August 2015

NZPB OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND PIPE BANDS ASSOCIATION

ISSUE 03

AUGUST 2015

W W W.N ZPI PEB A N D S. O R G. N Z

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New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

NZPB OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND PIPE BANDS ASSOCIATION

ISSUE 03

W W W. N ZP I PE BAN DS.O R G.N Z

10 CONTENTS 5 6 18 26 30

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SHOTTS WIN HISTORIC WORLD TITLE Extensive coverage of the 2015 World Pipe Band Championships, including Kiwi perspectives.

EDITORIAL NEWS INTERNATIONAL SCENE CENTRE ROUND UP IN TUNE GIDDAY FROM OZ WHAT'S HAPPENING

KIWI BANDS AT THE WORLDS 14

On the cover: DM Jim Kilpatrick celebrates with PM Ryan Canning PHOTO CREDIT: Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia

We get the inside scoop from the New Zealand Police, St Andrew’s College and the Canterbury Caledonian Society on their trips to the 2015 World Pipe Band Championships.

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JIM SHEPHERD QSM

BILL ROBERTSON’S TUNE

A life time of service honoured.

Donald Maclean’s Farewell to Oban

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REBUILDING TRADITION

RISING STARS: SAM DARLING

Chris Stevens explains the rebuild of the Canterbury Caledonian Society hall.

NZPB takes a look at some of our rising piping and drumming stars.

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OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

REVIEWS

A&D in Spain.

Pibroch & Twisted Tradition

Apologies for the slight lateness of this magazine - the Editor has been in Scotland for five weeks and thus has found it hard to collate and edit the content as quickly as usual. Business back to normal for Issue 4!

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

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The Pipe Bands Foundation of New Zealand (Inc.) Foundation funds are almost entirely from membership and to increase our range of involvement with the pipe band movement we need your support.

The Foundation provides financial assistance to New Zealand bands in the following ways: RNZPBA Foundation Youth Band RNZPBA Summer School scholarship Foundation centre contest judges

New Zealand Championships contest committees Miscellaneous grants Become a member or make a donation. $250 full membership for life or $100 associate membership To become a member or contribute to the valuable work of the Foundation, please send your cheque with your name, address and email to the Foundation secretary, Mrs Jill Vincent, 44A Bella Rosa Drive, Christchurch 8042. Email jillvincent@xtra.co.nz.

For direct credits our account number is: 03 1592 0072087 00 You may like to consider regular automatic payments or making a bequest in your will. Give Jill a call for more details on 03 342 6447.

We welcome your support

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New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

WE ARE

NZPB THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND PIPE BANDS ASSOCIATION

Editor Liam Kernaghan Contributors Chris Stevens, Emmett Conway, Richard Smith, Graeme Bryce, Kerry Marshall, Allister MacGregor, Sheran Hancock, Josh Montgomerie, Kevin Sinclair, Jamie McEwan, Sandy Geyer, Ross Connolly, Stuart Maclachlan, Jenny Mair, Bill Robertson Design and Layout Liam Kernaghan

President Allister Macgregor Board Members Iain Blakeley Penny Wilson Executive Officer Karen Wilson Contests Group Leader Kerry Marshall Education Group Leader Sheran Hancock Promotions Group Leader Grant Carroll Finance/Admin Group Leader Murray Venables Pubs & Comms Group Leader Chris Stevens Subscription Rates: Domestic: $25 per four issues.

Australia/Pacific Islands: $35 per four issues.

Elsewhere: $45 per four issues.

Advertising Sales & Inquiries: Chris Stevens pubcom@nzpipebands.org.nz Letters and Contributions: Liam Kernaghan Editor, New Zealand Pipe Band 4a View Street Dunedin 9016 editor@nzpipebands.org.nz +64 27 341 5078 Fax: 03 344 1647 Production: Rainbow Print, Christchurch

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he World Pipe Band Championships is one of the most glorious events on earth. The spectacle of the two day event surpasses almost everything else we experience in pipe bands. The clockwork-like precision of the championships puts to shame our bizarre infatuation with strict time restraints and penalties, and the fact they manage to fit in 250+ bands into one day is surely a lesson for every organisation around the world. The performances throughout all the grades are stellar, and it is unfortunate the grade one championship is the only one broadcast – every grade in their own right deserves the same public exposure as them.

This is my sixth time at the worlds, and it never gets boring. The hype about the week before and the passion, emotion and rush of the day itself is what we live for. That 10-12 minutes of music that gets put on the ‘Green’ is in essence the culmination of a year’s hard work. And every band that gets there deserves to be there, and every performance is one that should be recognised.

Competition performances are certainly what motivates me. It’s the opportunity to showcase the work I’ve put in over a period of time, to set goals of achievement (whether it be to perform a new tune or to get through one I had struggled with previously), and to try and perform to the best of my ability. For me, my best performances are when I do not care about the result or think about the outcomes. It’s when I am entirely relaxed and composed, focussed on the variables I can control, and looking to achieve the goals I set myself. The worst performances are when I am focussed on a result or an outcome which I have no control over. This is a story I hear constantly throughout not only the pipe band world, but any competitive endeavour.

Of course success and results should be celebrated, and obviously we like to think that if we perform to our potential then something nice might come from it. But what should be celebrated just as much as the winner is success and progress. If

we constantly measure success by what prizes we get, we’ll never get better. And we’ll never be happy. And if we aren’t getting better, or happy, then what’s the point?

Roddy MacLeod - one of the most successful competitive pipers in history opined in the most recent Piping Today magazine about competitive versus performance piping. His conclusion is they’re not mutually exclusive, and both serve a purpose to the other. Competition is the most accessible and popular form of performance; performance is in and of itself what competition demands. But if we ignore the performance aspect of piping, we are in danger of seeing the competition side decline. Because ultimately, it will be those few who win, and those who do not will feel no part of competition.

What is hopefully obvious from the following pages is that results are entirely out of your control. No matter how well you play, and no matter how deserved you think you are of a prize, there are so many factors involved in performance and competition which are outside of your control. Each of the three bands didn’t win the Worlds, nor did they probably achieve every goal they set out. But as you’ll read they all found achievement and enjoyment in the fact their performances improved, they were better bands for the experience, and that the journey is certainly not over just because they didn’t ‘win’.

Summer is fast approaching, and bands are no doubt in the final touches of perfecting their music and sound. I hope EVERY band goes out with the mentality that any step up is a step in the right direction, and I hope the winners acknowledge those who do make that step up.

We can’t all be crowned a champion on the same day, in the same competition - that doesn’t mean we can’t all perform like one.

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

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NEWS

QSM FOR RNZPBA LIFE MEMBER “It was a nice surprise. They call it an honour and it is an honour.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Charlotte Curd/Fairfax NZ

im Shepherd had been around the world by the time he was seven, but it was the small Taranaki town of Inglewood that captured his heart.

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trusts, boards and community groups, Shepherd has been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to the community.

“I was born in Hong Kong, just before the war,” the 75-yearold said.

“It’s not something you expect, it sort of comes out of the blue. When I got the first letter and it was very official looking, I thought I’d done something wrong,” he said.

“My father was in the Hong Kong police. My mother and I were evacuated because the Japanese were moving down through China and it was getting a bit hot. Dad had to stay there for police duties and he was interned in a prisoner of war camp there for nearly four years.

“It was a nice surprise. They call it an honour and it is an honour. It is also a little bit flattering because I have since read the letters of support and, wow.

“He was from Scotland, mum was from England and we went back to England as the war ended. He was repatriated and when his health improved he’d go back to Hong Kong and resume duties.

“By the time I was seven I’d actually been right around the world. Then with his retirement looming, he didn’t see any future in Britain, so he’d heard good things about New Zealand and we arrived here January 1949.”

Jim Shepherd knew Auckland wasn’t for him, so he moved around a bit and eventually ended up in Taranaki, where he lived in Waitara and then settled in Inglewood and started to serve his community.

After decades of being involved in multiple organisations,

NEWS IN BRIEF Shelley and Stuart Easton welcome baby Rory Manawatu Scottish Pipe Sergeant Stuart Easton, and wife Shelley Easton, welcomed baby Rory Thomas Easton to the world on the 23rd of August 2015. Both Mum, Dad, Rory and Kate are doing tremendously.

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New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 2, 2015

“But I think of it as this isn’t just an award for me, it’s recognition of the hard work done by all of these community groups.”

The retired accountant has been a member of the Rotary Club of Inglewood since 1976 and has in that time held the roles of treasurer, secretary, assistant district governor, and president.

He has been a member of the New Plymouth Caledonian Pipe Band since 1964, and has held roles within the Taranaki Search Light Tattoo, the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Inglewood High School Trust and Board of Governors, Waitara Central and Inglewood Primary Board of Governors, Taranaki Gundog Society, and the Gordon Setter Club of New Zealand.

Stuff

Canterbury put on livestream performance Canterbury Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band put on a livestream open practice on the 26th of July at their newly opened band halls in Wigram. The band performed their entire competition repertoire for around about 80 people as well as over 600 people on the internet.

The Highland Piping Society of Canterbury ran an event the next

day for Greg Wilson, Jamie Hawke, William Rowe and Liam Kernaghan who all were competing in the Northern Hemisphere in August and September. This event was also livestreamed and attracted a similarly high viewership.

Send us your News in Brief

editor@nzpipebands.org.nz

PM ROSS WALKER STEPS DOWN

NEWS

“It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the band over the past 20 years”

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ipe Major Ross Walker officially stepped down from the leadership of Boghall and Bathgate after the 2015 World Pipe Band Championships, citing his need to “stop and just be a dad.”

arrangements and harmonies are all class - the band seems to have all the time in the world yet doesn’t sound laboured.

There’s been so much good material over the years, and it’s been a constant source of inspiration.”

“It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the band over the past 20 years and I am grateful for the support and trust I have been given by the many pipers, drummers, committee members, sponsors and supporters who have been involved with the organization in that time,” Walker said.

Under Walker’s tenure, Boghall won two European Championships and three Cowal Championships, and was almost always in the top-six at every RSPBA major. The band was second in the 2013 World Championships.

“Since I took the reins from my brother Craig at the end of 1995, we have achieved many things on the competition field and beyond and I will reflect on my time as pipe-major of the Boghall with great deal of pride.”

Ross Harvey, a longtime piper with the band and its current Pipe Sergeant, will take over the top spot. Walker had made the decision some three years ago, and has been preparing since that time, but had informed Harvey of his decision a year ago following the 2014 World’s, allowing Harvey to prepare himself for the transition.

Walker has been with the Boghall organization for 39 years, his first contest being Dunbar in 1977. He took over the leadership of the Grade One band in the middle of the 1996 competition season, following his brother, Craig.

“I will remain forever part of the organization, ready to help the guys in any way I can and I will be there to support Ross over the transition period so that the band is firing on all cylinders come the 2016 season. I look forward to watching the organization blossom as the next chapter of the Boghall story unfolds.”

Stewart McKenzie, Pipe Major of Manawatu Scottish and who played under Ross in 2004, said “Bands are all too often considered in terms of results alone however, and it’s been in a broader musical sense where Ross has made his mark and in my opinion created a unique and supremely musical Boghall style. His command of the dot/cut music in particular is superb, and you only have to listen to Boghall’s strathspeys from the Worlds this year to hear this in full effect. Ross’s

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New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 2, 2015

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PHOTO CREDIT: Marion Horsburgh

NEWS

BROWN CUP AT THE WPC

GEOFF HORE PASSES AWAY

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he piping and piobaireachd icon, Geoff Hore, passed away on the 29th of July 2015 in Auckland. He had been suffering from motor neurone disease for some time.

Geoff’s involvement in piping, especially piobaireachd, spans decades of study and practice. He won the Comunn Na Piobaireachd (NZ) Gold Medal in 1991 and won several other piobaireachd prizes during his time. He travelled to Scotland on several occassions, meeting up to learn and discuss piobaireachd with his modern contemporaries of the study.

In decades of collecting pipe music books, Geoff had amassed a vast collection of works and there were very few editions he did not possess, some of them very rare. In the last few years he had been working on updating Roderick Cannon‘s seminal, work ‘A Bibliography of Bagpipe Music’ and transferring it to the internet.

One of the many people who spent significant time with him, Robert Wallace (of pipingpress.com) said Geoff was a “wonderful, warm, enthusiastic man, instantly likeable with infectious humour. His passing is a loss to piping but, like Roderick, he left a significant body of work from which we will continue to benefit and which will serve as a memorial to this dedicated servant of piping.”

Geoff was a contributor to this magazine on several occassions, with some of his greatest work being on the histories of New Zealand composers. Geoff’s legacy will be one of study and education, and something future generations are sure to benefit from.

A fuller obituary and thanks to Geoff will appear in the next edition of NZPB.

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New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

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mmett Conway emerged as the winner of the MSR/ SA/HJ competition at the Wellington Piper’s Club Brown Cup competition. Stuart Easton won the Piobaireachd. John Hanning and Ross Hanning officiated in the field which primarily came from the Wellington region.

MSR/SA/HJ 1st Emmett Conway 2nd Stuart Easton 3rd Iain Robertson 4th Robert Gibb Piobaireachd 1st Stuart Easton 2nd Iain Robertson 3rd John Decker 4th Robert Gibb

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NEWS

POTTER NEW LD OF MANAWATU

EASTON TAKES DUNEDIN PHOTO CREDIT: Shiobhan Smith/ P&D

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tuart Easton emerged as the overall A Grade champion at the annual Queens Birthday Weekend Solo Piping competitions in Dunedin. Greg Wilson won the Premier Former Winner’s Double MSR, and Graeme Bryce won the qualifying event. Barry Brougham, Nigel Foster and Peter McLean adjudicated the weekend.

Otago Piper’s Club Former Winner’s MMSSRR 1st Greg Wilson 2nd Liam Kernaghan 3rd Graeme Bryce Qualifying MSR 1st Graeme Bryce 2nd Donella May 3rd Robert Gibb A Grade Piobaireachd 1st Stuart Easton 2nd Greg Wilson 3rd Liam Kernaghan 4th Willie Rowe A Grade 2/4 March 1st Liam Kernaghan 2nd Greg Wilson 3rd Stuart Easton 4th Willie Rowe

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The Grade 1 Manawatu Scottish has decided that a trip to the 2015 World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow isn’t in the cards due to budget constraints and, coinciding with the decision, announced that Leading-Drummer Graeme Parker has stepped down, giving way to South African Gary Potter.

Gary Potter takes over from Parker, according to Pipe Major Stewart McKenzie. Potter had been a member of the Grade 1 Western Australia Police Pipe Band of Perth, Australia, since 2013, and before that a member of the Grade 2 Benoni Mactalla of South Africa. He also played with the Grade 1 ScottishPower in Glasgow in 2006-07, where he also taught drumming at the National Piping Centre, and also previously played for the Grade 1 Auckland & Districts in New Zealand.

“Manawatu is a fantastic band and it was an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Potter said. “The management and players have made me feel like a member of their family. I’m looking forward to the challenge of running the Manawatu drum corps and hope to continue the good work Graeme has done over the past five years.”

As for missing the World’s, it ends the band’s streak that started in 2003 of attending the contest every other year.

He added that Graeme Parker had planned to remain as lead-drummer had the band been able to attend the 2015 World’s.

Sources close to the band say Potter plans to move to New Zealand at some stage, but will remain in Perth at this stage.

Send us your News!

editor@nzpipebands.org.nz

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

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FEATURE

2015 WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS DEBRIEF

SHOTTS AND DYKEHEAD

REIGN SUPREME After ten years jumping between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the RSPBA Jubilee Trophy and Banner have returned to home soil. Shotts & Dykehead – exactly a decade later after completing the feat – regained the top honour in glorious fashion on the 15th of August at Glasgow Green, winning both the March, Strathspey and Reel and Medley events from runnersup St Laurence O’Toole (Eire) who won the drumming in both events. Inveraray and District jostled with St Laurence O’Toole for third, tying with them on points but being relegated to third on ensemble preference in the MSR. The reigning world champions, Field Marshal Montgomery (NI), had to settle for fourth despite winning the piping conclusively on points. Simon Fraser University (Canada) and ScottishPower rounded off the top six.

People’s Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia were 7th, Greater Glasgow Police Pipe Band 8th, Police Scotland Fife 9th, Canterbury Caledonian Society 10th, Dowco Triumph Street 11th and 78th Highlanders Halifax 10 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 2, 2015

Citadel rounded off the 12 band final.

Shotts’ victory has special significance for New Zealand.

Several of their players have competed either with New Zealand bands at the Worlds, or have travelled to New Zealand to compete with a band at the Nationals. These include Pipe Major Ryan Canning and Megan Canning (Canterbury), Mattthew Supranowicz (Manawatu), Andrew Lawson (City of Wellington), and Andrew Clark (Canterbury).

In the other grades, Johnstone Pipe Band from Scotland won the Grade Two event, besting Bleary and District and the Police Service of Northern Ireland for the top spot. Annsborough and Colmcille took Grade 3A and 3B respectively, while Dollar Academy reclaimed the Juvenile title. St Andrew’s College (NZ) had to settle for fifth in a very competitive grade. Major Sinclair Memorial and Portavogie won Grade 4A and 4B, and George Watson’s College from Edinburgh won the Novice Juvenile award.

FEATURE

PHOTO CREDIT: Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 2, 2015 11

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he “Worlds” began on an overcast and FEATURE chilly Glaswegian Friday morning. Not a drop of moisture around, but the intensity was palpable. 22 bands were competing for just 12 spots – and while some might profess to know there were only one or two spots available in each heat, everyone on the park knew every place was up for grabs; everyone was playing well, and everyone was deserved of a spot in that final. As the rain threatened even further, bands began their preparation for the qualifying heats.

Dowco and the 78th Fraser Halifax make tracks towards the same ideal spot for tuning up, but only one wins.

Other bands jostle throughout the day to get the perfect position away from the wind, or the crowds, or the burger bars.

For those who don’t know how the Grade One Qualifier works, here’s a very quick run down. The bands are split into two heats based on their placings at the previous World Championships.

The bands then play both an MSR and Medley for two panels of judges. Each heat alternates between those panels.

At the end of the day, six bands from each heat progress to the final to make a 12 band spectacle on the Saturday.

Each band is allocated a position in the draw based on where they were in their qualifiers. Twelve were summarily drawn from the 22 that played that day, and a nervous and anxious night beckoned for some.

Saturday turned on a magnificent morning. Whilst a little cold, the sun shone down on the Juvenile bands who had the unenviable task of playing at 9am. St Andrew’s College drew sixth on in the Juvenile event and performed admirably for a relatively new band.

The crowd cheered as they finished the sixth part of the ‘Brown Haired Maid’. The Juveniles then made way for Alex Gandy’s 78th Halifax band from Nova Scotia who begun the grade one contest. Canterbury Caledonian had played their Balmoral Highlander’s MSR on the Friday, so had to play the other MSR – consisting of Clan McRae Society, Blair Drummond, and John Morrison of Assynt House – on this day. They gained a 6th and an 8th in piping for their efforts and many good compliments from the crowd. Of the bands in the MSR, Shotts and Dykehead, St Laurence O’Toole, Inveraray and District, Field Marshal Montgomery, Simon Fraser 12 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

University and People’s Ford Boghall and Bathgate finished in the top sixth.

Canterbury settled for eighth.

The medley was a different story.

Lunchtime brought the Novice Juvenile contest and a bout of rain.

The rain continued to threaten into the afternoon as the finalists once again battled against the conditions and the crowds to get the best position for tuning. Field Marshal had the run of their lives, Inveraray played out of their skins, Shotts put on a tremendous performance, and St Laurence O’Toole put on a stunning rendition of their Scottish Championship winning medley.

All the bands had to do now is wait… and wait and bake they did in the Scottish sun. Simon Fraser University were perhaps a little weaker in the medley

than the MSR, and ScottishPower managed to put on a powerful medley which just bested People’s Ford Boghall and Bathgate for the sixth place spot.

The word around the park was one of confusion. Had Field Marshal Montgomery actually got an 8th in drumming? Had they been sunk so low they’d not only be out of the top prize, but out of the top three for the first time at the Worlds since 1997? Would Simon Fraser make the same amazing comeback they did in 1995 from the same seventh placing they received in 1994? Would St Laurence O’Toole be good enough to best Field Marshal yet again this season? Would Ross Walker be given that prize he always dreamed of in his last act as Pipe Major?

All Photos: BBC Pipeline/Fergus Muirhead

As all who have attended the Worlds can attest, the longest and most painstakingly tense moment is the march past and the results. No band is left without feelings of anxiety, hope, dreams, and terror. Ian Embleton, the man who must spend hours rehearsing his lines for his big moment, steps up to the podium. And then, those eight words every one waits for….

it’s time for the big one. And the crowd goes silent in anticipation.

“World Pipe Band Championships 2015…. Junior Drum Majors.”

But you’ve heard enough from us.

Hear what it’s like to be there from our three New Zealand bands who have all thankfully shared their impressions and experiences of the 2015 World Pipe Band Championships.

Bands from around the world get called up and celebrate heavily. St Andrew’s College go across to Dollar Academy and congratulate them on their back-toback World titles, as well as their grand slam, in a sign of their mateship which traverses borders and seas. And then,

As is known by all now, Shotts and Dykehead claimed the top prize and marched victoriously off the park to supporters. St Laurence O’Toole joined them in a sign of camaraderie and share with them a drum salute or two and a fine ale or three.

St Andrew’s College appears on page 27 due to design constraints.

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 13

FEATURE

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The lo couple hour outsid ed but at le e famous S ampionship iv th to ch rr h a r it d o ’t n w ri a sn p r B a e d h ban carry weath gage Ulster Pipe ent in their at their lug tion for the ll m a p th h ip ce rt u rs a o q re p e M a e re e ic ld s ld guy and Fie ayor he settle th b and pract M c to ld si o u y a r y m d u M ir to fo e on. ions s the they had th e competiti aining sess urites and a g bagpipes th tr in vo g o fa n e ri Tw ly b th in . is a e re rt s ry we on luggag e big issue ions they ce -pitching’ Montgome . One of th lt of inter to ‘re orld champ w w su re g in in ll d n n ra ig la instruments ve a re time New Ze . An o e in re g ig d tour! in e e in p a th ir to te. from tr proved the a great start erent clima s iff a d w g on e d n th n ri a e b to b lum them 3rd for our lfast before e ow B n sg e t la d G is d r M so u ner in ed at o - Scotch in b D st u to g y u ll A a 5 n and fi Wednesday . Had to to the ferry o rehearsals tw r ! fo . m g m a u in 5 asi orn digs at ersity gymn again this m n to the univ floor generates Scotch Mist io ss se ay off? n o o ftern ust - what d wooden g a u n A st o o 9 ts y move the a lm n a a e d m cy Sun me sical instru sical accura guys but so 30 odd mu At least t makes mu a s! th e e ch m a off for the d lu a y e ttle a vo h d f se s o a e d d rt te e n te so lp ! the ell I wan ning he ost guara we need n W lm la ch a p it d p d n e n a a th ach fing to digest impossible arting to re uiet debrie the chance st q k o re a to ts s y n u e g The some new the instrum untry my nerves! ay and put rd co tu ld a o S e m th o gs fr week. Lots rld in the learnin the coming st - New Wo u r g s fo u A ce 6 la y p a e handshake d of Thursd processes in nd welcom with a ban a , a g e li in m ra o iv st h rr u a g A , band’s is very - comin , France p re A is u o S th ro m U g e e ce th n th e m d eri an nds fro laxed A new exp r over here from old frie ey are as re nd is popula th a b e p e o th Africa. h Th I ! o g S is s. in kiw dia and u on train In rrounding ll su fu se f e o th s e: relaxed in r three day at a local - Piping Liv days! Afte am dinner 10 August te y t a a d n re le o g ib M a on contest ss d o ha week sees nigh on imp ning we all egians are mpionships and fine tu lts are a sw su la ch G re d e rl t. o n th w ra d e 00 events stau ist an Each year th alive with more than 2 mexican re cals! I mexican tw lo a ly e d d th a t h u it e b w m nd joke approximate Glasgow co to understa There are sure like to erstand? n d is . w n g w o u in ki ir to ip e se p th m e e g at have lebratin gh for th th u ce d to hilarious! Th rl s o a w is e se t owca s s in th y accen iping Live! sh other 20 countrie P wonder if m d n a s e ip e bagp but all of th alone traditional ttish pipes We are not ited to co v S st in u e g s th u a A ly w 7 n not o Pipe NZPPB Friday y it e rs ly Th e iv . n ll U e n w and ot on Fraser variants as ay and celebration the Simon d ! s m to w ve o e n Li fr n o g s ti C a d B in n d B ie nd live n the Pip ccommo a a e d s p e re w o a th Our good fr ie p t rv re a p s’ te d s we ncert media in da) arrive ‘moving co our band a completed Band (Cana first set of ed around the coming e e rm art of a th e av h h d sw y e le e ly t th ems bu rough ons. Th ces it ti n th immediate ti e e y ri p a e w m xp e co ir ming share d the quare. ting that snake us George S if for the upco e chance to o sh th m e y fa th e jo r n th e e st to ff so pipes to ma eck Glasgow city weekend o e pesky bag uniform ch th d p n u a l g a in rs tt a start with se full rehe for an early nditions. A reparation p f Scottish co o y a d t a busy rounded ou . coming up 14 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

FEATURE

rtets

st - the Qua

Augu Tuesday 11

e excellent dy with som rve well a e st ry ve th eld their ne d today, bo up. They h runs we ha ro g g ith its huge n u yo this ain arena w m e Th ve to playing by s. d the show li huge crow s beaming ra e rong! in front of m st ca p u C B d am stoo all the B d te n e a th s t d u n b a st cker a knee kno the world is

ge in olice Colle ft at the P ra tion g ra a rd p a h re f p r onths o ips into m sl e m 5th - bugge a th te w e o N nd Saturday 1 ad. Four of off as th e y h a a p s y to igh as 7th a a d rt a nge ing us as h e tough few Porirua st e av ll e h a th s th e ch e r id g ts fo d ts e u d ju and o settle of the nal quart th e o 5 ti 1 m a . s so u rn ry e d te ra a it mode well in ly h ve n res uge Desp m In a team for a ed final sco improved h quartet fro us made up our combin g the band this and behind the th n 9 ehind h ti h b tc is in s a n o d fi p w n p l a a il p to oried b hile dis year I w st W e xt . e m 2 n tonight. A 1 so k p ft in to le team we and ad but I th vious year use as a new ad! re ca e p e st b e Hmm, not b in h th g n n u e o o st ads th will be back a wee li o bowed he xt year we e N N .

I enjoy being m t. e o th sh s t k Personally Drin a grea mming for we gave it ar’s lessons! ru w to D ye o in is kn st ck th u u g m u st t 12 A better fro land and ge ional Wednesday and all the to New Zea er and the is a tradit ck m a m b e t tr su e n d g e n C to la a d d it e n d a Z a w To w d ’t e rl n ’s N ca the y accent e wo University e band for all over th e by then m th b m g y rs o a n e fr ri M m a Strathclyde . s p m n d re ru n ig p a d pa int for b ’s the pesky champs cam ch! meeting po re the world ge where next world fo u n e e m b ll a y so a ch m sd e g e e nfuse th drummin th co ” e every wedn ’t d is n e v o rr ro w a p b d im holds s a noise an m have a “no g that make German dru in ck th a y n cr a e sh Th ir s! e te th lu they ba sa ak from geous drum aking a bre (t ) t” o e o cr tt most outra e Ta S itary named “Top inburgh Mil d E e th e th corps aptly in t a 8 2 s ormances an uniform nightly perf lack bavari b ir e th ! in y wa turned up everyone a - and blew drum corps es! s, what nerv ust - nerve g u A 3 1 y a d Thursd of the worl e other end d th n t a a h g g u n they la are amazi ps and yet y e m a th These kiwis d ch n d A rl ! o tinually r the w n fo co g r n e ri a th st p o la pre e each to watch th al jokes on rk out how o play practic orries w w o to n g e in av lly try ies! I h ss u a e is th are frantica st a ain est I m ke up game ag every requ s a za iz h P g Bledisloe C u . o attitude th o problems” from about their “sure” or “n ly d n ie st wishes fr a h ading of be re e greeted wit th me and d n a dinner ily from ho r m fo fa r e d e n b a d s an iversity! friend n Fraser Un executive, o im ce S li o m P o e fr th tors ur competi even from o rlds day ugust - Wo re Friday 14 A pionships a World Cham r! We have e th t a th a mon joke ut not this ye grade one It is a com the rain - b r er fo th t o e 3 n 2 g a st ete again p always a m m co tomorrow to a ts l even r the fin ls fo g in fy li two musica a u q d with both the top 12 was delighte I s. st bands with te l r two musica and anothe

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 15

FEATURE

T

he Canterbury Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band (or as the Scots refer to it as “Canterbury Caledonia”) has now travelled to Glasgow for The Worlds for five of the last six years. As other New Zealand grade one bands have discovered before us, to achieve on that world stage is all about building up your brand and reputation over a period of time.

Although the main core of the Band membership is based in Christchurch the touring group of 39 come together from various other places – two from Dunedin, three from Auckland, two from Melbourne, one from Brisbane, one from China and three based in Scotland. Other than the last four, the rest of the group had had the opportunity to gather in Christchurch on a number of occasions over the NZ winter for weekend practices, including one practice that was live streamed around the world, so it was not exactly a “cold start” when arriving in Scotland.

Friday 7 August – An advanced party of members (some playing solos in Scotland and Lorient and others as tutors with St Andrews College) were in Scotland, however the main tour group departed on the (now familiar) Emirates flight EK419 flight to Sydney, then Dubai, then Glasgow. All up about 26 hours in planes, spread over 36 hours.

Saturday 8 August – We arrived in Glasgow and bussed through to Stirling University. After arrival all of the drums were pulled out of cases and checked to see that they travelled in one piece and pipers had an individual blow on their pipes to “see how they were sitting”. After 5 minutes of this there was a complaint from a Serbian post graduate student to the University caretaker about the noise. His response was “you’re in Scotland woman!”.

Sunday 9 August – Bus trip to Perth for the day to attend the Highland games there. We had not entered but were there to listen to and support St Andrews College, hear a few grade one performances (Inverary & District in particular was of interest) and then we headed off and had our first good practice of the trip. Calm and overcast conditions and the pipes came out of the box singing – all in all everyone was pretty happy with that as a “first crack”.

Monday 10 August – We moved to our Glasgow accommodation – the Queen Margaret Residence Halls at Glasgow University. This is in the West End of Glasgow and is conveniently placed near a great range of “establishments” in and around Byers Road and also close to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens which is a great practice venue. That afternoon we travelled to the Killermont Bowling Club for a practice. How did we end up there one might ask? In 2014 on our first day in Glasgow it was pouring with rain and we were struggling to find an indoor venue. One of our Scottish based pipers knew a mate who knew a mate who was the president of the “KBC” and made a call and they said we could use their clubhouse as a practice venue. Acoustically it was “adequate” however what found more favour last year was the Bowling Club prices at the bar afterwards!. The hospitality of the Club is exceptional and it is fair to say it is now likely to be an annual visit for us for a practice and then “social hour” near the start of our trip.

Tuesday 11 August – A big day in the uniform and on the feet. Each year as part of the Piping Live Festival bands do a street parade down Buchanan Street and, this year, finishing in George Square with a half hour concert programme. All up it takes about 2 hours and this year we started just after midday. There was a flurry of activity at the start with capes going on and coming off again as the Glasgow summer threatened (as it normally does) – in the end the capes weren’t needed but one of our supporters can testify to the fact that forty odd capes stuffed into a base drum case and being wheeled down a street mall in Glasgow is actually quite hard work! This was the band’s first opportunity to roll out competition pieces in front of a very good crowd in George Square. We later learned there was five or six judges who would be judging us at Glasgow Green having a quiet listen to the performance . . . clearly some people wanted to know what this crowd from NZ was doing this year. Later that afternoon we headed back to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens for a full practice and what turned out to be very pleasant late afternoon conditions. All in all a big day, but a very constructive one.

Wednesday 12 August – A free morning this morning and then, quite simply practice 1pm – practice 4.30pm. This was the first day that we in fact had the entire group together – prior to that Jamie Hawke and Liam Kernaghan had been competing at Lorient in France and had flown in the night before. They both achieved some excellent results – Liam finishing 5th overall, with a 4th in the ‘Scottish’ section and a 3rd in the ‘Breton’ section, and Jamie finishing 10th overall with a 7th in the ‘Scottish’ and 9th in the ‘Breton’. Each year the band holds a “Worlds Dinner” prior to the Championships. This year we were hosted at the Hilton where we had our own private room, a personalised two course set menu and it was a great opportunity to relax with a few speeches – band chairman “Hector” took this as an opportunity to “roast” the new members of the band and Pipe Major Richard Hawke and Drum Sergeant James Laughlin thanked a few people for their input into the trip but most importantly left us with some motivational thoughts for the next few days ahead.

16 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

Thursday 13 August – Much the same today – free morning, practice in the gardens 1pm, practice in the gardens 4.30pm. Summer had well and truly arrived in Glasgow – temperatures in the early 20’s and clearly the Glaswegians saw this as a rarity. There were hundreds of people sitting, playing and some even listening on the lawns and with the Pipes n Drums website having promoted these practice times on the website there was even a few knowledgeable spectators recording (and posting!)………..and as it turns out making some favourable comments. Roll on the qualifiers!

FEATURE

Friday 14 August – We now have a pretty set routine for competition day in Glasgow. We get everyone together for breakfast (again at The Hilton!) and take the bus to Glasgow Green from there. Everyone has an initial half hour or so to wander around and “get the feel”. We then come together for build-up ……….. for the pipers it’s all about one thing – sound, sound, sound. Everyone knows what we are playing (there is no drawing for the line) and so it’s into the MSR and medley for the grade one qualifier. In the end, two solid performances and as Pipe Major Hawke commented when interviewed by BBC given the band had not played in a competition since New Zealand National Championships in March we were pretty happy with both runs. In the end the results confirmed that – we safely finished 6th in what was clearly the strongest qualifying heat – on the bus, a quiet night and do it all again tomorrow!

Saturday 15 August – Same routine as the day before, again we know what we are playing (we simply play the alternate MSR and medley from the previous day) however clearly there is a lot more at stake and with a big crowd watching everyone needs to be on their game. Again, two solid runs and we were particularly pleased with the 8th placing in the MSR. We thought our run on the medley board was quite good also, particularly given it was actually its first run out on the competition board! At the end of the day, another top 10 finish for the Cale and we are pretty proud of that, particularly given the definite step up in the level of performances across the entire top 12. We were fortunate that our band tent was right next to where Shotts and SLOT were based so at 7.30 pm to see Shotts march straight up into the tent arena with the Worlds trophy out the front and play out their medley, then to be followed by Stephen Creighton, in his sash, taking the SLOT core through a drum fanfare ……….what a thrill.

Sunday 16 August – a slow start for most, check out and pack up, last minute shopping for family, weigh all the luggage to see if we will be able to avoid shipping the drums home (after initially being threatened with a £920 excess baggage charge at the airport we got Emirates to settle for a hug!)…………and some even made it to the Park Bar (for tradition!) then another 36 hour plane marathon – but with the Shotts medley still ringing in our ears, we know why we keep doing this.

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 17

THE INTERNATIONAL News and Results from around the World

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dominant their corps has been all season.

FIELD MARSHALL ON TOP NO MORE St Laurence O’Toole and Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia have taken scalps this season as Field Marshal’s winning streak is once again put to rest.

St Laurence O’Toole won the final major before the World Championships in August, taking the Scottish Championships at Dumbarton. St Laurence O’Toole’s drum corps continues to dominate as they win the drumming prizes.

Shotts and Dykehead - as you will have already read elsewhere in this magazine - took the coveted World title off Field Marshal for the first time since 2005. Field Marshal have won consectuvie titles from 2011 until last year, and were keen favourites leading into the day. St Laurence O’Toole once again won the drumming in both events, showing how

18 New Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 18 NewZealand Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 2, 2015

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RODDY MCLEOD WINS MASTERS Perennial favourite of many pipers around the world, Roddy McLeod of Glasgow won the PipingLive! Masters Invitational contest.

Roddy won the piobaireachd with ‘The Earl of Ross’s March’. Stuart Liddell won the MSR. The Masters contest automatically gives the winner entry to the 2015 Glenfiddich Piping Championships at Blair Castle.

78TH FRASERS - NORTH AMERICAN 3 CHAMPIONS

The 78th Fraser Highlanders won the 2015 North American Pipe Band Championships at the annual Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville.

The band won both MSR an Medley events, just besting the Ottawa Police Pipe Band for the title.

The Frasers won the drumming.

SCENE

FACTS AND FIGURES 6

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Medley 1st 78th Fraser Highlanders (ens. pref.) (3,3,1,1) 2nd Ottawa Police Service (1,1,2,4) 3rd Peel Regional Police (4,2,3,2) 4th Toronto Police (2,4,4,3) Judges: Glenna MacKay-Johnstone, Bob MacCrimmon (piping); Greg Dinsdale (drumming); John Fisher (ensemble) MSR 1st 78th Fraser Highlanders (ens. pref.) (3,3,1,1) 2nd Toronto Police (2,1,2,3) 3rd Ottawa Police Service (1,2,4,2) 4th Peel Regional Police (4,4,3,4) Judges: John Wilson, Andrew Berthoff (piping); Michael Hunter (drumming); Bob Worrall (ensemble).

The record number of successive World Pipe Band Championships that Strathclyde Police won from 1981 through to 1986. The 78th Fraser Highlanders were the band to break their streak.

1380 was the first time the bagpipe was mentioned in popular literature. A direct quote from the Canterbury Tales reads thus: “A Baggepype wel coude he blowe and sowne/And ther-with-al he broghte us out of towne”

500 The number of bagpipers approximately killed in World War 1.

1925 The year Alex Duthart and Duncan Johnstone were born.

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DOWCO BEST SFU AT FINAL

Dowco Triumph Street bested SFU in the piping at the Pacific Northwest Pipe Band Championships in Seattle. Dowco won the piping in the MSR and Medley on the Sunday, losing on ensemble preference to SFU in both events. The Western Canadian scene seems to be strengthening every year, and the two dominant grade one bands pushing each other higher and higher.

5

ED NEIGH PASSES AWAY Ed Neigh, a major influence on piping in North America, died suddenly on August 8th, in his seventy-first year. Known and beloved as a teacher, adjudicator and dedicated student of piobaireachd, he played a major role in shaping the piping and pipe band community in his native Ontario.

The Flame of Wrath for Squinting Patrick Patrick (or Peter) Caog was Donald Mor MacCrimmon’s brother. He had an issue with one eye - hence the squinting. At the time of the terrible event, Peter was in a quarrel with his foster brother, a Mackenzie from Kintail. One day, when Peter was on a walk in the hills of Kintail, he stopped to take a drink from a burn (stream). At this point, he was ruthlessly stabbed and killed by said step brother.

Donald Mor, being the protective and loving brother, went to confront said Mackenzie from Kintail.

Mackenzie had heard this, and fled to the hills. Donald Mor took refuge in the hills close to Kintail and hid until night-time.

When night-time came, the Mackenzies reported hearing screams and great flames from the edge of their town.

Donald Mor had burnt 18 houses down. In the middle, was Donald Mor playing a piobaireachd. It was later entitled “The Flame of Wrath for Squinting Patrick”.

We are always wanting people to contribute to our magazine content. If you have tidbits you’d like to add to this page, feel free to get in contact! editor@nzpipebands.org.nz Zealand Pipe Band | Issue2,3,2015 2015 19 19 New New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue

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20 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

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OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

FEATURE

While three New Zealand bands attended the World Pipe Band Championships, one did something a little out of the ordinary. SANDY GEYER reports on Auckland & District’s trip to Spain, and to the Festival Interclticu in Avilés.

D

ay One begins at 8am in Madrid on Tuesday 21st July 2015, as the last travellers of the group arrive to meet the tour bus. A five hour journey to the festival facilitates the first full group practices on chanters, pads and bus seats as the beauty of the Spanish countryside glides by.

The Spanish town of Avilés, host of the festival, with its roots deeply entrenched in Celtic history, delivers a cheerful Spanish born interpreter with an Irish accent, to meet our group. We are delighted to see that New Zealand is well represented on his official festival T-shirt with a silver fern and stars on the back. The men and women of the group are divided upon arrival into two small dormitories, each with communal bathrooms. However, no time for a shower as we begin our first performance, jetlag in tow, with four fifteen minute sessions in a row to start the festival, amidst a flurry of media interest. The heat soaks our uniforms and our one allocated laundry day seems very far off.

The first Spanish word learned is, “ cerveza” (beer), which is practiced and perfected early to ward off the heatstroke. Both dormitories emit a cacophony of snoring when all members eventually trail back from the first night of introductions at a local pub, its owner eager to adopt our group.

Day Two opens to a struggle through the lingering effects of extended travel and a physically demanding first performance to lead our next scheduled parade through the centre of town at midday. Our interpreter proudly displays the local newspapers which have published a collage of pictures from the previous evening’s performances. An afternoon siesta offers us a short recovery time before meeting for a chanter practice at 4pm to prepare for the high point of our visit; an evening hour- long concert. Another pipe band, from the Isle of Cumbrae Scotland, arrives whilst we are dressing.

They are scheduled to assist with the many performances of the festival for the week. At 9pm, we take the centre stage, performing a wide variety of tunes to an appreciative crowd. The drumming and piping solos are stirring and our pipe sergeant steals the show with an awe inspiring solo performance. The crowd shrieks its approval at the speed of his fingers, but he shrugs off the praise and comments, “my lips were tiring so I sped the heck up”.

Day Three offers a welcome relief to our busy schedule so far with a full day to roam the town before our evening performances. No longer able to stand next to ourselves, we bypass the laundry waiting list to wash our shirts in the showers. A group of 20 Irish dancers also arrive at the dormitories on day three, much to the delight of the men in the group. The women are slightly less delighted to find six giggling girls to every mirror and shower in the communal bathroom, but it’s lovely to have the added cultural dynamic to the performers and a whole new group of interesting people.

Day Four honours us with an invitation to visit the Town Hall of Avilés to meet with the town’s leaders at midday. Our 3 anthems set: Waltzing Mathilda, Nkosi Sikelele Africa and God Defend New Zealand, is well received by the audience gathered outside in the town square and appropriate to our band of Kiwis with Australian and South African guests. At lunch, a spontaneous singing and drumming session breaks out across the tables of the total of 160 performers, reminding us of how easily the magic of music can transcend all language barriers. Our only free evening of the week ensues to afford us the opportunity to watch the other performers, including Galacian, Austurian and Bretana acts, all from other Spanish regions surrounding Avilés.

Day Five sees us embark on a short bus ride in the late afternoon, along with the Irish dancers and other Spanish groups to perform in a nearby town. A long street march connects two venues where we entertain a small but grateful audience before meeting again in central Avilés for our evening performance. Our on-stage time is set for 1.30am, which has some of the group digging deep to stay awake.

Day Six is siesta day and we prepare for our final performance and last opportunity to enjoy our new friendships. As our interpreter has now flown back to Ireland, we manage with creative hand gestures to be in all the right places at the right time, joining all other performers on the centre stage in the finale performance. We all put down our instruments and join hands to dance in a long line around the stage set and audience to end the festival officially. Our last performers’ dinner is an exchange of thank you’s between performers and hosts and we hit the town as a now mixed group, many only making it back to the dormitories in time to pack and board the bus back to Madrid airport.

The ride back to Madrid is a silent one, mostly of exhausted sleep and somewhat sad contemplation. It is often said that what we experience most when we are out of our comfort zone is growth. However, amidst the cramped sleeping quarters, the long and numerous performances, the heat, and the long nights, we have experienced so much more. We have all experienced a deep sense of camaraderie and connection, between the members and guests of the band, our fellow performers and our Spanish hosts.

As guests, we are thankful for the privilege and believe that New Zealand can be immensely proud of its representation at the Spanish Festival of Avilés by The Auckland and District Pipe band, led by Pipe Major Benjamin McLaughlin, with a distinctive sense of Kiwi pride, support and delivery.

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 21

FEATURE

Fortunately, and following the first round of tremors in September 2010, the rear of the premises had been strengthened with stainless steel rods drilled vertically through brickwork then fixed in place with epoxy resin, because on 22 Feb 2011, there were a couple of dozen people in the rear rooms who could well have suffered terribly had that part of the hall collapsed.

Post-quake, the various activity Groups continued on with their week by week, month and month, and even year by year functions. Dancers danced in myriad venues; bands practiced in venues spread as wide as the city, and many of the Society’s precious possessions were withdrawn to seemingly permanent storage. It was without doubt – a very difficult time.

Yet the various groups had significant successes during this time, despite the adversity. In terms of the pipe band movement, the Society’s Grade 1 band probably had the most dramatic rise, having since been NZ Champions for four successive years, but also, the Grade 4 band has achieved the status of top NZ band in the grade, the Juvenile band has placed an extraordinarily close 2nd to St Andrews College, and the Grade 3 band was promoted to Grade 2.

REBUILDING

TRADITION I

’m well aware that the past decade, in our wee South Pacific paradise, has thrown many challenges in the faces of inhabitants, but in the big picture, the destruction of a major city has to rate with a high degree of significance.

Readers may recall an article in the May 2011 issue of NZ Pipeband, where the damage or collapse of a number of Christchurch band halls was documented, the most dramatic being that of the Canterbury Caledonian Society hall in Kilmore Street, which was completely decimated, leaving four bands, Highland & National Dance, and Scottish Country Dance troupe’, a huge Collections & Archives contribution, and a substantial general membership, without a home.

CHRIS STEVENS reports

22 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

The point here is that the Society, despite having lost its premises, proved to be more about the people than just bricks and mortar. The passage of time however would demonstrate a challenge to that solidarity, and although the long term plan was always to replace the lost hall, there became a degree of urgency to find a new home, and to bring the Society and its members back under one roof.

The total collapse of the Kilmore Street premises posed a couple fundamental challenges, and included in the first instance, negotiation with insurance companies to ensure the losses were adequately recognised, and thereafter, appropriately recompensed. Despite insurance payments, the Society’s greatest asset was uninsurable, and that was the land upon which the Hall sat for just shy of 90 years. For those not of the region, land isn’t insurable, so disposing of the land was an essential part of the Society’s future and longevity.

The second essential component to the longevity plan was, assuming the land could be sold, to find a suitable replacement, as either an existing

structure, or indeed a new building.

The prospect of starting from absolute scratch was tabled, but the reality was that time had already passed, and embarking on such a project would have strained the fabric of the Society to the point the option was considered untenable.

Country dancers. We were building on a concrete floor, so attention had to be paid to a floor covering that was smart yet durable, but above all, reduced impact when danced upon. The second

And so the quest began for premises that could be effectively converted to suit our needs. Our scouts quickly found a potential site in an industrial area of Wigram in the western quadrant of the city. It was a large commercial coldstore with attached administration area, and a number of out-buildings including a commercial bakery. An initial inspection by a small number of the Society’s directors generated a level of excitement, so after quite some debate around the purchase and the yet to be completed sale of the Kilmore Street land, the decision was made to purchase the property, and commence a full redevelopment.

The project began in August 2014 and included significant structural enhancement, including hundreds of tonnes of steel and concrete to bring the building up to 100% of the building compliance code – even before the significant inclusion of essential items such as performance stage, acoustic considerations, floating wooden floor, heating and air conditioning, and a host of other facilities.

The alterations required to transition from industrial grade cold storage to a what is effectively a performing arts Centre were substantial, and required the removal of existing partitions in the administration area to make way for two substantial, and the removal of outbuildings and appendages, but the plan was solid, and had huge potential.

President Scott Mitchell and the Society Directors worked closely with developer Anton Summerfield, who was incredibly empathetic to the requirements of the group, to produce a venue that suited the needs of all users.

For those who were involved on a daily basis, the project really could not have been a better experience, but certainly required commitment, quick decision making, and flexibility of time to be onsite on demand.

If the brief for the development could be summarized in as few words as possible, it would probably have been to ensure the main hall floor and stage were satisfactory for the Highland & National Dance group, and the Scottish

being the new home for the Canterbury Caledonian Society for at least as long FEATURE as the former hall.

The official opening took place on Saturday on June 27th, and included speeches by representatives of the National bodies of each section, as well as President Scott Mitchell and other Society activity group representatives, before Patron Francis Fraser cut the ribbon. A large crowd attended the opening, which was followed by finger food and bubbly. It was a very appropriate opening for the Society – it was only the 2nd time in 135 years that this has happened.

During the evening, Society members gathered for a dinner and a Ceilidh close to 200 attended, which certainly christened the venue with a good oldfashioned knee’s up. It was a great night – one of absolute celebration from a group - homeless for 4½ years

yet equally significant requirement was to produce acoustically acceptable practice facilities for pipe bands, which as anyone could appreciate, is an almost impossible dream. So it was with some trepidation that we opened the hall to the members, nervously awaiting their reaction. Needless to say, we were overwhelmed by the positive feedback from all groups. The dancers were absolutely delighted with the floor covering and the stage, and the bands gave high praise for the two main practice areas, and the main hall was adjudged by many to be potentially the best in the world. High praise indeed for a facility that grew from industrial beginnings.

The result?

Have a look at the photographs. The Society now has a world class facility that suits dancers, bands and general membership. Boxes have been ticked, and the response from all users has been incredibly positive. It has been a pleasure to see all the activity groups of the society use the new facilities. We see this

How it measures up.-The hall sits in approximately 2600m2 of land, and includes two practice areas of 11m x 7m and 11m x 10m, each with a raised ceiling and extensive acoustic paneling. The main hall is roughly 25m x 17m, and includes a stage area that recesses another 3m. The hall has a 4m high suspended ceiling of high grade acoustic tiling, and the flanks of the hall are covered by heavy curtaining.

General storage abounds, with the main store room a massive 3.5m x 20m, and there is a well-appointed kitchen and ablutions area. Outside, we have extensive off-street parking, and almost limitless on-street parking as well, given that the surrounds are virtually deserted when the hall is in use.

Four pipers doublets Bottle Green XL or larger Richard 03 322 6296 Graeme 03 382 0375

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 23

REVIEWS

R

oss Munro started playing the bagpipes under Pipe Major John D Burgess MBE at an early age. At seventeen he joined The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

After the mega success of the Spirit Of The Glen trilogy of albums on Decca Records, in which Ross played a pivotal role as Pipe Major on the Classical Brit awardwinning album Journey, Ross became widely known. He retired from the army in 2013 to start a new professional career in music. Ross is a multi-instrumentalist and Twisted Tradition takes you on a musical journey with a playful and yet seriously inspired variety of original and traditional tunes.

Ross first worked with producer Iain McKinna of Offbeat Studios in Edinburgh when Ross was Pipe Major of the Guards on the Spirit Of The Glen trilogy. The first record reached Number One in the UK Classical Charts and the second album Journey achieved a Classical Brit Award for best album in 2009.

On Twisted Tradition, Ross plays most of the instruments and also showcases his arrangement skills. The sound of his haunting pipes, which Ross has blended with whistle on some tracks is truly special, adding to his unique uplifting sound. This is pipe music with twist.

Iain McKinna plays bass, drums and guitar on various tracks, Kirsty Anderson adds vocals on track 8 and Simon Lowden plays bass on track 1. Design and artwork by Graham Monaghan.

From a listener’s perspective, there are quite a number of elements to take in, and if the style of the music is to your liking, that “twist” as it were, then you’ll not be disappointed. There are some interesting combinations of melodic rhythm versus percussive rhythm, and I’d pass the comment that some worked better than others, but its easy to pick the negatives, when critical review needs also to point out the highlights. Identifying well known tunes, delivered in an interestingly twisted manner, will no doubt suit the ear of many listeners, but I suspect the purist will favour the second CD in this brace of reviews.

REVIEWS

REVIEWS BY CHRIS STEVENS

24 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

B

orn in Strathglass in 1903, son of an estate worker, it was while his father was working on an estate in Glengarry that George Moss, not yet in his teens, began serious study of the repertory and traditions of the Highland bagpipe.

He competed on occasions but spent a lot of his time studying and playing pibroch (piobaireachd), also known in Gaelic as ceol mor or the great music.

This collection provides invaluable evidence of an earlier, truly Gaelic style of piping, which began to change in the years around World War One when George found that “the Gaelic style was falling out of fashion”.

Dr Peter Cooke, now retired but then of The School of Scottish Studies, first came to know George Moss through an article he had contributed to the journal Gairm on Gaelic terms in piping. When he first visited George the latter had not played his pipes nor even the practice chanter much for many years on the advice of his doctor. Peter found George very ready to sing examples from the pibroch repertory in his own canntaireachd and to share his deep knowledge of piping.

On subsequent visits George played examples for Peter on the practice chanter which the School’s technical department had equipped with a foot pump and bladder. To give some idea of how his style sounded on the great pipes, Peter later recruited the aid of piper friends who blew up the bag while George fingered the chanter. When his health improved sufficiently, George was later able to blow the chanter and do some teaching.

What is presented here is a distillation of many hours of informal discussions and playing recorded during a number of different visits over eleven years by Peter Cooke. It provides valuable evidence on the piping tradition during the hey-day of the Cameron School and illustrates the underlying principles that guided pipers in producing different types of variations from pibroch grounds.

Some aspects of George Moss’ style are certain to sound unfamiliar to today’s pipers who will note differences from present-day piping styles. It was important that this style of playing was archived.

Current Age 17

FEATURE

Current Pipe Band City of Dunedin Pipe Band How did you get into piping/pipe bands?

“When I was 8 the local pharmacist (Alastair Forbes) was

going around doing a little bit of recruiting and played at

my school. Straight afterwards I told Mum that I wanted to

learn the bagpipes and I’ve never looked back since.”

Bagpipe set up?

“McDougalls, Ezeedrone tenors and a cane bass, moose synthetic bag.”

Favourite pipe band?

“Inveraray &District Pipe Band.”

Favourite soloist?

“Stuart Liddell.”

Favourite tune?

“The popular 2/4 march, the Abercairney Highlanders.”

What are your ambitions in piping?

I’d like to continue playing both pipe bands and solos and eventually work my way up into a grade one band in New Zealand. I’d really like to compete in grade one at the Worlds, too.

What is your favourite quote?

“The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Take your time and make sure everything is right before you perform/compete.

Finally, what makes being part of the FYPBNZ so special?

“I think the Youth Band is special because a group of 30 young people from across the country with extremely different backgrounds can come together and form friendships and camaraderie based upon and common interest of pipe bands. In my time in the FYPBNZ I have formed friendships with people that I would never have even come across had I not been a part of it.”

RISING KIWI STARS

SAM DARLING Each edition of New Zealand Pipe Band, we will be interviewing a different member of the Foundation Youth Pipe Band of New Zealand to find out a little bit more about some of our “Rising Kiwi Stars.”

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 25

CENTRE ROUND UP

AUCKLAND CENTRE Josh Montgomerie

T

he Auckland Centre has had an exciting few months with many individual and band playouts during what is usually a slow part of the year for many of us.

We are well underway with our second season of running the Auckland Piping & Drumming Academy - last season we saw over 30 RNZPBA Certificates handed out and hope to achieve similar results this time around. We wish to thank our tutors and organisation committee who have been working hard to make this a success.

We recently held our Auckland Centre AGM - congratulations to those who have retained their roles, and we also welcome new members to the committee.

Another successful North Shore Tattoo was held on Sunday 5th July at the North Shore Events Stadium with a record turnout for both crowd and participants. This event continues to grow and we look forward to next year’s event.

Papakura and Pukekohe Pipe Bands hosted their annual Ceilidh on Saturday 25th July, with another record attendance. A fun time was had by all and the bands wish to thank all those who made the night successful.

Auckland & District Pipe Band recently attended the ‘Festival Intercéltico de Avilés y Comarca’ in Asturias, Spain. This was a week-long Celtic festival held in lovely Spanish weather, reports back say the boys and girls have an awesome trip away.

This wraps up our winter activities as we now prepare for the upcoming contest and parade season, best of luck to all bands participating.

26 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

WELLINGTON HAWKES BAY CENTRE Kevin Sinclair

Wellington / Hawke’s Bay Centre Contest and National Championships 2016: The Centre contest for 2016 will be held at Kowhai Park in Feilding on the 20th February as a run up to the 2016 National Pipe Band Championships which will be held at the same venue,11 – 12th March. This is a great park with lots of open space and trees in a town that has regularly won awards as one of New Zealand’s beautiful townships. There are quite a few special events in the planning. More details on the National Contest at Feilding and associated events will be posted soon.

NZ Police head to Scotland: The NZ Police Pipe Band are heading to the World Championships in Glasgow. The band, under the leadership of Emmett Conway, heads for Scotland on the 1st of August.

The World Championships are on the 15th of August and we wish them all the best for the coming trip and contest events.

Centre Youth Camp at El Rancho in Waikanae: The July Camp was another huge success thanks to all bands who supported by encouraging their members to attend.

This is not just a youth camp as we run an adult education programme alongside it. It is a place where pipers and drummers of all ages come along to upskill and learn together.

The networking and camaraderie with centre personnel, tutors, and other like-minded people is instrumental in bringing our centre together.

Many thanks to our tutors, Iain Robertson, Kerryn JohnstonePeipi, David Clark, Brogan Hancock, Henry Hillind, Robbie Hiddleston and Jason Hancock. Our cooks Darline Simmons and Bronwyn Walters did a magnificent job in feeding all of us.

A special thanks go to our major sponsor Davey Welsh who regularly provides prizes to deserving players. Post improved piper this camp was Stefan McLean and most improved drummer was Adam Boyles. Our next camp is 9-11th October.

Details will be posted on the facebook page in due course.

See our facebook page for centre updates and details of our new competition. - Wellington Hawkes Bay Pipe Band Centre.

Solo events: This centre has had three recent solo events. The Colin Craig Claymore and Celtic Inn Targe was held in late May and was again well supported by a large audience who enjoyed top class piping performances. Liam Kernaghan won the Claymore for light music and Brendon Eade won the Targe for piobaireachd. The second event was the Wellington Pipers Club Brown Cup and Robert Everest Piobaireachd held in mid-June. The Brown Cup was won by Emmett Conway and the Piobaireachd by Stuart Easton. The third event was also organized by the Wellington Pipers Club and was the Levin Emerging players competition held on the last Saturday in June. This was well supported by young pipers and drummers.

Drones and Sticks Pipe Band: The Drones & Sticks PB is holding its October Comp piping and drumming competition on Saturday 3 October at Lindisfarne College. A feature is the group event - groups comprising 4-6 pipers and/or drummers who are required to play a medley of between 3-5 minutes. This is judged on the ensemble and public appeal performance of the group by three judges with prizes for the best group and the best school group. You can get more details and entry forms from Kerry Marshall pipes@ dronesandsticks.org.

Like other bands, the Band held its AGM recently and noted that in the past year there were 57 events on its calendar ranging from solo play outs to full band parades. The Band’s playing numbers now total 34 members with a nucleus of learner members who are enjoying the pipe band experience, well supported by the more experienced members.

Wanganui Pipe Band: Wanganui Pipe Band notes the passing of Alan Skilton (Patron) of the band. Alan’s time with the band goes back to the late 1940’s when he was a junior piper and then in 1950 he became one of the Junior Band members that upstaged the No 1 Band and won the C Grade Championship in Auckland.

In 2000 Alan again became very involved with the band by helping organise a 50 year reunion of that same band. This then led to Alan becoming the band Patron, a position he held with pride until his death early this year.

The Annual General Meeting was held 15 June and Mr Bill Campbell was welcomed as the new Patron. Bill has been a long time supporter with a granddaughter, daughter and son in law all at some stage being members of the band. Margarette Marshall stood down as President and Mr Robert Allen was welcomed as the new President. Robert’s involvement with Wanganui Pipe Band goes back to the 70’s as a drummer.

Over the years Robert has had a close association with the Pipe Band fraternity including being a founding member of the Sovereign Assurance Pipe Band.

E H T T A C A ST WORLDS

A

n excited group of bands people met Wednesday morning 5 th August at Christchurch Airport ready to travel to Scotland for a chance to compete for the World Juvenile title for the St Andrew’s College Pipe Band. After almost 36 hours of travelling, the band arrived in Stirling. There was one afternoon to settle in and adjust before a busy 10 days of piping and drumming. There was a brief meeting Friday morning before our first band practice on Scottish soil. This was an important practice as the band was set to compete at North Berwick on Saturday and then Perth on Sunday. The band had a successful weekend at both competitions, placing 4th on Saturday and 2nd on Sunday.

We were then fortunate enough to play at the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral on Monday, and then at George Square for ‘Piping Live!’ on Tuesday. Playing at St Andrews was very moving for the band - due to its importance to the school, and a special part of this was when the pipers played the school song.

Wednesday and Thursday were very important as they were the last two full days available for band practices. Both days were very constructive, and gave the group confidence before Saturday. The group then split up Wednesday afternoon when a majority of band members travelled to Edinburgh for the Tattoo, whilst others stayed in Glasgow for Simon Fraser University’s Pre-World’s Concert.

Friday was another great opportunity for the band, as we were able to travel to Glasgow Green and watch the Grade One Qualifiers and have a short final practice at the grounds.

Saturday morning quickly approached and the band was at the grounds early. 9:32 am quickly ticked over and we were now marching from final tuning to the line of the Grade One Arena. The band played a confident performance and left everyone pleased with how they played. The rest of the day was left to take in what the Worlds had to offer before the results late in the afternoon. Whilst it was not the first place that everyone had been hoping for, the band was very pleased with placing 5th out of 9 bands.

Manawatu Scottish No.2 & 3 Bands: The Manawatu Scottish No.2 & 3 bands are busy practicing and have had good turnouts at their Wednesday night practices.

The No.3 Band recently performed in the Palmerston North Square at a Civic organised event celebrating Volunteer Week. The weather was cool but the band performed well.

Later in the year the No.3 Band has organized a Tattoo style concert at the St. James Theatre in Wellington on Labour Weekend. This will be a great show.

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 27

CENTRE ROUND UP

CANTERBURY CENTRE Jamie McEwan

A

s we look forward to the end of winter and the onset of spring, the Canterbury Centre has recently welcomed back two local bands that have returned from the World Pipe Band Championships held in Glasgow on August 14th-15th, namely the Canterbury Caledonian Society band and the St Andrew’s College band. This year was the third Worlds campaign in a row for the Cale, and the fifth out of the last six years, a significant commitment on the part of both band members and supporters.

Whereas for St Andrew’s it was the band’s first trip back to Scotland since 2013, just two years after winning the Juvenile world title. Full accounts of both band’s experiences in more detail are located elsewhere in the magazine, but suffice it to say that the Canterbury Centre is very proud of the efforts and achievements of both bands on the very demanding world stage.

Back home in New Zealand, the other bands have been starting to get their preparations underway for the 2015-16 season, with the Canterbury Caledonian Society’s bands now able to enjoy their new premises with the completion of the new Caledonian Hall located in Sockburn in Christchurch. What was an industrial cool-store building has been re-conditioned into a purpose-built facility complete with practice rooms that can be arranged into different configurations for smaller groups along with being big enough to cope with a whole band, as well as the main hall – all of which feature Autex sound-proof panelling and insulation to enable usage from multiple groups at the same time and also ensure that echo and other sound disturbances are minimised. All in all, it would have to rate as one of the best pipe band halls in the world, and one that will no doubt be put to good use in the years to come.

While it’s still a couple of months until the first contest of the year locally - the Hororata Highland Games on November 7th – there are a few other events coming up that are keeping the bandspeople busy. In September, the Celtic Pipe Band are holding their third annual concert at the Theatre Royal in Nelson, this time entitled Scotland Under the Kilt, which 28 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

they’ve described as a humorous musical portrayal of Scotland – and promises to be another great show. There will be two shows, an evening performance on Saturday September 12th, and then a matinee on Sunday September 13th. Tickets are available from www.theatreroyalnelson. co.nz.

Also on that weekend is round two of the South Island Solo Drumming competitions, to be held at St Andrew’s College on Sunday September 13th. All grades are on offer with events for Side, Tenor and Bass, and it’s an ideal opportunity for drummers to get “match fit” leading into the contest season. Further details and registration can be found at www. drummingsolos.weebly.com. Rounds three and four will be held on November 1st and 29th respectively.

Then moving into October there is the annual Labour Weekend Silver Chanter solo piping contest held in Christchurch, organised by the Highland Piping Society of Canterbury.

It will be another fantastic exposé of piping featuring the country’s top pipers, and a top class judging panel of Dr Angus McDonald, Iain Hines, Brian Switalla, Brendon Eade and David Burrows. October also sees the annual Stac Attack concert, put on by the St Andrew’s College pipe bands. Featuring over 100 students that are part of the teaching program at the school, it will be a fantastic showcase of some of the pipers and drummers of tomorrow. Further details on tickets etc, will be available from the school.

The Centre is also looking at arranging some workshops for the local bands in early October, most likely to be held at the new Caledonian Hall, details on this will be circulated to bands as they are finalised.

As always, further news and information on local and national piping and drumming matters will feature on Band Concert, a radio show broadcast at 12:30 every second Sunday on Plains FM, with podcasts available through their website www.plainsfm.org.nz

Cortez Highland Supplies Colin & Diane Stratton 381 B Ellesmere Junction Rd, Springston Phone 03 399 4049 :: Mobile 0277 77 0091 Email: cortez@clear.net.nz Contact us for McCallum Bagpipes & Pipe Chanters Small Pipes & Ceilidh Pipes Suppliers of Shepherd Pipe Chanter Reeds & Drone Reeds Practice Chanters * Bag Dressing Air Stream blow pipes Pipe Cases * Lil Mac Valves * Hemp Highland Apparel * Brogues * Inverness Capes Sporrans * Waist Belts * Kilt Hose * Glengarries Email: cortez@clear.net.nz www.cortezhighlandsupplies.co.nz

FEATURE

COLIN CRAIG CLAIDMHOR INVITATIONAL COMPETITION After 30 years, well known host Neil McIntosh had decided to call it a day at the Celtic Inn so there was special interest in this event this year. The Claidhmor and Targe Competition has grown in status and enjoyment over these 30 years.

At the 9.00am starting time, all seats were taken in the cosy atmosphere of the Inn and invited pipers were ready, with the piobaireachd chosen by the judges who were the winners of last year’s competition. A number of tables around the Inn sported books of manuscripts that were avidly referred to throughout the morning while we listened to memorable performances. By afternoon the audience had filled the Inn to` standing room only` and we were rewarded with well thought out selections including a New Zealand composed tune in the mix of M,S,R,H,J. In some cases several New Zealand tunes were performed in the repertoire, featuring music written by locals Colin Craig, Donald Sargent and Dennis Pierce among others. The inclusion of New Zealand tunes encourages competitors to seek variety, and the audience enjoys hearing new material.

This year the worthy winners of the Colin Craig Claidhmor and Celtic Inn Targe were Liam Kernaghan and Brendon Eade respectively.

We thank all our supporters and the new owners of the Celtic Inn for a great Day.

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS So you would like to receive this magazine four times a year?

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$25 for 4 issues delivered anywhere in New Zealand. $35 to Australia and the PaciďŹ c Islands $NZ45 Elsewhere New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 29

PHOTO: Daniel Hurst

IN TUNE

FROM THE

PUBLICATION

BOARD Allister Macgregor, Penny Wilson & Iain Blakeley

W

e are at the start of our New Zealand competing season and just writing that gives me a sense of excitement! It seems to have been a long cold winter. During that time of course 3 of our Pipe Bands competed with distinction on the World stage. New Zealand has a reputation to be proud of and those that stayed up during the wee small hours to watch the Worlds or those that watched it online later would have been proud to see our bands feature plus the many New Zealand based players who take this opportunity to compete on the World stage scattered through various top bands. See the finals here on http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/ p02zr6z7.

You will notice both Jim Baxter and Gordon Lawrie, who adjudicated for us at Nelson this year, involved judging the Worlds. I will post the judges forum which was videoed and included Jim and Gordon on YouTube linked to our Website which will give you a good steer for this year’s competing season. Our Executive Officer will email you the link.

The Auckland Police Pipe Band are again performing at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo so look out for them live and in replays.http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02zr6z7 Plans are well advanced for the Tattoo coming to our shores in February 2016 and ticket sales are strong. The RNZPBA have been supportive of the initiative and REMT have consulted with us which has been appreciated, and it looks like we will have good representation of New Zealand bands at the event so thank you to those bands who have offered their services. Many though have decided going to the Tattoo and NZ Championships is just too onerous which messages to us just how important the New Zealand Championships are.

Don’t forget our annual conference in Christchurch in September. This is chance for you to have a say and debate issues in particular on the Remit round. We are also hoping to get a speaker to upskill you on the changes to the Charities Commission reporting and legislation.

In closing I wish you all the best for the competing season.

It just gets better and better and I look forward to chatting to you at the events.

30 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

PONDERINGS Chris Stevens

I

know certain members of the PubCom Group have been under a bit of pressure getting this magazine out – Editor Liam Kernaghan has been in Scotland competing at the World Pipe Band Championships among other things, so will have no doubt been burning the midnight oil.

Thanks Liam – I know this can be a tough one to finish off.

The Group has been putting together a new website for the Association also – this should be due for release around about the time the magazine is distributed, so keep an eye out for changes. We are currently working on final touches including provision for taking entries for the 2016 National Championships, plus the inclusion of online ballots and voting for various purposes in order to reduce the paper war, and to more easily collate entry input and ballot results. A revised user-guide for band secretaries will also be prepared and distributed.

Thanks to the band secretaries who diligently maintain their band’s records online. To band members – please let your secretary know if you’ve had a change of address, so they can update your details online. We’re reluctant to do that ourselves as your secretary knows you best.

Pearl Drums For Sale Further to recent exciting changes, the Northland Caledonian Pipe Band is pleased to advertise the sale of its set of Pearl drums, that includes: 6 x side drums 4 x tenor drums 14" 15" 16" & 18" 1 bass drum

The drums are two years old with a white finish, and have been well maintained throughout their life.

For further information please contact Neil Mogey on . . . . neilmogey@gmail.com

PHOTO: Fairfax NZ

IN TUNE

CONTEST

CHAT

EDU-

CATCH UP

Kerry Marshall, Jill Vincent, Phil Mair

Sheran Hancock

Feilding 2016 By now you will all have the 11th and 12th of March 2016 booked in your calendar and band officers will be planning their strategies for success.

Summer School Jack Lee and Reid Maxwell are our major international tutors for the 2016 Summer School and another international tutor will be announced soon. The RNZPBA Summer School is for pipers and drummers of all levels of ability and experience. It’s not kids’ stuff. Programmes and tuition will be designed to match your personal and band playing skills. Those at the earlier stages of playing will be helped to improve and progress. More advanced pipers and drummers, including band leaders, will be catered for.

As previously advised the music events for grades 4B, 4A, 3 and 2 will be on Friday followed by the street march for all grades in the afternoon. On Saturday bands will take part in their second music event, followed by the Grade 1 competition in the afternoon. Actual timings will depend on the number of entries received.

The Contest Committee is hoping that all band members will be able to take time out during Friday to participate in the many activities Feilding offers– farmers market, sale yards tours, coach house museum, mini golf, swimming pool - all within walking distance of Kowhai Park. There will also be a youth tent on site. Promotion of all these activities, plus generous hospitality offers from Feilding restaurants, takeaways, cafes and bars will enable bands and supporters to have dinner in Feilding on Friday night before going back to their accommodation.

Judges Seminar: How to make life difficult for the judges: not by behaving badly, but by making it difficult for them to drop you down the list.

Once again we will be staging the post-contest Sunday morning seminar at which you can interact with the judges. These sessions have been run for a number of years now and participants tell us that what stands out is that the judges are keen to talk about what they think is good music. The sage advice from the judges on what works is well worth hearing as the focus is on all bands, not just Grade 1.

Contest Rules Bands are reminded that remits relating to the contest rules will be discussed at the Conference to be held in September. If you are contemplating making use of the playing up provisions in the rules you will need to make, and document, appointments before the end of August.

The 2015 application form is available on the website.

Nelson 2017 Bands have recently been advised that the 2017 National Contest will be held in Nelson on the 10th and 11th March 2017. The venue will again be Trafalgar Park.

A Development squad for our foundation Youth Pipe Band will be established at this year’s summer school. You will need to attend to be in this team. A copy of the enrolment form is on the RNZPBA website and our Summer School facebook page. Register 9 people from the same pipe band and the 10th person attends for free!

Foundation Youth Pipe Band The next rehearsal for the Foundation Youth Pipe Band will be from the 27th-30 August in Wellington. The band will give performances to schools in the Hutt Valley.

Planning is underway for our Southern Tour. We are looking forward to joining the ILT City of Invercargill Pipe Band at their Piping Hot Concert on the 19th and 20th September. From there we will travel up to Queenstown and Dunedin performing and stopping to visit schools in the districts along the way. We have some special guests lined up to join us so look out for these details which will come to you soon.

Bass Drum If there is a band out there with a bass drum surplus to requirements the Foundation National Youth Pipe Band would love to hear from you.

Mentor Programme Applications for our 2016 mentor Programme will be out in November. Applicants should have these returned via your centre secretaries by the 1st December 2015. The Mentor programme begins from 1 Jan and runs through to the 31 Dec 2016.

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 31

FEATURE

W

ow we’re past the half way mark in the year already, I’m not sure if it’s just me but it appears that as I get older the years go faster? However not long until spring, I noticed last might at my Sons football practice it didn’t get dark until almost 6pm.

Of course while we look forward to the warmer months returning, one highlight of the winter months was the World Pipe Band Championships. Over the past couple of years some friends and I have had a great time watching the Championships on the big screen, initially via an i- pad plugged into the TV but now with the smart TVs we just connect to the BBC link, crank up the home theatre speakers, crack a cold one and sit back in comfort. It’s always fun with a room full of judges, and musicians from all grades in attendance we have great debates over sound, tunes etc.

This year you may have seen the newest Victorian Pipe Band, City of Whitehorse Pipe Band who had a solid year winning the Victorian Championships in Grade 2 and have made substantial improvement throughout the contest season, look out for bigger and better things from them next year.

The Victorian massed bands were kept busy this year being invited to participate in several big events beginning with the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix. The Melbourne race is the first on the Formula One calendar each year and we were asked to provide a massed band to perform along the final straight and finish our performance in front of the main grand stand by playing ACDCs “It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll”, it’s always a crowd pleaser as it proved once again.

The second performance was on ANZAC day as part of the official ceremony at the Shrine of Rememberence on St Kilda road in Melbourne. Normally the bands participate in the march to the Shrine where they break off and disperse before a formal ceremony with politicians and dignitaries gets under way, however this year being the centenary of ANZAC we were invited to perform in the official ceremony. The State Government had requested that there be a representative of all the Victorian pipe bands and the massed band was formed up on the second level of the Shrine to firstly perform an Australian set and then later in the ceremony the tune Highland Cathedral. This ceremony was televised and began a marathon broadcast of ANZAC commemorations, beginning in Melbourne then crossing immediately to Gallipoli and finally to Villiers Bretonneau in France. Sadly here in Australia the Western Front battles always seemed overshadowed

by Gallipoli but this year there was a concerted effort to highlight the battles and sacrifice made in France and later in Palestine where the Australian and New Zealand Light Horse Brigades won fame.

We had the usual competitions this year culminating with the Victorian Championships in Geelong and results are as follows.

Victorian Championships 2015 Grade 1 1st Moorabbin City Pipe Band – 8 pts 32 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

GIDDAY FROM

OZ

Ross Connolly Grade 2 1st City of Whitehorse Pipe Band - 9 pts 2nd Hawthorn City Pipe Band – 15 pts Grade 3 1st Scotch College College Pipes & Drums – 10pts 2nd Victoria Scottish Pipe Band – 16 pts 3rdCity of Melbourne Pipe Band No.1 – 23pts Grade 4 1st Haileybury Pipes & Drums – 13 pts 2nd Scots School Albury (NSW) – 14 pts 3rd Golden City Bendigo – 30 pts Juvenile 1st Scotch College Pipes & Drums – 8 pts 2nd Haileybury College Pipes & Drums – 16 pts 3rd Scots School Albury (NSW) – 24 pts Queensland Congratulations to the Queensland Pipers Society who celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 27 with a recital at the Brisbane Boys College theatre in Toowong, Brisbane.

The evening featured a recital by Jason Craig from Canberra and Queensland pipers Andrew Roach and Chris Cloete.

There were displays of memorabilia and some of the society’s earliest members attended.

Chris Cloete opened the evenings recital with a set of pipes made by his teacher the noted South African piper Chris Terry and his selection included his own compositions and some names the readers may recognize, 6/8s Carl Manson’s welcome to Auckland & Stuart Finlayson’s march to Mangapatere both by Craig Meinsmith. Andrew Roach played a well-known and very distinctive set of Lawries and a set of 1868 Dougals.

Righto I’m off to find my All Black Jumper in anticipation of the Rugby World Cup and to set up my satellite dish as rugby results in Victoria are as rare as Kangaroos in down town Taihape!

Cheers Rossco

FEATURE

DONALD MCLEAN’S FAREWELL TO OBAN

I

Bill Robertson

n this fine popular competition type March I have set out mainly to explain and show how to get the clarity of execution necessary in 2/4 marches, and the upbeat importance, yet maintaining the expression and lift of the music. Sadly I have found that some pipers of promise, and some of the higher levels, tend to crush some of the execution and neglect the important upbeats.

The clarity comes down simply to the point where two very short notes (32nd notes) appear together in cuttings and tachums that the first of these two 32nd notes is subtly more open/lengthened so that the high G grace note can be clearly heard on the next short note often in tachums and cuttings.

One must remember that the remaining value of the longer note of the upbeat or the downbeat must be controlled within the rhythm. I.e. in the first part see the short leading in last note of the first bar note E, leading onto the next bar cutting note C with the high G grace note clarity. Also found in the third bar (F to E cutting to F) and fourth bars (C to B tachum with low A relative upbeat duration) – and so on.

The second part first bar must have good subtle clarity of the short D so that it can be heard to good effect even though it is short. Clue: After the good upbeat C simply open the relaxed D forefinger a bit higher without lingering too much or clipping the high G race note on the C. In the third and fourth parts the main notes to observe control are simply the dotted ones both down beat and upbeat. Birls end of parts must not be early, but right on the beat, as the famous Donald Bain use to remark upon.

It is recommended to practise at times slowly and methodically with concentration on execution and rhythm.

PROFILE ARCHIE MCNEILL Andrew Lenz

B

orn 1879, Died October 23, 1962. Scottish, born on the island of Gigha. Known as the Blind Piper, became progressively blind as a result of a accident at the age of 10. One of his first instructors was John Wallace an officer on the C.T.S. Empress a ship that housed boys from unfortunate backgrounds, which had a pipe band (as well as a brass band). He wrote for the Piping Times, and taught at a COP Summer School in the early 1950s. Prolific and highly respected composer, reputed to have employment at the Henderson Bagpipes workshop, after WWII, testing drones and chanters. Father of Alex MacNeill (who immigrated to Canada); gave his set of pipes to student Jimmy McMillan of B.C., Canada. Archie passed his final days in a blind institute in Helensburgh.

New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015 33

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 7th November 2015

Hororata Highland Games

Hororata Domain, Hororata, Canterbury

E: games@hororata.org.nz

7th November 2015

Contest at the Gardens and 90th Reunion

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton

Malcolm Irving

21st November 2015

Auckland Highland Games

Three Kings Reserve, Auckland

Mac Macdonald

5th December 2015

Victoria Square Day

University of Canterbury, Christchurch

kim.robertson@paradise.net.nz

6th December 2015

South Canterbury Championships Fairlie

12th December 2015 Jenny Mair Highland Square Day Palmerston North

P: 07-856 9721 027-4436 336 E: mirving@xtra.co.nz P: 027 785 9737 E: madmac@callpus.net.nz

“Janice Hayes E: Jb.hayes@slingshot.co.nz” 8 Beal Street “Jenny Mair E: jennymair@xtra.co.nz”

1st January 2016

Waipu Highland Games

Caledonian Park, Waipu

Mr. Rod Christensen

30th January 2016

Turakina Highland Games

Turakina Domain, Turakina

Heather Calkin

13th February 2016

Paeroa Highland Games

Paeroa

Margarete Ford

P: 09 432 0093 E: lyga@farmside.co.nz”

P: 027 6656238 E: highlandmay@gmail.com

P: 07 8627164 secretary@paeroahighlandgames. co.nz

14th February 2016

Canterbury Centre Championships

Kaiapoi Rugby Club, Smith Street

“Murray Robinson P: 027 2151332 E: robb135@xtra.co.nz”

20th February 2016

Wellington Hawkes Bay Contest

Te Kowhai Park, Feilding

“Sandra Harry E: sfharry13@gmail.com “

20/21 February 2016

Octagonal Day/Otago Southlands

The Octagon, Dunedin

“Maureen Hurrell P: 03 4780676 E: hurrellm@xtra.co.nz”

Mc C = Gold 2

February 2016

Auckland Centre Contest

Auckland

Lynne Russell

27th February 2016

Central North Island Centre Contest

Contest at the Village Green, Lake Front, Rotorua

Nan Sinclair P: 07-871 4628 E: mirving@xtra.co.nz”

28th February 2016

Deans Bush Contest

Christchurch, Canterbury

Noelene Keller E: noelene.keller@xtra.co.nz”

11/12 March 2016

National Pipe Band Championships

Feilding, Lower North Island

Briar Hamilton, B.A.Hamilton@massey.ac.nz P: 06 356 4375

October 2016

Australian Pipe Band Championships Knox Grammar School, Sydney

34 New Zealand Pipe Band | Issue 3, 2015

RNZPBA.Auckland@Gmail.com

Ainsley Hart E: harta@knox.nsw.edu.au

Available in Plastic or African Blackwood

Designed by Willie McCallum

Made by Stuart McCallum

Every chanter tested by Willie McCallum

th e WI NNING F O R M U L A

Available from your local supplier or direct from Willie McCallum

w w w. w i l l i e m c c a l l u m . c o m w w w . m c c a l l u m b a gNewpZealand i p Pipe e Band s .| Issue co m 3, 2015 35