Piobaireachd of the Week: Silver Medal: The Field of Gold

This delightful and very musical piobaireachd was composed by Pipe Major Donald MacLeod, and is one of twenty of his piobaireachd compositions published in his book. In his published introduction he says “They were only buttercups, but it was an uplifting experience, to see the sun shining on a field of such ordinary flowers, giving this enchanting acre a look of burnished gold.”

Results: Hamilton Gardens Solos

This competition was the first installment of the inaugural ‘Piping Tri-Series’ held by the Waikato Pipers Club (Inc). The tri series gives emerging players (B grade and down) a chance to compete for overall prizes based on a points system. The points are tallied over 3 contests - Hamilton Gardens, Tauranga (Feb 2nd 200 and Paeroa tattoo (Feb 9th 2008). Players take the results from their best two weekends of competing out of the three to be put forward for the tallying. Prizes on offer - cash prizes on the day of competition for overall winners of each grade, tri-series prizes as follows - B -grade - set of Strathmore bagpipes, C-grade - Strathmore pipe chanter, D-grade – Strathmore special edition practice chanter, Novice - a full term’s tuition with the CNI Academy of Piping and Drumming. Overall prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the Paeroa solos contest.

As you can see a significant amount of organisation and funding has gone into preparing the series and the plan would be to continue the tri-series as an annual event. The points events are based on Piobaireachd, MSR playing - giving a strong emphasis on the core elements of solo piping. In the event of a tied points result (overall and daily) Piobaireachd preference is given.

Results from the Hamilton Garden Solos as follows

B Grade Piobaireachd
1st Andrew Broadbent (Paeroa) Sir James Macdonald of the Isles Lament
2nd Alistair Loan (Taupo) Corrienessan’s Salute
3rd James Nelson (PN) Lament for Alasdair Dearg

B Grade March Strathspey and Reel
1st Isaac Turner (Warkworth)
2nd James Nelson (PN)
3rd Jono MacColl (Te Awamutu)

B-Grade Overall winner - Andrew Broadbent (Piobaireachd preference)

C-Grade Piobaireachd (Ground and First Variation)
1st Donella May (Paraparaumu)
2nd George Stick (Christchurch)
3rd Sean Whyman (Warkworth)

C-Grade 2/4 March
1st Elise Norman (Waitoa)
2nd George Stick (Christchurch)
3rd Donella May (Paraparaumu)

C-Grade Strathspey and Reel
1st George Stick (Christchurch)
2nd Donella May (Paraparaumu)
3rd Elise Norman (Waitoa)

C-Grade Overall Winner George Stick

D-Grade Piobaireachd (Ground only)
1st Andrej Maroz (Auckland)
2nd Scott Miller (Hamilton)

D-Grade March
1st Scott Miller (Ham)
2nd Jason Kaan (Napier)
3rd Hayden Pullan (Ham)

D-grade Strathspey and Reel
1st Andrej Maroz (Auckland)
2nd Scott Miller (Ham)
3rd Hayden Pullan (Ham)

D-grade Overall Winner - Scott Miller

Novice March
1st Conor Hendry (Tauranga)
2nd Amanda Kirk (Tauranga)
3rd Marcel Van der Veeken (Auckland)

Novice Slow Air
1st Marcel Van der Veeken (Auckland)
2nd Conor Hendry (Tauranga)
3rd Amanda Kirk (Tauranga)

Novice overall winner - Conor Hendry

The Waikato Pipers club would like to thank all of the competitors for their efforts. The club was especially pleased to see competitors from out of the CNI catchment area to compete. Thanks also to the judges, Richard Hawke (B-grade) and Brian Switalla (C, D and Novice).

Randall Allardyce New Boyle Foundation Chair

Alastair Munro has stepped down as Chair of the William Boyle Foundation after 25 years of exceptional leadership. Richard Hawke, Greg Wilson, Randall Allardyce and Brian Switalla were re-elected as trustees. The main initiatives of the Foundation have been directed at support for its under 21 competitions and the scholarship. It is anticipated that the foundation will extend into piping education and other related areas.

IMHO Alastair Munro has been tremendously encouraging to the piping community in New Zealand and I’m certain that will continue in spite of his retirement from the Foundation. I’m also certain that Randall Allardyce and his fellow trustees (what a lineup) will continue to enhance their present activities and add new innovations.

The following is a profile of Randall Allardyce for those that don’t know him yet:

Randall grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan and was one of the first members of the St Andrews Society of Detroit Boys Pipe Band. The band was taught by Walter Rose, who was in turn taught by Blind Archie MacNeill (Seamus’s uncle, who also taught him). Randall also had lessons from Blind Archie and from MacNeill, Pearston and MacFadyen at the College of Piping summer school at Tobermory and Johnny Wilson (Toronto). He competed successfully in the US and Canadian A grade solo competitions from 17 years and in the open grade in Scotland for a couple of seasons when he moved to Edinburgh to attend medical school in 1966. Randall rubbed shoulders with many pipers in Scotland, in particular, he counted as good friends John Burgess, Angus MacDonald and John Slattery. He joined the Eagle Pipers at the West End Hotel and played for them on several occasions with regular performers Ian McLeod, George Lumsden and John MacLellan. Randall moved to Christchurch in 1974. Though he doesn’t compete, he continues to play for his own pleasure and has retained a keen interest in competitive solo piping and is passionate about Piobaireachd.

Hawke Features on Pipeline

Richard Hawke is featured on the BBC Scotland’s Pipeline programme for this week. Click here and follow the links to Pipeline to listen.

2008 Scotland Gradings Close 1 December 2007

For all of those pipers intending to compete in Bonnie Scotland in 2008, applications for gradings close on 1 Dec 2007. Please contact the CPA Secretary, Tracey Williams at secretary@competingpipers.com. Click here to view the CPA web site.

Piobaireachd of the Week: Silver Medal: Catherine ’s Lament

This tune has also been known as “the Fraser’s Gathering” or “Fraser’s Salute” and is said to have been composed by Calum MacRobert Ceard. The Gaelic word ceard means a tinker. General Thomason gives the composer as Rupiart an Ceard. Another source says that Catherine was Rupert’s wife. Angus Mackay’s manuscript gives the composer as Calum MacBaileart Cheaird.

Movember

I don’t know about the rest of the country, but in the land of deluded bureaucrats it seems that every wannabe traffic cop and henpecked husband is throwing off private impediments to facial hair to join the Movember club. Me to - I’ll let you guess which category I fall into. This web site is not going to be a mouthpiece for my pet subjects, but I’m making an exception today. If you want to make a donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation click here. Thanks Phil.

Reminder: William Boyle Foundation Grant Applications Close 28 February 2008

Applications for a William Boyle foundation grant close on 28th February 2008. Details on what is required can be found on the CNP website by clicking here. The Foundation invites applications under two categories, A & B. Category A suits former winners of the William Boyle competition, but applicants from a wider catchment are expected. Category B suits seasoned and competent A Grade pipers who have a strong competition record and wish to expand their personal boundaries and goals in Scotland. See the CNP website for the details of the William Boyle foundation, including the under 21 competition and information about grants.

Piobaireachd of the Week: Silver Medal: Lament for Alasdair Dearg Macdonell of Glengarry

The Gaelic word dearg means red, and was probably the colour of Alasdair’s hair. The Glengarry clan was part of the great Clan Donald, but always adopted the spelling Macdonnell. The Macdonells of Glengarry supported Prince Charles in 1745, and were at the battles of Preston, Falkirk and Culloden. The piobaireachd “Lament for Alasdair Dearg” was recorded in the MS of Donald Macdonald and Angus Mackay and in the Campbell canntaireachd.

Otago Pipers Club Announces New Approach to Junior Piobaireachd Competitions

The Otago Pipers Club, in conjunction with Piping & Dancing Assn has introduced three levels of junior piobaireachd performance for use at it’s junior competitions.

Level 1 Piobaireachd. The ground of any piobaireachd.

Level 2 Piobaireachd. The ground and 2 variations of any piobaireachd. The choice of variations is up to the competitor and their tutor.

Level 3 Piobaireachd. A complete tune.

The competitor enters a level suitable to them. It is not predetermined by their ‘grading’. Because of that the piobaireachd placing is not included in ‘most points’ determinations.