Good luck to all the pipers playing for drummers tomorrow at the World Solos in Glasgow (Cally University from early on). What about the drummers I hear you say. Of course good luck to them too, but where would they be without the boys on the black sticks?
I hope the judges take that on board. Drummers should be judged not only on how well they play technically, but on how well their scores blend with the pipes – musically not acoustically. The latter is impossible one pipe to one drum.
Dress & Deportment
Reader Nicholas Taitz has queried the requirement at the Caritas Banner contest that all pipers must wear Highland dress, complete with bonnets and bag covers. Why are covers necessary he says.
Well Nicholas for one thing they hide all the bindings, jubilee clips and strings and zips. They give the instrument a nice finish, a show of respect. I can recommend the Piobaireachd Society cover which comes complete with arm gripper and embroidered logo.
I think it a good thing that George Watson’s, the Caritas promoters, encourage good dress and deportment. We see too many pipers these days lazily playing the national instrument in jeans and tee shirt. Fine for practice but not in public.
If it is a casual engagement then wear the kilt with sporran, belt and open neck shirt. More formally, shirt, tie, bonnet and jacket. Black tie? No need for the bonnet, but tartan hose, dress sporran etc.
Which brings me to posture. One of the organisers of the Caritas Banner is P/M Ben Duncan. Is everyone watching? Just look at him. Perfect bearing in this photo from the London Recital last month:
Drones ideally spaced, blow stick centre of mouth (no dog leg contraption for Ben – the blowpipe stock has been tied in correctly), fingers perfectly straight, bag the perfect size, head up, eyes forward. There’s a lesson in one picture.
Piobaireachd Society: The Society’s celebrated website is now up and running after its back end upgrade and is much quicker than before. There have been a few glitches and anyone experiencing difficulties or strange behaviours please drop me an email and I’ll have our experts look at it.
South West Concert
Take a trip down or up the M74 for what looks like a great night at the Moffat Distillery. Maestro Stuart Liddell is in recital there on Novemeber 14. All details on the poster and you can use the QR code for tickets:
All profits from the evening will go towards a worthy cause: the South West Scotland Pipe and Drum Academy.
Summer’s Lease
We’re well into the northern hemisphere autumn. What are your memories of a piping summer? A highlight for me was the Piobaireachd Society Summer School on Skye.
Not only for the camaraderie and considerable educational advancement we made, but the simple things like enjoying this view of the mountains of Knoydart every morning on our way to breakfast.
Can you spot the fishing boat chugging its way up the Sound of Sleat? And just look at that sky, the shafts of sunlight at the entrance to Loch Nevis. The air up there has a certain freshness and the light a pure clarity. Lots of books on the ‘magic of Skye’ – and it’s all true. Next year’s course is from May 30 – June 4.
