Match Report Tuesday 16th May 2017

A souvenir from last weekends rugby final

The band took to the floor, 14 across the front rank and rattled their way through some of the tunes in the book. Perhaps the first major at Paisley was not on the agenda but this group can still be considered as dangerous and a threat!

The PPP was George Campbell who has clearly been polishing up the repertoire and practicing. No doubt all part of his retirement plan. George warmed up the pipe with a couple of 6/8 marches before attacking the big stuff with a first class MSR, The Braes of Castle Grant, Susan MacLeod and Pretty Marion. George finished off his spot with a set of nifty jigs. Excellent stuff.

George Campbell

Next up was Colin MacLellan, who took a break from his College of Piping duties, to give us a few tunes. Colin also chose a couple of 6/8 marches to settle the pipe and then went into Lord Alexander Kennedy and John McColl’s March to Kilbowie Cottage. With the pipe purring along he gave us the lion’s share of John MacKay’s, The Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon. Surely one of the top ten great pieces of Ceol Mor? A tune reputedly composed for Patrick Og when he was still alive as reports of his demise, that had reached the ears of MacKay, were somewhat premature. Colin finished off his spot with a few jigs and with that we were done.

At the next meeting, on Tuesday 30^th May, Steven Gray will be our guest player. Steven is one of the top up and coming solo players and also plays with Inveraray and District, who picked up the first major, the British Championship, at Paisley at the weekend.

The band (us-not Inveraray) will have a short blast before Steven starts his playing around 8.30. Hope to see you there.

Euan Anderson

Hon P/M

Match Report Tuesday 2nd May 2017

As this years hosts the Eagles gave a warm welcome to honorary Pipe Major Dan Lean and the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society. A move to the larger hall upstairs was still not big enough to accommodate the joint band of some 35 players. After a bit (and I mean a bit) of tuning we sorted ourselves into some order and played through a few sets of tunes.

To conclude the first half the RSPS played a few tunes as a group that included an MSR, starting with The Australian Ladies. The pies and refreshments were most welcome as there was a fair amount of sweat on the brow by then.

The post pie pipers were our two Heriots members Brodie Watson Massie and Chris Happs. Playing as a duet they kicked off their spot with the march, Pipe Major Sandy Spence. They held the audience in the palm of their hands as they stepped through some tunes that only young nimble fingers can manage. They finished off with great aplomb with Rip the Calico and Dancing Feet that was laced with lovely harmonies.

Alan Forbes, from the RSPS, then took to the floor and very topically gave one of this years set tunes, the Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House, composed by Donald MacLeod. For those playing the tune this year remember to seek out the additional notes about it on the Piobaireachd Society web site. Alan made a first class job of what is quite a tricky tune to memorise.

Next up was Craig Sutherland who has joined the ranks of the SFU. Craig has been coming to the Eagles for a few years now and it has been very pleasing to watch him blossom into a world class player. With a nod to our guests he started off with the great Roderick Campbell 2/4 march, The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society. This was followed by The Lonach Gathering and some big strathspeys and reels. He then played the Urlar of one of the Nameless tunes before signing off with some marvellous jigs.

The 2017 Captain John A. MacLellan MBE, Memorial Trust, Piobaireachd Recital Competition and Dinner, will take place on Saturday 26th August at the Waldorf Astoria Caledonian Hotel, Princes Edinburgh.

This is a fantastic evening and this years pipers are Willie McCallum, Finlay Johnstone, Iain Speirs and Faye Henderson.

The Judge is Dr Angus MacDonald.

Tickets are £37.50 that includes a wonderful dinner, are available from Colin MacLellan via Colin@pipereeds.com or the Eagles Pipers’ membership secretary, Craig Robertson.

See you at next meeting on Tuesday 16th May.

Euan Anderson

Hon P/M

Guest Piper – 30th May

We are very pleased to announce that Steven Gray will be our special guest on Tuesday 30th May.

 

Steven competing in the 2015 Scots Guards Club Knock Out Final

 

Steven is a member of the 2016 RSPBA Champion of Champions, Inveraray & District Pipe Band, and one of the rising young stars of the solo circuit.

 

On duty with the IDPB

 

He has kindly agreed to take time out of his busy schedule to play a few sets for us including a piobaireachd.

Please come along and make him welcome (and buy him a pie).

Douglas Gardiner

 

 

Match Report Tuesday 18th April 2017

As some of you will be aware, each of the committee members have been requested to host a ‘Special Night’. On Tuesday 18th April, it was Jenny Hazzard who stepped up to the mark and hosted a night of ‘Piping Geography’. Colin immediately discounted himself from taking part on the basis of having heard Jenny practicing her repertoire over the previous week.

Before we got into it Jenny got those with pipes (15 in total) up to go through a few sets from the tune book before the evening proper began. Up for grabs were a bottle of Macallan Gold for 1st place, a lovely bottle of wine for 2nd and a box of luxury chocolates for 3rd.

The format of the evening was explained by Jenny. Basically she and Lachie Dick were going to play through a number of tunes (21) in total. Each team were required to identify the tune and thereafter pin point on a map of Scotland where the city, town, village, island etc. was located on the map.

For those of you interested I have attached a map with the answers – not as easy as it may seem I am sure you will agree.

The beauty of this quiz was that, it not only got people scratching their heads trying to identify the tunes, but we were treated to the talents of two great pipers.

With the teams all sorted and team names selected – The Corner Boys, The 3 J’s, The Has Beens and The Philips Duo – to name but a few, battle commenced.

Alan having a ‘no idea’ moment?

Lachie started us of with the 6/8, Bengullion and thereafter played the 2/4’s, David Ross of Rosehall, The Pap of Glencoe, John MacDonald’s Welcome to South Uist and Tommy MacDonald of Barguillean.

It was brilliant to hear Lachie play again at the Eagle’s and as usual it is an absolute pleasure to listen to him. Those of you that have heard him before will know exactly what I mean.

It was then on to the Slow Air, The Bays of Harris, and the Reels, Sound of Sleat, Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree and Creagorry Blend.

To finish off Lachie played the Jigs, Kenny Gilles of Port na Long, Skye, Flora MacAulay Carradale and Glasgow City Police.

We had a quick break for pies and then it was over to Jenny who started us off with the 6/8’s, Bonnie Dundee and Dornoch Highland Gathering, before cracking on with the 5/4, Cullen Bay, the 4/4, Flett from Flotta and the Jig, Angus John MacNeill of Barra.

Like Lachie, Jenny is effortless with her playing and it is just great for so many of us to have the opportunity to listen to such accomplished pipers.

Jenny finished off with the 2/4’s, Donald MacLellan of Rothesay and John MacColl’s March to Kilbowie Cottage, the Strathspey, Blair Drummond and thereafter the most controversial tune of the evening John Morrison of Assynt House. Why the controversy I hear you ask? Jenny explained at the start of the quiz that two of her tunes related to the location of the actual buildings. For those still reeling it is the location of Assynt House you were to identify.

All that was left to do was tally up the points and announce the winners.

Assynt House, Evanton, Dingwall

The musical interlude was provided by John Fraser who played his own version of a geographical quiz playing the Battle of the Somme and The Heights of Dargai. He rounded off the piping for the evening rather fittingly with the Slow Air, The Flight of the Eagles and the Hornpipes, Duncan Johnstone and Duncan McKenzie of Dumbarton.

So the results were in, 3rd place went to the Corner Boys – Graeme Farr and Iain MacDonald, 2nd place went to John Murphy and John Fraser and the overall winners were, Douglas Gardiner, Fred McKay and Iain Spiers, well done boys.

Thanks to all who attended and took park and special thanks to Jenny and Lachie for a great night.

In other news to of our young Eagles were successful at the Kingdom Thistle Piping and Drumming Competition hosted in Lochgelly. In the U16 Piping Brodie Watson-Massie achieved 1st Place with Christopher Happs, close on his heels in 2nd. Christopher also took part in the U18 competition where he achieved 4th place. Well done to both boys, a great result!

Other dates for your diary:

The next meeting is on the 2nd May where we will be hosting the Royal Scottish Pipers’. It would be great to have as many Eagles – with pipes – in attendance as we can. The meeting will take place upstairs in the Scots Guards Club where after some band playing. Iain Spiers will play a piobaireachd of his choice on behalf of the society.

27th May The Royal Scottish Pipers’ are hosting a recital at Edinburgh Academy, where Fred Morrison, Stuart Liddell and Quartet from Dollar Academy will dazzle what I suspect will be a capacity audience.

Douglas Gardiner has managed to secure the following to play mini-recitals:

30th May – Steven Gray

25th July – Ben Duncan

3rd October – Steven Leask

And sadly folks that’s a wrap. Look forward to seeing you all resplendent in your Eagles’ ties on 2nd May.

 

 

 

 

 

Craig Robertson

Society Membership

At the AGM, in December 2016, a review of positions within the committee was carried out. As a result the role of Treasurer and Secretary was split between Iain Speirs and Craig Robertson, the latter being Craig’s responsibility.

Craig has been tasked with a review of membership with the intention of identifying:

A. Persons who wish to continue being members and whose membership has lapsed.

B Weeding- to identify people who no longer wish to be members.

C. People who are members and require their contact details up-dated.

D Recruit new members to the Society.

Should you fall into any of the above categories Craig Robertson would be grateful if you could get in touch at

EaglesSecretary@outlook.com

An accurate database will allow him to keep the membership updated with events and general news.

UK membership is £30 annually and the preferred method of payment is by standing order – details of which can be obtained from the Secretary. PayPal can also be used.

Overseas membership is £20 annually and the preferred method of payment is via PayPal- details also available from the Secretary.

It should be noted that Facebook membership to the Society’s Group page is not membership to the Society.

There are many benefits to being a member of the Society, not least the Society tie but now the new Society Book of Tunes is also available to current members.

The Society also looks to promote piping, at every appropriate opportunity, and our funds help us do this, thereby servicing the greater piping good.

Yours Aye,

Colin MacLellan

President

 

 

100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

Bethany and Lochie Bisaillion at Juno Beach representing The Eagle Pipers’ resplendant in Society ties 

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle, which took place from 9 to 12 April 1917, was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras.

The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive. This would ensure that the southern flank could advance without suffering German fire. The Canadian Corps captured most of the ridge during the first day of the attack. The final objective, a fortified knoll located outside the village of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, fell to the Canadian Corps on 12 April.

The battle is seen by many Canadians as a pivotal moment in their nation’s formation. That sentiment was reflected at the ceremony in Ottawa and at others across Canada throughout the weekend, and at the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge near Arras, France, on Sunday, where about 25,000 people gathered, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and relatives of those who fought in the four-day battle.

Mr. Trudeau said,

“It was through their sacrifice that Canada became an independent signatory of the Treaty of Versailles, and in that sense, in that way, Canada was born here.”

We salute you.

The Eagle Pipers’ Society

Match Report Tuesday 4th April 2017

Revered as the greatest ever pipe major in the history of Edinburgh City Police / Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band this evening we remembered Pipe Major Iain McLeod.

The Society historically and in modern times has had links, not only to George Heriot’s School, where Iain and his sons were pupils, but also with the police service in Edinburgh where Iain led the police band to five World Pipe Championships wins.

Iain MacLeod

Within the Society there are those that played with Iain and those that followed in his footsteps as pipe major of the Lothian and Borders band – namely Colin MacLellan and Kenny McBride.

For some – myself included – the only contact we ever had with Iain was a visit to the shop in Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh, where as a schoolboy I pawed over things and spent my pocket money on hemp and beeswax or the occasional practice chanter reed. I avoided the very itchy

Iain in the shop

looking handmade hose however.

The band became iconic for its style of play and immaculate turn out on parade, winning countless dress and deportment prizes at various competitions. When the end of the legendary dynasty was in sight Iain was quite outspoken about its demise.

‘I have been greatly saddened in recent years to witness the decline of the Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band, formerly the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band. It seems incredible that this once proud, respected, highly successful and renowned band, having survived throughout years of the austerity of two

John Fraser leads the final parade

world wars, has now been allowed to decline to the point of extinction. I would hope that Edinburgh City Council and the Scottish Police Service now take steps to ensure that the pipe band’s achievements and its role in promoting both the city and its police service over 131 years; are now formally

Euan Anderson, Alison Gardiner, Dougie McBride, Donald MacFadyen, Brian Lothian

recognised by way of a permanent record in the history and archives of the city.’

To start the evening the P/M consulted with Martin Wilson Snr – who was a member of the band during Iain’s time at the helm – for something fitting to play. The decision was Rab’s Wedding and Auld Adam, two of the bands 6/8 marches that were in their repertoire for many years, (both coincidentally appear in the new Society’s tune book).

John Kerr wrote Rab’s Wedding for a band member Robert Gibson who was quite the character. Few of Iain’s peers are still with us but Harry McNulty, George Lumsden and Chris Anderson spring to mind. Andrew Berthoff, editor of Pipes/Drums, has a couple of excellent interviews relating to the band in his archives that are well worth a read.

Martin Wilson Jnr on his dads pipe. Better late than never.

With 15 sets of pipes on the floor we had a pretty good go at it and after a couple of run throughs I’m sure Iain would have been close to giving us a ‘Well done’.

Due to time constraints – Brodie Watson-Massey – took to the floor as the ‘Pie Piper’ as opposed to the post or pre variety and in keeping with the theme for the evening started us off with an MSR comprising of The Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, John Roy Stewart and Loch Carron.

Brodie went on to play Lucy Cassidy and Donald MacLennan’s Tuning Phrase and was just getting into the swing of things when his dad arrived. Thankfully, however, we were blessed with another fine set before his departure that included Fraser Allison’s Jig, The Famous Baravan, Duncan MacKillop and The Henderson March that he played as a jig.

It’s at this point I feel that it is incumbent upon me to say a few words to all those parents out there who regularly fetch, carry and travel to far flung destinations to enable their children to entertain and compete. We at the Eagles do appreciate it, and would like to thank the Happs, Watson-Massey and Taylor families who do just that.

The P/M went on to tell us a little about the ‘Piping Societies in the Modern Era’ lecture that took place on the eve of The Piobaireachd Society Conference. We were not only represented by the P/M delivering part of the lecture but Jenny Hazzard and Iain Speirs played some great music to compliment the presentation

On that note Gordon Hislop also gave a good account of himself on the Saturday when the topic of discussion was the amateur clasp competitions.

The P/M went on to give us a few tunes – such has been the demand to play this has actually been his first chance to get a tune in. He played a few 6/8 marches that included tunes from the book and as part of a demonstration played Michael Grey composition Blustering Home, as the musical rhythm can be unusual to the ear if not familiar with the tune. Follow the link to see Euan in action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vds6ENoo844

Bring it on

There is a bet on in the Society between the P/M and Martin Wilson Jnr as to whether we will ever manage to play this tune as a band. Watch this space!

A more fitting way to end the evening couldn’t have been found and Kenny McBride (former L&B Pipe Major) illustrated why the demise of the Lothians band was such a shame. On a pitch perfect pipe with rock steady drones and precision fingering it was a delight to hear Kenny play the 3 / 4 ’s Dunaskin Glen and the Highland Brigade at Magersfontein.

He rounded off the evening with an MSR, comprising of Tom Wilson, Susan MacLeod and Thomson’s Dirk.

It was then time to reminisce but not before being told that Auld Adam and Rab’s Wedding will be first up next week.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 18^th April where Jenny will don her Bamber Gascoigne hat and run a ‘Piping Geographical Quiz’.

Until then folks have a good one and keep up the practice.

Note: Iain’s funeral will be a private ceremony on Tuesday 11th April for family and close friends.

Craig Robertson
Membership Secretary