NIGHTTIME MUSIC

nighttime music | BAGPIPES

Weld County bagpipers join Sunset Solidarity during novel coronavirus pandemic

BY ANNE DELANEY

LEFT: Windsor resident Mike West plays the bagpipes at sunset along the Poudre River Trail in Windsor. West is participating in Sunset Solidarity, a widespread movement among bagpipers who play every night at sundown in order to bring people together while engaging in social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. RIGHT: Mead High School student Ashton Steele plays the bagpipes at sunset on the roof of his home in Mead. Sunset Solidarity is a widespread movement among bagpipers who play at sundown as a source of strength, hope and courage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every evening around sunset, Ashton Steele and Mike West play their bagpipes at different ends of Weld County.

In Mead and Windsor, the 14-year-old Steele and West, with nearly four decades in fire service, lend their talents to communities within earshot of the dramatic and distinct instrument while joining Colorado pipers in a movement during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Known as Sunset Solidarity, the idea charges pipers to play at sundown as a sign of strength, courage and hope in the fight against the coronavirus and disease it spawns, COVID-19.

“We use it at the end of the day. We made it through the end of the day and are fighting the good fight,” said West, fire chief at Front Range Fire Rescue with stations in Johnstown, Milliken and unincorporated Weld County.

Dating to the 1700s in Scotland, the bagpipes have a history of being a part of war and battle, and the instrument then is an ideal choice to join a fight against a virus. The instrument has “accompanied warriors into battle to instill courage where courages struggles to exist,” according to the Western United States Pipe Band Association.

While the roots of Sunset Solidarity run deep with firefighters and law enforcement in Colorado, the movement has spread to other states including Illinois, Indiana and Washington.

Greeley resident Desmond O’Boyle of NPR station KUNC is also participating in the sunset piping, according to his Facebook page.

West is a member of the Colorado Emerald Society, a social organization formed of men and women in public safety professions to help foster Irish heritage and tradition.

The society includes a pipe and drum band of about 75 individuals throughout the state, West said. They get together to play virtually every Sunday. West uses his nightly performances on the Poudre River Trail in Windsor to practice for the weekly sessions.

He sets up near the pelican statue east of the 7th Street bridge overlooking Water Valley Lake. “The pipes are loud and they carry across the water, and this gives me space,” said West, who played in front of at least one-half dozen social distanced spectators early this week.

West said the movement is not limited to firefighters, law enforcement and others in public safety professions. Civilians have also taken up the cause and one of those is Steele, a freshman at Mead High School.

Since March 30, Steele has climbed up on his the roof of his family’s home in Mead while wearing the full uniform of the Colorado Youth Pipe Band — including tartan kilt — for a 10-minute performance and attracting attention of the community.

He recently played at Historic Highlandlake

Church, drawing approximately 25 fans in cars, in nearby homes and on porches.

“There were a lot of tears and especially when he played Amazing Grace, and every time he finished a tune everyone broke out in cheers and crying,” said Pauli Driver-Smith, president of Historic Highlandlake, Inc., a nonprofit that protects and maintains the church and Pioneer Cemetery.

“I’m just a fan of this kid and what he’s doing,” Driver-Smith added. “He’s bringing so much joy and hope to the Mead community.”

Steele has been playing the bagpipes since he was nine. The instrument, though, is in his blood as a young man with Scottish heritage.

His mother, Laura, is a Celtic harpist, and his older brother, Alex, 17, doesn’t play an instrument but he is a golfer — a sport tied to Scotland.

Laura and Alex both tried the bagpipes and didn’t get very far. The pipes are known as a difficult instrument, Laura said, with four reeds and requiring a lot of physical stamina.

“It’s kind of in its own world in music in general,” said Laura, who also plays the violin and piano. “It’s really rough.”

Ashton Steele said he tried the trumpet but the instrument didn’t hold his attention, so he decided to switch to the bagpipes. It’s an instrument he calls “finicky” with nine notes and dozens of embellishments.

“It’s the challenge it gives you,” he said. “This is always something new every time I pick it up.”

Steele joined the Colorado Youth Pipe Band about three years ago. He performs and plays with the band and also takes private lessons with Jamie Cuthill, a professional solo competitor who plays with the Queen City Pipe Band in Denver.

Steele received an email from the Western United States Band Association about the Sunset Solidarity movement, and he said he liked the concept and wanted to be involved.

“It brings joy and hope,” he said. “I didn’t expect it to be popular. It’s unexpected. I like the idea behind and what it does for people in our town.”

Windsor resident Mike West plays the bagpipes at sunset along the Poudre River Trail in Windsor. West is participating in Sunset Solidarity, a widespread movement among bagpipers who play every night at sundown in order to bring people together while engaging in social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.