 |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
 |
| |||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
|
The Blog Log       
To Purchase all CD's and Subscriptions
Designed by Willie McCallum and Stuart McCallum
   November 20, 2012 The George Sherriff Memorial Contest 2012 This year's event was held in Hamilton, Ontario once again, for the 17th consecutive year. Under the expert guidance of Bob Worrall and a volunteer committee, it attracted the 10 best amateur players from all areas of North America. The day commenced at 10 am with the 6/8 marches - every piper playing two of his/her own selection. The afternoon piobaireachd event started at 1 pm with the judges choosing the tune to be played. The finale in the evening had the judges selecting a march strathspey and reel for each player.
Judges Michael Grey, Willie Morrison and Andy Rogers and the competitors
Photos:copyright by Weatherly Schiele and the overall winner, receiving a set of engraved pipes , compliments of McCallum Bagpipes Callum Harper
Callum Harper and judge Willie Morrison Listen to Callum's Tunes as he placed first in both the light music events: 6/8 Marches - Bengullion and Miss Ishabel T. MacDonald MSR - Angus MacKinnon of Eigg, The Doune of Invernochty, Neil Angus MacDonald
Dylan Whittemore winning the Piobaireachd with
Alexander Schiele was runner-up in the Light Music with
September 11, 2012 Let the Off Season Begin 9/11 eleven years later! Not forgotten... or ever will it be... the world has changed drastically... travel and its security perhaps stand out from other changes. But, for sure, the piping community has changed little. Players come and go...standards improve as do repertoires. Nevertheless we are still going to Highland games...attending the World Championships and Piping Live...getting ready for another off season of learning and improvement. Workshops occupy much of our time during the fall... complimenting the regular SKYPE lessons and the in house sessions, we have those great weekends where pipers and drummers get together for some great seminars and recitals. First up on the list is the Fall Fusion, sponsored by the Paris/Port Dover Pipe Band. It bodes well for all, as this weekend just might alternate on a yearly basis with Geoff Neigh's Stratford Sessions. Plan on attending... click the banner below or simply email me for info.
March 27, 2012 Australia Bound
It has been a while since the last entry here... no excuses,
except so much travel this past couple of months
Piping, Fly Fishing and Red Wine! Now what can be the matter with that? Will keep you posted on my return - pics and stories should be plentiful.
February 1, 2012 Pipe Major Sandy Keith
A piper yes! But there was much, much more to Sandy. At this sad time, I reflect on all those things that made his friendship ever so special. We played together at times... we competed against each other... we travelled together often... we taught piping schools together on a regular basis... he was a mentor for several of my students and even the Pipe Major for my wife in her years under Sandy's charge in the Erskine Pipe Band of the 70's.
Friends will gather in Dunedin next Saturday for a memorial
service for Sandy. I will be there - to be in his presence for one
final farewell. No doubt my mind will be racing with thoughts of all
those great times in the past when we laughed, partied, did some
serious teaching and got on with life in general. This was Sandy.
Even our last phone call a couple of weeks ago was memorable as we
talked about our aches and pains and grumbled about this and that;
but never lost sight of the important values we shared - teaching,
piping, friends and family... and now I realize how important that
call was. In a few minutes we discussed things like starting the
Ohio School of Scottish Arts Piping program back in 1978... how we
would stay up into the wee hours of the morning "solving the
problems of the universe"! How my wife Diane played for him in the
Erskine Pipe Band, Hamilton, Ontario. They made it to Grade 1 and
that is when the real competition started in our household, husband
vs. wife, as I played in the competitor, Clan MacFarlane, at the
time. Sandy just laughed and never forgot to mention that she was a
better player than me anyway!. Sandy never forgot his Scottish or Canadian roots. Annually he would stay with me while attending the judges' professional development seminars here in Ontario. In Scotland every year for the world's championships, we would take in the judges meeting there together... we were even known to quaff a pint or two at the Todd Bar - University of Strathclyde. His favorite saying to me was always " If I had your money..."... hahaha... if he only knew I was as singularly poor as himself, he would have seen the humor in it. I will be forever indebted to Sandy for his friendship and faithfulness through many troubled times. One that comes to mind often - and I never said thanks enough - lasted for over 10 years. My parents, in their twilight years, would winter in Clearwater, Florida. Naturally I was concerned about their health and wellbeing during these stays. Thanks to Sandy and Mary Keith, my fears never materialized, for they would take the time to drop in for a "casual" how are you type of visit on a regular basis... and inform me after each stay....my parents became his good friend as well.... I won't forget the stir my father caused when he gave Sandy 50 cans of the worst beer possible for his 50th birthday...memorable. But I digress. Sometimes pictures tell a better story:
Sandy with Iain Donaldson (his successor in Dunedin) and Rab Mathieson, the decorated Pipe Major of the Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band, a friend and mentor for Sandy and the City of Dunedin
Pipe Major and leader of the City of Dunedin PB
Teacher without peer!
Friend and mentor, seen here with Jamie Everett, a student of Sandy's since his early school days
The following letter to the retirees of the Hamilton-Wentworth Police says it better than I Fellow Retirees... The newspaper articles kindly forwarded to us noted the international impact that Sandy had on Scottish music and his accomplishments as a tutor and mentor to thousands of musicians. I'd like to share a story about Sandy that demonstrates the impact he had on me with respect to being a police officer. As a novice detective I worked for a while with Sandy. Yes, he was gruff and cranky (he was also a very fine detective) but I got to see a side of him that perhaps many other people didn't - and it had a life-long influence on me. What happened was that we were sent to a sudden death call. An elderly man died right at the breakfast table. We came into the small apartment and found his frail, tiny wife alone and crying. As a rookie detective I began to focus on what we were required to do - check his previous medical history, call the coroner - arrange for body removal, contact the deceased's adult children to come and comfort their Mother, etc. etc. However I was to learn a career-long and even life-long lesson on what REALLY was important at a time like this ...I was to learn the human and compassionate part of being a good police officer. Sandy Keith - this large, imposing, loud and gruff man, walked over to this distraught lady, put his arms around the tiny little woman and he rocked her and softly told her that he'd help her take care of things. He told her that he'd call her children right away and he took her to a nearby chair, carefully choosing one that would not provide a view to her husband's body. He then proceeded to make a pot of tea and brought a cup to the lady. I was struck with this image of a large, tough, old-school Hamilton detective, making a pot of tea and caring for a little elderly lady. It took about 45 minutes for the adult children to arrive and for all of that time Sandy sat beside the lady and gently and kindly talked with her - about her life, about her husband, about her children. When her kids arrived we left the tiny apartment along with the body removal fellas, and I was left with such a tremendous lesson and wonderful demonstration of human kindness and of a big, burly man with a heart of gold. I never told Sandy of how he had influenced me that day because if you knew Sandy, you'd know how he would have reacted to a compliment - he would loudly yell at you that you didn't know what the hell you were talking about and he'd dismiss you and walk away. Sandy Keith was a very fine man.
- John Daniels
Sandy, you will be missed terribly... your students, your
family, your judging mates, your friends... I am fortunate, like so
many others, to have been included in your life.... Thank you for
being one of a kind... God Bless...
December 30, 2011 Ronnie Rollo One of the hardest things to do in life, is to say farewell to a close friend. Today, Ronnie Rollo was laid to rest, succumbing on December 28 to a short, but devastating illness. He was a man for all seasons and you can read about it in Michael Grey's wonderful tribute to Ronnie in the PipesDrums.com
His story goes beyond just a piper in a band. He was part of the fabric of
the Canadian piping scene since his immigration form Scotland in 1958. I first
met him in the early '60's at the time I joined the Clan MacFarlane. Already he
was part of that fabled Caber Feidh Pipe Band, the classiest outfit around the
Ontario circuit. Of course, me being 16 years old at the time, I had the utmost
respect for the older players that led the way and Ronnie stood high in that
list with Chris Anderson, Rudy Schall, Davie Adamson, Jock Campbell and of
course most of the drummers who I would later play with in the Clan. Our
friendship continued for the next decade, which saw some marvelous changes in
the pipe band world. For one, the Caber Feidh took fifth in the 1966 World Pipe band
Championships. Basically the
That relationship with T&D prospered into the '80's, but the lure of the prospects of a super band, the 78th Fraser Highlanders, intrigued Ronnie - who instantly became a founding member. Their history has been written elsewhere, but needless to say, Ronnie played an important role through their run for the World's Pipe Band Championships. He retired from the 78th shortly before I joined in the early 90's, so I never got a chance to play with my life long friend as we once did...but I did play with his son in law, Bruce Gandy, so that kept the family connection going!
Over the years, our friendship has never waned. We have sat together on the judges' panel for the Highland Games, we have attended social functions together...we have grown together... and even argued about piping things like brothers. Ronnie was a "DO-er". He never sat idle when he could contribute to the piping scene. From President of the PPBSO to piping teacher, to the P/S for me - to the PM of several bands and finally the 78th and its World's title - Ronnie was in the thick of it all.
The 400 SQN RCAF Clan MacFarlane The 78th Fraser Highlanders At Home at Deeside and always at his side was June. Never wavering on their love for each other and their family, they were one of our "constants". You always knew where they stood, and in its own way, it rubbed off on you. Thank you, Ronnie for being you... a self made man, a good friend for all of my adult life. Farewell... and rest in peace.
December 16, 2011 Merry Christmas
As the festive season begins, the Admiral and Captain wish everyone in your home a joyous and wonderful Christmas. It has been a pleasure this year bringing you the lessons each week. It is our hope that you will continue to enjoy the site and take an active part in the Classroom and Reading Room. We promise to bring you more of the same in the year to come. All the best for 2012
But before we celebrate Christmas here at the Corner,
As a parting gift, listen to more from the Captain John A. MacLellan Tribute. This is Iain Speirs, playing A Lullaby For Iain The Music
Click on Image for the Music
December 13, 2011 More from The Captain John A. MacLellan Tribute Recital The recital format was also a contest, where the winner would receive the first ever Captain John A. MacLellan Medal, presented by his son, Colin. The initial recipient was Murray Henderson playing The Edinburgh Piobaireachd... once again a unique tune receiving little playing time with today's competing pipers and the Piobaireachd Society's emphasis on the more traditional tunes. Listen to Murray Henderson playing The Edinburgh Piobaireachd The Music
Click on Image for the Music
November 27, 2011 The Captain John MacLellan Recital Edinburgh, October 15, 2011 Piping History - Lest We Forget Pipers today can all recall the early days when their teachers concentrated on developing good technique. Some were fortunate to have good tuition on setting up and tuning the instrument. But how many of you were coached or studied the tune names, composers and stories behind the music. Just as I thought... somewhat fewer! Many a competitor has come before a judge and embarrassingly cannot remember even their tune name! I applaud Tracy Williams, Colin Maclellan and Euan Anderson for their presentation recently (October 15, 2011) in Edinburgh of the first ever Captain John MacLellan Memorial Recital/Contest. Paralleling events like the Donald Macleod Contest, the evening required the invited guest players to perform an original Captain John piobaireachd, thus bringing to the fore some of the greatest compositions of he 20th century, yet to adorn the Piobaireachd Society books. All guests were given copies of the scores to follow along. First up was Roddy MacLeod, playing the Salute to the Great Pipe.(click) The Music
Click on Image for the Music November 21, 2011 More from the Sherriff....
Ed Neigh with Reay MacKay and Sandy Jones You have heard the winners from the November 19 entry below, but the Sherriff this year featured 12 of the best amateurs in North America...and with that came many more superb performances. Have a listen to some of the other prize winners: MSR - Second - Scott Wood - Bonnie Ann, John Roy Stewart and The Little Cascade Third - Ursa Beckford - David Ross, Maggie Cameron and The Little Cascade Fourth - Ben Reid - The Clan MacColl, Lady MacKenzie of Gareloch and The Cockerel in the Creel Fifth - Alexander Schiele- The 93rd at Modder River, The Islay Ball and The Grey Bob
November 19, 2011 The George Sherriff Memorial Invitational
Joe Stewart receiving the set of McCallum bagpipes and trophy from Reay MacKay, Colin MacLellan and Sandy Jones Listen to Joe's 6-8 Marches - Ellenorr and Dornkop Listen to Joe's MSR - The Glengarry Gathering, The Shepherd's Crook, The Brown Haired Maid-
Alexander Schiele accepting the powder horn trophy and the bound Piobaireachd Society books donated by Scott's Highland Services from Reay MacKay and Sandy Jones Listen to The Unjust Incarceration by Alexander Schiele
October 21, 2011 The piping Live week could certainly be your main focus in going to Glasgow in August, but we mustn't forget the true spectacle that draws us to the East every year - the WPBC - the World's Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green They are organized and executed by the RSPBA with military precision. Close to 300 band performances are heard in the space of 9 hours...AND.... they always finish on time! The Grade 1 bands are always the main focus, but every grade has something to offer. This years PipesDrums.com previewed the Juvenile bands - all players under the age of 19 - perhaps some of the best pound for pound playing on the planet! I sat in the Grade 1 arena from the start of the qualifier at 9 am till the last performance at 5:00 pm..... Through the rain, you ask?..... what rain?...didn't even notice!
October 15, 2011 The Silver Cap is such a great contest, that it is almost impossible for all to agree on the prize list. So.... what else is new in piping events? But there is one thing for sure, the quality of all performances is first class. Third place Gordon Walker was no exception:
October 8, 2011 You be the judge... The Silver Cap invites 6 professional players each year. As you can well imagine, these pipers are all at the top of their game. To judge such an event obviously takes tremendous experience and skills. This year, Major Bruce Hitchings was enlisted for the task. According to the format, the judge would sit behind a baffle, unable to see the players, thus adding a touch of anonymity to the adjudication - the playing will speak for itself! The audience can sit back; be entertained and judge the event as they see fit. So here is the second place play by Stuart Liddell - YOU BE THE JUDGE!
October 1, 2011 ... and then there was the week of Piping Live! Part of the great experience of travelling to Scotland in August has to be the music and entertainment. Starting with the week of Piping Live, concerts and performances every day - all day .... to the WPBC, to the many smaller games like Crieff and Glenfinnan and finally to the Argyllshire Gathering, Cowal and the Northern Meeting. For the music lover, it is always an idyllic month. One of the events on the Piping Live calendar now for 3 years has been the Silver Cap contest where a select few players are invited to perform. Each must play an original unpublished composition. The competition is the brainchild of California residents Richard King and Steve Foley. More importantly, the prize money is huge! All performers receive a purse, but the winner takes home a hefty sum of £2000. Yes, £2000; in excess of $3000! Listen, courtesy of the Silver Cap organizers to the first prize in 2011, Mr. Willie McCallum.
September 15, 2011 And if You Have Never Been... The WPBC The World's Pipe Band Championship is a once a year event held in Glasgow, the second weekend in August. Expertly organized and executed by the RSPBA, it attracts visitors from around the world. In fact, I meet and greet more old and new-found friends during the week there than at any other single event on my packed schedule. The competitions are chock full of the best the pipe band world has to offer in all grades Not only the Grade 1, but the Juvenile (under 19 years) events are perhaps the most hotly contested. PipesDrums.com , in fact , this year posted recordings and a summary of these great youth bands in the Juvenile event. But at the end of the day, with the excitement of the contests over, it is the results that we all come for and nothing is so nail-biting as the Grade 1 announcement from Ian Embelton, Chief Executive of the RSPBA - imagine yourself on Glasgow Green this year!
September 9, 2011 The Cowal Tradition 2011 at the Cowal Highland Gathering was no different than 2010, 2009... and even the many years that we attended some 30 years ago. The contests are better viewed by the audience than ever before. But it is the parade through the street to the passenger ferry, thronged by thousands of spectators, that still thrills me the most. Participation these days is limited to falling line ine behind one of your favourite bands and enjoying the march. Have a look.
September 1, 2011 Peel Police Concert
The band is thrilled to announce that we will be putting on a concert in Toronto on Saturday October 15th, 2011. All of the proceeds will go to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The concert will be held at the Cawthra Park Secondary School - located at 1305 Cawthra Road in Mississauga, Ontario ( http://mapq.st/ph4zPY). The show starts at 8:00 pm.The band is honored to have performing with them Bob Worrall and Scantily Plaid and The Scottish Dance Company of Canada. Ken Eller will be the MC for the evening. Tickets are $20 each and can be obtained by contacting Colleen Hawes at the Peel Regional Police. Her phone number is (905) 453-2121, extension 4036 and her email is Colleen.Hawes@peelpolice.ca.We hope that you will come out and support the JDRF and hear some great music from the 2011 North American Champions. Seating is limited so get your tickets now. John Cairns, Pipe Major
Special Presentations 2010 George Sherriff Memorial Contest
Listen to the winning performances: Andrew Laird Piobaireachd - The MacGregor's Salute MSR - The Abercairney Highlanders, Lady Louden, The Sheepwife 6-8 March - Dr. Ross's Welcome to the Argyllshire Gathering, Cameron MacFadyen Glenn Walpole
Piobaireachd - The Massacre of Glencoe MSR - The Lochaber Gathering, The Shepherd's crook, The Sheepwife 6-8 March - Ballochyle, Dr. Ross's Welcome to the Argyllshire Gathering
Winter Storm 2010
Gold Medal Champion  Andrew Lee(left), receiving Gold medal from R. G. Hardie's Alastair Dunn Listen to Andrew playing The Big Spree Silver Medal Champion  Brian MacKenzie, Seattle, Washington Playing The Lament for Mary MacLeod Ceol Beag Champion  James P. Troy receiving the Henderson Medal from Jim Moore, owner of Henderson's Imports Listen to Jamie's winning Light Music Performance The 2009 George Sherriff Memorial Competition The 14th annual George Sherriff Memorial was held in Hamilton, ON on Saturday, November 21, 2009. As always, the crew of volunteers spearheaded by event organizer Bob Worrall did a splendid job, bringing professionalism to this major amateur event - great ambience in St. Paul's Presbyterian Church - superb playing and listening conditions with a concert-like atmosphere The enthusiastic audience was treated to light music and piobaireachd by 10 performers from as far away as Hong Kong, Oregon, Washington State, New Jersey, Maine and Texas. Ontario and Nova Scotia pipers represented Canada. The panel of adjudicators represented the best in competitive and musical experience. Jack Lee from Surrey, BC; Reay MacKay from Orillia, ON; Stuart Liddell from Inverary, Scotland.
With wins in the 6/8 March and Piobaireachd events, the overall winner went to Richard Gillies of Portland, Oregon. while winner of the MSR was Houston, Texas resident, Anthony Masterson.
Richard Gillies Anthony Masterson Listen to Richard Gillies' winning Piobaireachd The MacLeod's Salute Listen to Richard Gillies' winning 6/8 marches Cameron MacFadyen and The Heights of Casino Listen to Anthony Masterson's winning MSR Pipe Major Willie MacLean, The Doune of Invernochty and The Blackberry Bush
The day was filled with many other excellent performances. In my opinion, the standard was as high as ever, thus making the task of adjudicating quite daunting. I congratulate the judges on selecting Liz Dunsire's A Flame of Wrath for Squinting Patrick, second in the piobaireachd event.
Perhaps the best sounding bagpipe of all belonged to Thomas Harrington of Glenholme, Nova Scotia. A rich harmonic blend of chanter and drones resonated throughout his MacKay's Banner and for this he was rewarded with third prize in the piobaireachd.
The 2008 Champion, Bobby Durning from Milltown, NJ was not to be denied. A fourth in the piobaireachd, third in the 6/8 march and a second in the MSR secured him second place overall. Listen to his MSR, The Knightswood Ceilidh, Caber Feidh and Broadford Bay.
One of the pleasant surprises of the evening was the presentation of the George Sherriff Memorial trophy and banner to Richard Gillies. The presenters were Jamie Sherriff, grandson of George and his son, Tyler (great grandson)
Pipes Donated by McCallum Bagpipes, Kilmarnock, Scotland
Drawing the unenviable position of playing first on in the first contest fell to Glenn Walpole of Tiverton, Ontario. For his initial performance in the Sherriff, he played an excellent selection of 6/8 marches early in the morning. His "John MacColl's Farewell to the Scottish Horse and Dr. Ross's 50th Welcome to the Argyllshire Gathering" gained him the fourth place nod in the 6/8 march contest.
Fifth place in the piobaireachd went to Brendan Culver making his debut at the Sherriff. He acquitted himself well with the Lament for the Viscount of Dundee. If there was a prize for preparation in the tuning room for your performance on stage, Brendan would most assuredly take top honours. He presented himself to the judges with pipes in tune, a small play down and then right into the Viscount... most impressive. And finally, the Captain's Corner award for teacher of the year - unanimous selection by the committee! It must go to Bruce Gandy with three students in the Sherriff - Richard Gillies (The Champion), Thomas Harrington and Chris Lee (Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong). Congratulations Bruce on setting high standards and to your students for attaining them!
Bruce Gandy and Andrew Berthoff, Editor, PD Online
Copyright © 2005 - 2012 The Captain's Corner |
| |||||||||||||||||||
 |
| |||||||||||||||||||
and
my attention to all details has slipped. The one thing about "piping
travel" is the friends, both old and new, that you meet or acquire.
Just recently I had the good fortune of visiting Edmonton, Alberta -
cool and dry and at elevation. The pitch of the pipe changes -
dryness means increased hydration - and ouch, my lips started to
chap and worse yet, my chanter reeds dried out. Time to pour water
into those Ross canisters and control the top hand pitch! The
weekend coincided with St. Patrick's Day, so the Saturday was alive
with all those "once a year" patriots of the auld sod - Donegal,
Claire, Cork, Galway, Connemara... and everywhere in Erin.... Sunday
was actually a relief! Then on to Denver... the "Mile High City",
and if I ever thought Edmonton's elevation was a challenge, then
Denver's 5200 ft. literally blew me away. Playing at a ceilidh on
the Saturday evening on pipes much too demanding for this old
feller, just about flattened me...I managed, but not without the
occasional choke... a new found respect for all those playing high
above sea level. This must be what the long distance athletes all
call high altitude training... NOT for us mortals!
This
week I leave for Victoria in Australia where I will have the
privilege of judging the Australian Pipe Band Championships being
staged in Ballarat. To say that I am pumped, is an under statement.
Having never been to Australia, I am looking with interest to the
events - a very large entry - world class performances in all
grades. I have many friends in the area and I look forward to
visiting and taking in the sights in the days that follow, with even
a little bit of touring into the McLaren Vale wine district. If you
haven't noticed my life passions, in order 
That also brought back memories of Sandy's teaching prowess - one of
the best. In that Erskine band he had Scott MacAulay, Ian Whitelaw
and Donnie Forgan. These three in particular would all go on to
stellar piping careers. Little did I know that both Scott and Donnie
would later come to play for us in the Clan MacFarlane. This
actually coincided with Sandy entering another phase of his career -
in 1980, moving to Dunedin to assume the teaching job in the school
system and take over the reigns of the fledgling City of Dunedin
Pipe Band.
same band, with the addition of Ronnie's student
Jake Watson, showed well at the first CNE contest in 1972. That was the year
that I was installed as Pipe Major of the Clan MacFarlane Pipe Band,
and looking to build a band to return to Scotland and vie for the World's.
Ronnie and 4 of his piping friends would become an integral part of that band at
the end of the 1973 season. It is from this vantage point that our relationship
started to flourish. Ronnie and June travelled to St. Catharines weekly for
practices and social functions. And, of course, they brought their young family.
Bonding with
the Rollo's in the 70's was pure fun! Parties, lots of piping, adventures for
their kids ... all was right and I am forever grateful for those times. It was
during this period that Ronnie and June bought a house in St. Catharines. As a
rental property, it became a halfway house for many a Clan member as well as
being "Pub Central" for after practice and special parties.... fondly named "The
Highlander's Institute", "Tute" for short... once again the Rollo's made this
all possible. Ronnie got an opportunity in 1975 that he couldn't turn down -
he became the first Pipe Major of the Toronto and District Pipe Band (T& D)...
we wished him well with the promise of more good friendship and some rivalry to
follow.
we
are making a short, urr, business trip, to the Bahamas, just for 5
days to get the chill out of the bones. For a couple of years, the
Corner sponsored a musical cruise near this time of the season, but
interest in it has waned. However, the bug bit, and now we are doing
it ourselves - no music, but great food, shows, beaches and
night-life. We promise to return full of energy for next year's
classes. See you soon, The Captain.
