Fred has made a very welcome return to solo competitions although hopefully this doesn’t mean hanging up his reelpipes.

James Gore

Next we welcomed EPS virgin, James Gore.  James has recently moved to Edinburgh to work for a large discount retailer.  He certainly gave it Aldi tonight on a fine bagpipe showing the poise and skill expected of a member of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.  A well controlled double MSR including Hugh Kennedy, Piper’s Bonnet and Stornoway Castle was rounded off with Gordon Walker’s Fiddler’s Rally – a tune with which James’ band have enjoyed much glory.

The Pre-Pie-(Piobaireachd-Playing)-Piper was Cameron Drummond.  Cameron is one of the strongest competitive pipers around and gave a superb rendition of one his Gold Medal tunes, The Daughter’s Lament.  Despite appearing in some manuscripts under two very different names, the tune has a keening despair that makes this title very apt.  Cameron was playing an Ayrfire chanter with a High G that was so solid you could have hung a picture of Big Angus from it. A Gold Medal is not far away.

Cameron

Amongst the non-performing ranks tonight we welcomed Honorary Member P/M Bob Kilgour and P/M Alan Clark of Ottawa.  Alan is no stranger to Eagles and this time even brought his fiancée, Cindy.  Alan and Cindy will enjoy the honour of getting married at St Margaret’s Chapel in Edinburgh Castle on Friday.

Finishing off the evening was Jenny Hazzard, also playing an Ayrfire chanter and sounding superb.  Jenny’s MSR of Bonnie Anne, Dora MacLeod and The Rejected Suitor (not Alan hopefully) bodes very well for the Northern Meeting as did her ground of The Lament for Donald MacKenzie.

Jenny

RJ and Sam. All the way from Las Vegas for a pie

Good luck to all.

Douglas Gardiner

Match Report 21st August 2012

And then there were two-well not quite…….

Last Tuesday Lachie Dick and my good self held the fort. We had a tune, pie and pint, while the masses headed to Oban to hunt the big prizes. We thought we would have a job finishing the 6 pies on offer but Nick Keyden and Angus Lutton turned up to help us out. Only on the pie front mind you-no pipes!

So while we warmed up the pipe and charmed the barmaid others were ensconced in the Tartan Tavern in Oban catching up on piping times and looking forward to the two days pipe fest.

Perhaps a time to review our all year round policy as two things are inevitable?

One; the piping calendar is now so full that from time to time the Tuesday evenings will clash with significant piping events elsewhere with the bulk of our local membership heading off to compete or indeed judge? This is of course very pleasing as it is great to see the famous tie doing the rounds on the boards.

Two; people become fatigued/stale and need time to recharge the batteries and/or catch up with domestic bits and bobs? Perhaps a winter sabbatical is required?

The Audience

Time for another committee meeting I think? Gin free? Eh no, I don’t think so. That way we will make important decisions and not be able to remember them in the morning. All committees should try this at least once.

All that aside, the exodus to Oban turned out to be a happy hunting ground for the Eagles and the prize list is below

Senior Piobaireachd

1st Stuart Liddell, “Lament for Colin Roy MacKenzie”

2nd Iain Speirs, Edinburgh, “Lament for Colin Roy MacKenzie”

3rd Murray Henderson, Kirriemuir, Scotland, “The Stewarts’ White Banner”

4th Willie McCallum, Bearsden, Scotland, “The Fingerlock”

5th Jack Lee, Surrey, British Columbia

Gold Medal

1st Finlay Johnston, “Farewell to the Laird of Islay”

2nd John Mulhearn, Glasgow, “MacIntosh of Borlum’s Salute”

3rd Glenn Bown, Glasgow, “MacIntosh of Borlum’s Salute”

4th Douglas Murray, Scotland, “The Daughter’s Lament”

5th James MacHattie, Summerside, Prince Edward Island, “Black Wedder’s White Tail”

Silver Medal Final

The Silver medal man.

1st Peter McCalister, “You’re Welcome, Ewen Lochiel”

2nd Craig Sutherland, Scotland, “Lament for Donald of Laggan”

3rd Decker Forrest, Scotland, “Salute to Donald”

4th Elizabeth Sheridan, Canada, “Catherine’s Lament

MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd

1st Angus J. MacColl “MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute”

2nd Sandy Cameron, “The Old Men of the Shells”

3rd Ursa Beckford, “MacGregor’s Salute”

Former Winners MSR

1st Gordon Walker

2nd Jack Lee

3rd Angus MacColl

4th Willie McCallum

5th Gordon McCready

A-Grade

March

The Marches man and the PM on tour-some time ago!

1st Cameron Drummond

2nd Alex Gandy

3rd Craig Muirhead

4th Alasdair Henderson

5th Andrew Carlisle

Strathspey & Reel

1st Alastair Dunn

2nd Ryan Canning

3rd Cameron Drummond

4th Callum Beaumont

5th Fred Morrison

B-Grade

March

1st Innes Smith

2nd Graham Drummond

3rd David Wilton

4th Ben McClamrock

5th Greig Wilson

Strathspey & Reel

1st Ben McClamrock

2nd Jonathan Graham

3rd Gavin Ferguson

4th David Wilton

5th Xavier Boderiou

Open Jig

1st Alex Gandy

2nd Alastair Dunn

3rd Gordon McCready

4th Andrew Carlisle

5th Ben McClamrock

The Cowal Highland Gathering has come and gone with Boghall taking their second Championship of the season. Congratulations. (Burnside-good effort. Are you ready for another Glenfiddich challenge with yer pal Drummond?). If you don’t know that story its worth finding out- a wee classic.

“Burnside, Drummond service please……………….”

Batman and Robin

Our next meeting is Tuesday 4^th September just before the Northern Meetings in Inverness.

Hope to see you then.

Euan Anderson