The following is the second instalment from an article in the Pipe Band Magazine of July 2009. Headlined: ‘Seventy Years On and the Bells of Inveraray Herald Town’s New Band’, it charts the resurrection of a band first founded in the 1890s. Now they are the current World Champions and P/M Liddell has four such titles to his name…..
The band’s Pipe Major, Stuart Liddell, said, ‘I always had a dream that one day we could rekindle the spirit of the band the town had 70 years ago – and now it seems to have happened. But I never really had concrete plans for it.
‘Everything just sort of grew of its own accord. Now we will take it as far as we can. I would really love to get into Grade 1. It’s the kids’ ambition too.
‘I’m just there to guide it. I should remind everyone that we really only have a few adults in the band: myself, Pipe Sergeant Dougie Campbell, Finlay Johnston and Steven McWhirter our leading drummer, and his sister Laura.
‘They are all a great help to me. Dougie makes a huge input and concentrates hard on the fingering and I work with Steven on the beatings and the tunes.
‘We are always tweaking things as we go. I suppose you could say that as both ex-SFU players we have been greatly influenced by how they do things. I don’t think that can be a bad thing.
‘Steven has been teaching with the band since 2005 but couldn’t play whilst we were in Juvenile. Now we are in Grade 2, he is our leading tip and has a strong corps of eight. We also have Simone Reid from SFU teaching the bass and tenor section.
Is he proud of what the band has done so far? ‘I think that would be an understatement,’ says Stuart. ‘I never envisioned things could work out so well.
And what about music selections? ‘We try to have a good mix of traditional and contemporary material, always keeping an eye out for the tunes the young pipers can get their fingers round.
‘Variety is the key and also having something for the drummers to work with. My approach has been to try to get everyone playing well together.
‘You cannot overstate the huge jump there is from Juvenile to Grade 2. It is massive. We worked on our tone over the winter trying to get as big a sound as we could without giving the kids reeds that were too strong for them.
‘I have always emphasised the need for steady blowing and I think they are improving all the time.’
The support Stuart has had from the town itself has been crucial. Anonymous donations have been received and fundraising by parents is ongoing. ‘We also have a Novice band to kit out now, so good parental support is vital,’ he adds.
P/M Liddell believes being in the band teaches the children discipline and teamwork – and about Scottish history and culture.
Learners for piping, snare, bass and tenor drumming are all welcome on Tuesday nights from 5.30-8pm. Practice chanters, drum sticks and practice pads are available for sale from the band. Music and learning materials are provided for all learners. Lessons cost a minimal £2.50.
- Read Part 1 here.
John MacKenzie’s Collection – digital book
First published in 1973, this outstanding collection is re-issued here in digital format with kind permission of the late Pipe Major’s family. The book runs to more than 50 pages. It is offered at a nominal price to cover overheads. It contains outstanding melodies such as the 6/8s Tug Argan Gap and MacNeills of Ugadale, the Wedding Waltz, Neuve Chappelle, Joe McGann’s Fiddle, the Saffron Kilt, He-Ro-Hirum and many others. Please note this is a digital download book set for tablet…