Saturday, January 6, 2007

Lots of phone calls coming in lately...all asking "what's new"... seems like this is the down period... pipers and bands are lying low. But just when you think that, upon us is the 2007 edition of WINTER STORM in Kansas City next weekend. It is bigger than ever if that is possible. In all there are some 19 Gold Medallists and Champion drummers attending - with the resident crew from previous years, Jeff Kruske and the team have added Fred Morrison, Angus MacColl, Craig "Hoss" Calquhoun and Eric Ward...wow, what a line up and I look forward to MC'ing the concert. That's the only way the Captain will ever get on the same stage with this talent. The Concert will open up with the former World Juvenile Champs - St. Thomas Episcopal School from Houston, Texas and also feature the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, 4 times World Grade One Champions. It so happens that SFU is simply passing through on their way to a weekend date at the Orlando, Florida Highland Games. Needless to say, I am already packed and once again, Kansas City, here we come.

Sunday, December 31, 2006

George Square, Glasgow on New Year's Eve

From everyone at the Captain's Corner  -  Happy New Year's and may 2007 be one of the best for all. Hope you have enjoyed the reads and for those subscribers, more lessons and articles anticipated in the next 12 months.  

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Couldn't get it in southern Ontario so we travelled north the day after Christmas...to North Bay where my son Cameron lives ... also home of the North Bay Pipe Band ... snow ... not much...but enough to make the season complete. The ice was just forming on Marten Lake so ice fishing wasn't possible. At the current rate, the ice huts will be out later this month.

                              The laneway out back of the cottage at Marten Lake and the open water river.

Interesting enough that upon my return home I received a letter from Fred Watt from the North Bay Pipe Band. As well, I was talking today with the Red Haired Piper, Carrie MacDonald, who lives in Sudbury and is Pipe Major of the band there. I told her that we came north to her country for the snow - her remarks "what, all 4 flakes ?" ... you gotta be hardy to survive the Canadian north winters!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Its Christmas Eve and here at the Corner things are getting prepared for a wonderful celebration. Our son Cam is coming home tonite from North Bay - always exciting to be with him - he is also bringing a friend with him to celebrate the Christmas with us. Lindsay, our daughter will be spending the holidays in Kelowna, BC with her boyfriend Chris. On Christmas day, our complete family will be getting together for the usual feast. I hope this scene will be repeated many times over throughout the piping world. From the Admiral and myself, we wish everyone a most joyous Christmas and a safe holiday if you are on the road.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

My Father's Son

 I had a great chat with Bruce Gandy today. What was prompted by an advice request ended up being a "catch up on what you are doing" conversation. Bruce has some excellent chanters for sale right now.... all presentation Kron chanters that Bruce won at the Metro Cup over the past few years. Bruce feels like I do - better that a good instrument be played by someone rather than sitting drying out. So, Bruce has offered them for sale. They might hit eBay, but then again, if you contact Bruce directly, I am sure he would consider any offer. On a more personal note, today, December 20, 2006 marks the passing of Ray Gandy, Bruce's father. Ray was one of those who supported all piping events in the Victoria, BC area and was instrumental in Bruce achieving  great success in his piping career. Today also marks the Christmas return of his son Alex from his piping sabbatical in Scotland. Following his dream, Alex is spending this year in Scotland, taking lessons at the National Piping Centre from Roddy MacLeod, MBE and also crossing over to Belfast to play with the World Champion Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band, under P/M Richard Parkes, MBE ...what an opportunity... The Corner wishes both Bruce and Alex the best for 2007.

Alex and Bruce after the George Sherriff  Memorial, 2005

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Christmas prelude - a fabulous 3 days with friends from the piping world ... On Friday, Bobby Minnear flew into Buffalo from Georgia. We had a session at the British Shop and caught up on old times. After lunch with Iain Donaldson (thanks Iain), I travelled home, changed and the Admiral and I headed for dinner at Bob Worrall's in Burlington where we met Eduardo Silvera, just in from Montevideo...a great night of food, drink and conversation ... and the weekend was still beginning. On Saturday, Eduardo and I headed back to the British Shop - chanters for his band and gifts to take home - a piobaireachd lesson for Garth Sinclair and then an impromptu side trip to the American Falls. I have never been to the Falls on the US side before, even though living here all my life! Saturday evening finished with a family Christmas party at my brother in law Gene's house on Lake Erie...more food and great craic.... and now it is Sunday and Eduardo is back in the Royal York in Toronto and the Captain is settling in for a short winter's nap !

             Iain Donaldson and Bobby Minnear - British Shop       The Admiral, Chef Todd, Bob and Eduardo

                   The Captain          Eduardo                    Iain                                     Eduardo on the brink !!!!!!!!             

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Household names in piping ...well name me a few....Ian MacLellan and the Strathclyde Police, Robert Mathieson and Shotts and Dykehead, Iain MacLeod and the Edinburgh City Police, Terry Lee and SFU, Richard Parkes and FMM, Nat Russell and Victoria Police...the list goes on..... Oh! I forgot..... Eduardo Silvera and the Southern Cross Pipe Band. Yes that is correct ... household names are always a reflection of where you have travelled, where you have listened to pipe bands and what you have listened to. And Pipe Major Eduardo Silvera is a household name in South America and is spreading the reputation of the Southern Cross Pipe Band around the globe as he and many of his bandsmen  travel  far and wide to promote piping and drumming in the Montevideo area and learn as much as they can from the various leaders in the pipe band field.

Pipe Major Eduardo Silvera, the Southern Cross Pipe Band, Montevideo, Uruguay

It was Eduardo who first approached Bob Worrall and Tyler Fry to visit MVD for an instructional workshop for his band. Several more visits followed. Again, he approached Ann Gray and myself to take part in the first ever South American Celtic Music Festival, with subsequent visits later for tuition. He has entertained some of the greats of the piping world in succeeding years and helped to organize many of the functions in South America - a respected leader in the pipe band community. Well ...  he is coming to Canada this week for a short stay. During that time we will renew our friendships with a dinner Friday night and a trip to Buffalo, NY on Saturday to visit the British Shop - and see first hand the fabulous inventory of pipes and supplies that Iain Donaldson carries...then lunch ...a lesson or two and then a family Christmas party in the evening ... sounds like we are cramming as much as we can into his short weekend break from his employer - the Royal Bank of Canada - and that is what we intend to do. Mark my words, Eduardo Silvera is a household name in the pipe band community of South America and we finally get a chance to welcome him here to Ontario.

Monday, December 11, 2006

The Captain's Corner Piping Student of the Month

Dale Beckner, on vacation in Cuba last week, with his new Dunbar Blackwood Chanter.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Another weekend over... and good one it was. The AGM of the PPBSO was held on Saturday in  Guelph. The turnout was superb - upwards of 150 people by my estimates. The formalities of receiving reports was dealt with expediently - except perhaps for the Auditiors' and Treasurer's  statements which received careful scrutiny. Then onto the motions from the branches - and here is where we faced a potential logjam ... but this too was dealt with when a 5 minute limit was put on any motion. Of note, the Juvenile Grade was established for players under the age of 18 years. Two drumming proposals brought forth through the music board failed to garner enough support - even after heavy lobbying from Doug Stronach. So for the amateur Grade 4 and 5 drummers, there will be a wait before set tunes are introduced. Congratulations must go out to Colin Clansey of the Ottawa Branch on his election to the Vice-Pres. chair. Combined with his regular forces duties and Pipe Major of the Glengarry Pipe Band, Grade 2, his new office will keep him hopping!

Monday, December 4, 2006

And we think we have it cold and blistery here in Ontario ! Steve MacNeil, a great friend from Manistee Co. in Northern Michigan, dropped me a line tonite. Steve plays in the Grade 1 Windsor Police PB and has years experience in St. Thomas Police and other top flight bands. It is Steve who communicated with me on his memories of George Duncan.

"I'm in trouble with the guys for missing band practice Saturday, 30 inches and counting since Friday afternoon here in Manistee, MI. Picture from the house today, lake effect for a couple more days. Cheers Stephen"

The barn at Stephen MacNeil's in Manistee, Michigan

I guess Steve won't be making the AGM of the PPBSO this weekend. It is to be held in Guelph this Saturday. The PPBSO website lists the following:

Date:  December 9, 2006
Time:  Annual General Meeting - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Time:  Champion Supreme Ceilidh - 7:00pm - 12:30am
Place:  Royal Canadian Legion, Hall A, 919 York Road, Guelph, Ontario

Tickets are $15.00 per person

Tickets can be ordered by calling or emailing Sharon Duthart at the PPBSO office, a limited number of tickets are available.

Friday, December 1, 2006

For 40 days and 40 nights.....

...and then the waters subsided

Flood watch is on at the Corner today. The rains started last night and continue at this very hour. The stream is up 3 feet, the roadway is flooded and there is a torrent surging through the valley. So, I 've built my ark and stowed 2 McAllister Chanter reeds (1978 vintage), 2 Sinclair blackwood chanters (1974,1968), 2 Jim Begg sheepskin bags, 2 sets of George Lumsden cane drone reeds, 2 cans of Airtight  Seasoning (Robertson, Hardie), 2 Edcath Book 3's, 2 Clan MacFarlane vinyls ( Vol 1 , Vol 2), and the list goes on.... the Ark should be full by the time the rains stop. Whew...all safe! That's a relief.....have I missed anything?

   Have I missed anything?   Suggestions please.

... will have to sail down the roadway in front of the Corner ...

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Once again I heard from my good friend Steve Scaife at Ceol Sean music. The office there is brimming with excitement. November 30, 2006 (tomorrow) is the release date for Dr. William Donaldson's long anticipated:

From Broadside to Broadband

Two Hundred Tunes for the Highland Bagpipe

So Please Check in with Ceol Sean tomorrow!

Monday, November 27, 2006

   Well Thanksgiving is over and it is back to the grind, but here at the Corner, it is never anything but pure pleasure. Piping and more piping - new music - recordings to sift through. The subscribers to the classroom have been progressing quite well. We are getting prepared to start a new year of  lessons, everything from technique and new music to articles on the instrument, much like a musical journal. With the organization of the Classroom, subscribers can download a complete year's session any time - a lesson and/or a new tune a week plus the Reading Room Articles .... and join in the lessons at whatever level they are at.... don't forget the personal mailbox where private sessions are held, plus Ask the Captain where answers to many unique questions are posted.... all in all, a complete learning experience...It has been fun working in the Classroom the last 2 years and hopefully you might consider it this year - Beginners, Intermediates, Teachers and even some advanced students. There is something for all.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

I am one of those lucky few that celebrate both the Canadian and American Thanksgivings. Each year in memory, we have carved the turkey twice in the fall - once for my Canadian father and a second time for my mother, whose Irish parents emigrated through Canada to the United States just prior to WW1. I am as lucky as my Ukranian brother in law Gene - he gets two Christmases each year!  Here's hoping that you are enjoying the festivities with good friends.... good cheer... and lots to eat.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

The Passing of John Allan Cameron

Cape Breton, Canada, has lost one of its pioneers of Celtic music - John Allan passed away today after suffering for a long time with a rare form of leukemia. It was John Allan who transported the jigs and reels of his native Mabou, Cape Breton to the concert halls of Toronto, Nashville, Vegas and the world. Playing his trademark 12 string guitar and singing with his nasal voice became a standard for many of us who grew up on his music. Well I remember the many trips he made to our practice hall while I had the Clan MacFarlane Pipe Band back in the '70's ... we ceilidhed to the tunes from his guitar and the pipes of Jake Watson, at that time appearing on stage with John Allan ... great times, never to be forgotten. Check out the Folkworld article on John Allan and also a tribute to him at jam.canoe

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

This morning I received a letter from my good friend, Steve Scaife, of Ceol Sean Music. A new project is about to be released.

On November 30th, Ceol Sean will be releasing a new collection of pipes tunes by Dr. William Donaldson entitled "From Broadside to Broadband".  This collection will be the world's first tune collection published on CD.  It will contain several dozen original compositions by Dr. Donaldson, along with his arrangements of several classic pipe tunes.  In all the CD presents about 200 settings.  In addition, the CD contains several audio tracks of historical interest by performers such as Bob Nicol and J. Scott Skinner.  It also has photos, histortical notes, and a wealth of material related to the settings.  More info on this CD will be available at www.ceolsean.com  on Nov. 30th. You will definitely want to consider this invaluable collection for your own library.

Congratulations once again to Ceol Sean !!

Sunday, November 19, 2006

The George Sherriff Memorial Invitational Contest

Well yesterday is in the history books and from all accounts, it was a superb contest. The format is extremely demanding on the contestants - submit 2,6/8 marches, 3 piobaireachd and 2 each of 2/4 marches, strathspeys and reels. The adjudicators then will select the tunes from the lists. The contests commenced at 10 am and came to a close at 9:30 pm with the final performance of the evening ... what a day of piping. A special thanks must go to the adjudicators, Chris Armstrong from Glasgow, Scotland, Paula Glendinning from Maryland, USA and John Cairns from London, Ontario. They did a yeoman's service in adjudicating all 30 performances.The overall  winner was Micah Babinski from Mercer Island, Washington and for his day's toil he received a set of Silver McCallum Bagpipes, courtesy of Kenny MacLeod  and Stuart McCallum, airfare to compete in Scotland courtesy of the PPBSO and a host of hardware that will sit proudly for a year on his mantel. Full results can be viewed at the Pipes|Drums website. The recordings of the complete contest will appear on the Captain's Corner as soon as they are edited. Look for the announcement !

 The competitors with the adjudicators and Chris Armstrong presenting Micah Babinski with a set of silver mounted pipes, courtesy of  McCallum Bagpipes -  thanks Kenny  and Stuart  - great support for amateur piping !

The winning piobaireachd -  The Groat   - by Micah Babinksi

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

I received an email today from Pipe Major Eduardo Silvera of the Southern Cross Pipe Band in Montevideo, Uruguay. The band is thriving, having just produced their 7th festival of piping, drumming and dance on November 10, 2006. Congratulations to all members of the band, which proudly played 13 pipers and a drum corps of 5. With any luck, we will see the band in North America sometime in the near future. Rumor has it that they are exploring a possible competitive trip to the southern USA. In the past two years, members of the band have been taking in the workshops and concerts associated with Glasgow's Piping Live and the World's Pipe Band Championships. It's events like these and the contacts that they have made that have put Uruguay and South America on the piping map. Can't wait to hear them again.

The Southern Cross Pipe Band takes the stage at their own

 Festival de Gaita,  Percusion y Danza Escocesa

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Pipes|Drums - Tuesday morning special - Braemar Pipe Band promoted from Grade 4 to Grade 3 ... Go figure ? One less Grade 3 band in Ontario this season...?

Monday, November 13, 2006

Comments?

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Sadly it was reported today in Dunsire's Forums and the Pipes|Drums sites that Bob Dunsire succumbed to cancer at the early age of 53 years. I am sure everyone familiar with his piping forums will feel the loss. Bob single-handedly brought about organization from the chaos that existed in piping newsgroups prior to 2001. I for one have used his site as my homepage for most of its existence. It is my primary access to the pulse of the piping and drumming community. I am positive that everyone will share with me in offering condolences to Bob's immediate and extended family.

God Bless

Monday, November 6, 2006

Tired and sore - every joint in my body is aching. We heat our house with wood so every year at this time I hope for good weather to cut trees and split cordwood for drying ... so I welcome the rest to get back here! In the mail today was an interesting read. Pipe Major Hugh Macpherson, ex Black Watch and RCR, has published his second book of music ... a tribute to the memory of those that died in the tragic events of 9/11 - September 11, 2001. It is fitting that this publication should contain many of Pipe Major Macpherson's own compositions commemorating many past US military events, plus include several new tunes composed by current US citizens. A review of the book will be forthcoming, as soon as I have a chance to digest all the new material.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

From my good friends Danny Pereira and Eduardo Silvera of the Southern Cross Pipe Band in Montevideo, Uruguay, I received their promo for their upcoming Piping, Drumming and Dancing Festival scheduled for November 10 in MVD.... promises to be a great event.... it was the Southern Cross Pipe Band that initiated the first ever Celtic Music Festival of South America (1^er Festival Celta oe Montevideo) in MVD in 2002...I had the privilege of attending ...groups from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and everywhere possible in SA....if you live in this part of the world, try to attend in November. It promises to be a great time...and if there, give my regards to Danny, Eduardo and all the members of the Ess Cee Pee Bee (Southern Cross Pipe Band)

October 28, 2006

Glenfiddich Results

    Piobaireachd                                  MSR                                   Overall  

    Angus MacColl                              Gordon Walker                  Angus MacColl
    Greg Wilson                                   Willie McCallum               Greg Wilson
    Ewan MacCrimmon                       Greg Wilson                      Gordon Walker
    Roddy MacLeod                              Angus MacColl
    Iain Speirs                                      Roddy MacLeod

    Balvenie Medal   Iain MacKay, NZ

For full coverage including tunes, visit PIPES|DRUMS  (formerly the P&D Online) site operated by Andrew Berthoff.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Got an email this week from Kevin MacHeffner from the Mesa Caledonia Pipe Band. You might recall that last spring I ran a review of his band's music book, featuring North American composers. What everyone should know is that Kevin is a tenor drummer in the band but shines also as the drum major. In fact, Kevin is the premier DM in the USA today, regularly competing at the highest levels in Scotland. I met him in the Glasgow airport returning home after the World's this August and he told me about his website promoting piping and drumming apparel - classy iPipe and iDrum logos.... [and here I sit behind the keyboard with my iPod playing the best of HOE and FMM in my head] ... at any rate, you might like to visit Kevin and his site....

iPipe by Kevin MacHeffner

Exciting Piping, Drumming and Dancing Shirts

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

All pipers in the Buffalo, NY area must be better players today than they were a week ago! All they had to do for the past week is practice. Snow, downed trees, no electricity and in some areas, no telephones were the norm for more than 7 days last week. On my trip to the British Shop last Thursday I was faced with the cleanup and power crews still at their job. Pete Sinclair reports that it took him 8 days to get the electricity back on.... so I trust that Garth, his son, in the time off  from school will have learned all his tunes for this week's lesson ! Now this brings me to the point here. I am constantly admonishing some of my younger students for their practice habits (not Garth, BTW). They don't hear me until they remove their iPod earbuds and pay attention. But this is the point. There are just too many activities that occupy a teen's interest these days. This all eats into their practice time - again a flashback to my country roots where fishing and piping were the only activities 24/7 - a simpler life for sure. So, the bottom line seems to be "If you wish to improve, pray for snow" !

Scene in front of the home of Garth and Peter Sinclair, Buffalo, NY - Friday, October 13, 2006

Was there really a street buried there?

Monday, October 23, 2006

I was sitting at my office desk this morning, listening to the Triumph Street Pipe Band (see above) and my email bell went off...must be mental telepathy. Rob Menzies from TS was on the other end, across this massive country....attached to his letter were several photos of the Clan with TS in Santa Rosa way back in 1981....Every so often a wee peak at history brings back so many good memories. The Triumph Street were super competitors for the Clan, but above all, just plain good friends as well....we partied hard, we played hard and we hung out together ... does this happen with bands in this age? ... I doubt it does ... the pics below will bring you a little closer to how it used to be....

The Captain at Santa Rosa, 1981 wearing the gift he received from Hal Senyk and the Triumph

Street Pipe Band. I wonder if history lived up to their claim?

Angus MacPherson, now Pipe Major of the Maple Ridge Pipe Band in B.C.

You call it Angus for the beer after the contest!

Monday, October 16, 2006

As time flies, one or two days can make a difference.... My piping friend, Dr. Ray Coghlan and his wife Melody, from Bossier City, Louisiana are staying at the Corner for a few days and yesterday we had a perfect day at Niagara Falls.... snow gone...bright clear skies....if you don't like the weather here, wait a day !

Even the Maid of the Mist cruise boat casts a rainbow !

A slight double 'bow just to the right

I noticed that the AGM of the PPBSO has been changed to December 9 from its original November 11 date....a good choice given the significance of Remembrance Day from the past and even more so now. The Sherriff Memorial contest for amateurs is set to go in Hamilton, Ontario on Saturday, November 18 - judges to be Chris Armstrong (Scotland), Paula Glendinning (USA) and John Cairns (Canada)....the event is hosted and organized by Bob Worrall and will be MC'd by the Captain. If all goes well, a recording of the major performances will be made available for your listening in the Highlander's Institute shortly afterwards - a first perhaps for amateur piping. More later !

Thursday, October 12, 2006

SNOW !

Just three days later and look! The pic says it all ... +4^oC...in the 40's F....

The back 40 at the Captain's Corner today - ahhhhh - the great Canadian winters !

Monday, October 9, 2006

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and Columbus Day weekend in the United States ... lots to give thanks for, along with the usual family gatherings. We had family here at the house this year and the setting was glorious ... the leaves are just at their peak.

The back 40 at the Captain's Corner - leaves starting to turn !

The piping world has been unusually quiet as of late. Outside of the reports in the P&D about the November 11 AGM of the PPBSO, the results of the Nichol-Brown and the Bethleham contests, there has been very little on the go, as bands jockey for members and grading for the next year. Locally, the Grade 4 Braemar band has apparently been revamped with the departure of the Pipe Major. In office for less than a year, he has decided that this position wasn't right for him ... word has it that some players from the Braemar band might be going to the Hamilton Police Pipe Band this coming year. P/M Don Forgan is hinted at forming a Grade 4 operation there to compliment the existing Grade 5 and Grade 3 (or is that Grade 2) bands ... Only P/M Peter Aumonier knows for sure! In addition, the local Niagara Regional Police will also benefit by the Braemar restructuring by gaining new members. This should certainly make NRP more competitive in the Grade 2 circle next year.The Piper and Drummer On-Line is now www.pipesdrums.com  I wonder what the reason would be for changing the name of a piping publication icon ? My web browser still can't get used to the change ... at any rate, the new format of this site is excellent ... easy to navigate and visually pleasing.

Monday, October 2, 2006

The SUSPBA Workshop, Gulf  Breeze,  Florida, October 1, 2006

Now tell me - who wouldn't want to be in sunny Florida this time of the year? I am just back from a very successful weekend workshop offered by the SUSPBA in the Pensacola area of Florida. In attendance were some 35 pipers, 15 snare drummers and 10 bass/tenor drummers.... and according to the organizer, Michael Paige, a huge success ! The enthusiasm and interest shown by the partcipants (that came from as far away as Alabama) was most evident. Pipe bands in the panhandle area are definitely on the upswing and with weekends like this, the talent base is sure to improve. Sandy Keith of the SUSPBA must certainly be commended for this initiative. If my information serves me correctly, funding for each of the three Florida workshops has been generated through entry fees paid by competitors for the various games. What a great way to use the funds to improve your own players - sort of "charity begins at home!"...well done to all....

Pipe Major Sandy Keith - responsible for everything piping in Florida today. Since his immigration to the Dunedin area around 1980, Sandy has overseen the growth and successes of his Dunedin High School programs as well as the City of Dunedin Grade 2 and Grade 4 bands. He has ably sustained the Dunedin Highland Games and been instrumental through his executive roles with the SUSPBA in creating a vibrant musical and competitive atmosphere for all in the State of Florida. His foresight and drive have been instrumental in placing the south on the piping map. Keep up the great work, Sandy !