As the bands repertoire increases it is difficult to keep on top of all the tunes so hats off to all who put in the time and commitment to do so. The sound is also more consistent (at a lower pitch of around 478-480) and perhaps on Tuesday we had the best sound of the year? No matching chanters, so it will always be a bit of a challenge, but all in all an acceptable to the critical ear. As in all bands blowing is key and when we hit the harder tunes sometimes that is an issue, but even thats getting better as confidence grows. Progress is definitely being made.
The post pie piper was Fergus Perks who stepped up to the plate to play the evenings piobaireachd. Interestingly Fergus sometimes battles with an E gracenote issue (that may be a form of focal dystonia?) but he has persisted and manages the issue very well. An interesting topic as many top players have suffered or do suffer from this type of thing. Something about the correct message from the brain not getting to the hands or muscles?
However, undaunted, Fergus plays very well and treated us to some great light music that included 6/8 marches and a top class MSR, John MacFadyen of Melfort, Dornie Ferry and Captain Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree.
He than played MacCrimmon Will Never Return followed by the hornpipe Mary Anne of Garradh-no-Mona, composed by P/M Sandy Forbes and a couple of jigs. Excellent stuff. A little heard hornpipe but the music was apparently published in an edition of the Piping Times for those on the hunt.
Fergus then finished off with Lady Anapool’s Lament. Not much is known about the Laird and Lady of Anapool and no one is really sure where Anapool is. Fergus made a first class job of the tune and his Tim Gellaitry pipe stood the test. Many thanks Fergus.
And with that we were done.
Congratulations to all those who took a prize at the Captain John MacLellan Memorial competition on Saturday.
Remember the Eagles are running a bus to the Glenfiddich and secretary Craig Robertson is taking names so please let him know if you want to book a seat.
See you on Tuesday 15th October at 20.00hrs.
Euan Anderson
Hon Pipe Major
Our special guest evenings are perhaps the years highlights and this was to be no exception. We were delighted to welcome young Andrew Ferguson from Dollar into the fold. At 17 Andrew is still at school and is under the wings of master 4 times clasp winner Callum Beaumont, who incidentally won his 4th clasp at the Northern Meetings, playing a masterful, The Daughters Lament. Many congratulations.
Andrew then went into the meat of his first half performance with three competition 2/4 marches, followed by a set of three strathspeys and reels. What a great way to take us into the pie break.
The P/M will be missing in action in 2 weeks time as he is taking a sabbatical but the band will continue to focus on The Conundrum and King George V’s Army.
Pipers are to play a Slow Air and Jig of their own choice.
Another Piping Live done and dusted, the traditional pipeband concert, courtesy of Scottish power and Inveraray and District crownd world champions for the second year running. Hats off.
the band ran through a fair bit of its repertoire. A warm night and thirsty work, so a halftime beer was most welcome and there was a queue for the pies.
handing the pipe over to young Robert Cruickshank who played a lovely air, The Fallen, composed by R.S. MacDonald, for his friend Willie Armstrong of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers when he was a serving fireman in Glasgow. The tune was written in tribute to his fire-fighter friend, Ally Boyle, who was diagnosed with blood cancer and had to retire at a young age. The Red Hot
