gone piping emagazineschoolofpiping.com/articles/gp-feb20.pdf · diamond jubilee year official...

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©schoolofpiping.com

GonePipingeMagazineschoolofpiping.com

February 2020

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Fáilte:Herewe standat the startof the competition season inAustraliaandNewZealand. The

biggestcontestsoftheyeararerightaroundthecorner.Preparationsareunderwayandwe

wisheveryone thebestof luck. Rememberattention todetail, top-notchequipmentand

maintenance and leave nothing to chance. The best-prepared bands and soloists have a

hugeadvantage,itisnotallaboutluck.

Ourwebsite,www.schoolofpiping.comisanInternetbasedresourceforpipers. Itcontains

anarchiveoftechnicalarticles,reviews,historicalinformation,photographicalbums,sound

files and video files that are freely available to pipers everywhere. Most importantly it

includesaShopthatsupportstheworkwedotopromoteandeducatepipingaroundthe

world.

Pleasefeelfreetopassthismagazineontoanythatmightbenefitorenjoyreadingitwith

ourcompliments.

Brett Tidswell

ADVERTISINGToadvertiseyourbusinessorproductinthismagazinecontact:[email protected]

Unbeatableratesandhugeexposure.

Copyright©2020SchoolofPiping/BrettTidswellAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

systemortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans,withoutpriorwrittenpermissionofthe

editor.

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Contents:

AustralianPipeBandChampionships2020.Page3

Welookattheplansforthecomingevent.

BushfireRecovery.Page8

Thepipingcommunityralliesaroundthoseaffected.

PreparingforBetterEnsemblePerformancePart3.Page13

Howtoprepareforabetteroveralleffect

What’sattheSchoolofPipingShop?Page20

Thelatestproductsonoffer.

PipingSeminarsin2020.Page25

Thisyearseducationalevents.

OdetotheBrogue.Page28

BruceGriffithofAvrielShoestellsusaboutthebrogue.

Remembering1918.Page35

NotablepipersoftheArgyllandSutherlandHighlanders.

RUBrowneventsfor2020.Page42

Anupdateonthe2020events.

Classifieds.Page45

Advertsforanythingpipingrelated!

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TheUltimateGuidetoBagpipeReeds

Purchase“TheReedBook–DVD-Rom”at:http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop/advanced_publications.html

Alsoavailabledirectfromstockistsandvariousreedmakers.

WhatothershavetosayabouttheReedBookDVD-Rom!

“Ihighlyrecommendthisbooktoanyonewhowantstoknowmoreaboutreeds,howtheyaremade,howtheyworkandhowtoadjustthemforwhateverresultyourequire.”ShawnHusk-Reedmaker

“IdoubtthatthereisanotherproductthatcoverssowellwhatthisDVDcovers–highlyrecommended.”P/MBillRobertson-exTheRoyalScots

IhavegonethroughtheDVD-Romthoroughlyandfinditslayoutsuperb...userfriendly and a timely addition to your text. This should be a recommendedreferralforallpipers,especiallytheexperiencedwhoareofteninneedoftrueandtriedmethods...manythanksandallthebest.KenEller–Canada

AMustHaveItemForEveryPiper

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AustralianPipeBandChampionships2020

The2020AustralianPipeBandChampionshipswillbeheldinMaryborough,Victoriaandthe

weekendofthe4th

and5th

ofApril2020.BandsfromeverystateandSingaporehave

enteredthePipeBandsAustraliaDiamondJubileeyearChampionships.

ThechampionshipsarebeinghostedbyMaryboroughHighlandSocietyforthesecondtime.

ThesocietyalsohostedthefirstAustraliantitlesinJanuary1961followingformationofthe

AustralianFederationofPipeBandAssociations(nowPBA)afewmonthsearlier.

InternationaladjudicatorsMarkFaloon,GordonParkes,BrianSwitallaandBrianWilson

havebeenannouncedfortheChampionships.

MarkFaloonwaslastyearappointedprincipaloftheRoyalScottishPipeBandAssociation

NorthernIrelandBranchSchool.MarkisarenownedPiper,Tutor,PipeMajorandaformer

memberofFieldMarshalMontgomeryhavingwoneverymajortitlewiththeband.Markis

alsoaRoyalScottishPipeBandAssociationAdjudicatorholdingalltheRSPBAqualifications

havingrecentlyachievedhisPipeBandMusicianshipqualifications.

GordonParkeswasleadingdrummerofFieldMarshalMontgomeryfrom1981to1998.

DuringthattimeFMMwithhisbrotherRichardaspipemajor,beganitsrisetobeingoneof

themostacclaimedbandsintheworldwinningthefirstofmanymajorchampionships,

includingtheWorlds,onmultipleoccasions.

BrianSwitallaisatwo-timeworldchampionbagpiperfromNewZealand,aformermember

oftheFieldMarshalMontgomeryPipeBandandaformerpiperwiththeNewZealand

PoliceandCanterburyCaledonianPipeBand.

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BrianWilsonMBEisaformerworldchampionandAustralianchampiondrummajorfrom

NorthernIreland.

AllaremembersoftheRoyalScottishPipeBandAssociationadjudicationpanelandPipe

BandsAustraliahasinvitedbranchestohosttheadjudicatorsforworkshopsandseminars

acrossAustraliafollowingthechampionships.DetailsofAustralianadjudicatorsonpanels

willbereleasedbythepromotersaspartofregularannouncementsbuildinguptothe

championshipsandinformationupdatestobands.

AspartoftheDiamondJubileeyearcelebrations,apermanentPBAHallofFamewallwillbe

unveiledatthehighlandsocietyontheeveofthechampionships.Competitioncommences

withastreetmarchdownMaryborough’sHighStreetonSaturday4ApriltoPrincesPark

wherethemusicanddrummajorsoloeventswillbeconductedandotherScottishactivities

presentedovertheweekend.

Thebandentriesare:

GRADE2:CityofAdelaide,EmmanuelCollegeHighlanders,Hawthorn,Moorabbin,Pipe

BandClub.

GRADE3:CanberraBurns,CityofMelbourne,CoastalScottish,LionCity(Singapore),

NorthernSuburbs,ScotchCollegeMelbourne,VictoriaScottish.

GRADE4A:CanberraBurnsNo2,FederationUniversityBallarat,GoldenCity,HaileyburyNo

1,KnoxGrammarNo1,MaryboroughandDistrict,OldScotch,StArnaud,ScotchCollege

MelbourneNo2,ScotsCollegeSydneyNo1,WarrnamboolNo1.

GRADE4B:Albury-Wodonga,BallaratGrammar,CityofMelbourneNo2,Cityof

Queanbeyan,HaileyburyNo2,Horsham,KnoxGrammarNo2,SpiritofTasmania,

WarrnamboolNo2.

NOVICEA:HaileyburyNo1,KnoxGrammarNo1,ScotchCollegeMelbourneNo1,Scots

CollegeSydneyNo1.NOVICEB:BallaratGrammar,HaileyburyNo2,KnoxGrammarNo2,

ScotchCollegeMelbourneNo2.

DetailsofAustralianadjudicatorsonpanelswillbereleasedbythepromotersaspartof

regularannouncementsbuildinguptothechampionshipsandinformationupdatesto

bands.

Thepromotershavearealsorequestedinformationfrombandsforinclusioninthespecial

DiamondJubileeyearofficialprogramthatwillbedistributedfreeatthechampionships.

PipeBandsAustraliaisagainmeetingthecostoflivestreamingthechampionships,pipe

bannerstothechampionbandsandspecialDiamondJubileeyearbadgesformembersof

thechampionbandsineachgrade.The2020championships,withmorethan$15,000in

prizemoney,arealsothefirstsincetheintroductionofGrade4Bandgradingforjuvenile

bands.

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McCallumBagpipes

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HerearesomebasicgoodhousekeepingrulesfromJamesRobertsonSeasoning.

1.Ideally,alwaystryandstoreyourseasoninginacool,dryplace,andwerecommendusing

afridge,whichwillnotharmanyoftheingredients.

2.Alwaysheatyourseasoningusingamicrowave,orawaterbathifyouprefer,andmixwell,

butdonotallowtoboil.

Evenifyouhaveleftyourseasoningsomewherewarm,andfeelit’sliquidandoktouse,itis

stillnecessarytoproperlyheat,andtomixitthoroughly,usingthespurtleprovided,orby

shaking,butitisimperativethatyoure-mixtheseasoningthoroughly.

Itistotallynaturalforthevariousingredientsinyourseasoningtosettlewhilstcooling.

3.Alwaysdrainyourbagwellaftereachseasoning.Ifyoutryandkeepextraseasoningin

thebagforwhateverreason,bepreparedforittowanttocomeoutwhenyouleastexpect

it!

4.Werecommendusingmoreseasoningthanyourbagmayneed,anddrainingoffthe

excess,inanewbag,thiscanbecollectedandusedagain,however,onanolderandwell

seasonedbag,wewouldrecommenddiscardinganythingthatmaycomeout,thenew

seasoningwillrevitalizeanyoldseasoning,andwillhelpremoveanythingoldandunwanted

inyourbag.

5.Evenifyourbagfeelstight,usingJamesRobertsonSeasoningregularly,willcontinueto

createtherightmoistureambiencewithinyourbagpipe,andwillalsodrawanyexcess

moisturefromyourbag...Don’tjustseasonyourpipes,purelyfromanairtightpointofview,

butseasonthemtohaveafullyprimedinstrument.

6.Fromtimetotimewerecommendcleaningyourbag,freshlukewarmwaterisallthat’s

needed.Corkthebag,addthelukewarmwater,swishitaroundthebag,andthenempty

out...repeatthisprocessafewtimesuntilthewatercomingoutisfairlyclearthenallowto

dryforawhile,butnotcompletely,andthenseasonagainasnormal.

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7.Wedonotrecommendstrongsoapsordetergents,yourbagisstitchedusingwaxed

hemp,andthesestrongdetergentswillbreakdownthewaxescausingtheseamtoleak.If

anything,asmallquantityofliquidbabysoapinthemixwillsuffice.

(Ifyou’veusedaseasoningpreviouslythatsmellsofdisinfectant,thenyou’vepossibly

alreadycauseddamagetoyourbag,clean,anduseJamesRobertson)

JamesRobertsonSeasoningisavailablefromtheSchoolofPipingShop

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BushfireRecovery

Ouroverseasreadersmaynotbeawareofthedevastatingnatureofbushfiresthathave

ravagedAustraliainthepastcoupleofmonths.Theextentofdamagehasbeen

unprecedentedandmanyinthePipeBandcommunityhavebeendirectlyaffected.The

SchoolofPipingShophasdonatedmanyitemstohelpthoseaffectedandmanyother

organisationsarechippinginaswell.

PipeBandsAustraliahaslaunchedaninitiativetoraisefundsforthenationalbushfirerelief

andrecoveryappealestablishedbytheBendigoBankinpartnershipwiththeSalvation

Army.

BushfiresacrossAustraliaoversummerhaveimpactedmanycommunitiesandaffected

membersofourpipebandfamilywithseveral,sadly,losingtheirhomesandpossessions.

MembersofPipeBandsAustraliahavealreadywillinglyralliedtoassistthoseaffected

memberswithreplacementofinstrumentsoruniforms.

ThePBAonlinefundraiserhasbeenmadepossiblebythegenerousassistanceofMcCallum

BagpipesinScotlandandtheMelbourne-basedCelticAffairswithdonationofasetof

bagpipes.WethankandacknowledgethekindsupportandassistanceofMcCallum

Bagpipes.

Members,familiesandfriendssupportingthePBAspecialeffortwillgointoadrawto

receiveasetofMcCallumAB4/DLCBlackwoodBagpipeswithimitationivoryprojecting

mountswithengravednickelplatesrecessedintothetopsurfaceoftheprojectingmounts,

engravednickelferrulesandslides,engravednickelringcaps,engravednickel&imitation

ivorymouthpiece(Celtic).AlsoincludedwillbeaBlackwoodMcC2PipeChanter(Engraved

NickelSole)CelticandMcCallumBagpiperCase.

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SUPPORTONTHISSPECIALPBALINK

Thelinktosupportthisfundraisinginitiativeishttps://www.trybooking.com/BHWUIandwillremainopenuntil3AprilwithrecipientsoftheMcCallumbagpipesannouncedattheAustralianPipeBandChampionshipsontheweekendof4and5April.

BendigoBankhaspartneredwithTheSalvationArmy,toestablishanappealwith100per

centofdonatedfundsgoingdirectlytocommunitiesinneed.Theappealwillbeconducted

bythebank’scharitablearm,CommunityEnterpriseFoundation.Fundsraisedwillbeused

inarangeoflocallyidentifiedcharitableareastoprovidereliefandrecoveryinthefire

affectedareas.

PipeBandsAustraliawillalsopromoteindividualbandperformancesandfundraisingefforts

forthebushfireappeals.

FUNDRAISINGPERFORMANCES

StAndrew’sCaledonianPipeBandwillbeparticipatingintheFairDinkumFireAppealon31

JanuaryatWindsorPark,Launceston,SunshineCoastCaledonianPipesandDrumswillbe

performingatabushfirefundraiseratMooloolabaWharfon9FebruarywhileCityof

IpswichPipeBandhasannounceditsgatheringinMaywillbeabushfireappealfundraiser.

TheCityofAdelaidePipeBandwillbeperformingattheConcertforaCauseatOakbank

RacecourseSouthAustraliaon7March.

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PreparingforaBetterEnsemblePerformancePart3

Toputtogetheragoodensembleperformancewehaveshowninthepastinstalmentsthat

we must consider the whole overall musical package that is produces, but reduce that

package into components, still ensuring that all of those components fit together into a

whole.

PIPE BAND ENSEMBLE

FINISH

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Asidefromtheelementsofensembleaddressedabove,lowergradedbandscanminimise

theriskassociatedwithcompetinginseveralpracticalways,whichlargelyinfluence

ensemble‘Integration’.Theseinvolve‘physical’factors,ratherthanmusicalones.

• Theleadingdrummershouldbesituatedsuchthattheycanwatchthefootofthe

PipeMajorfortempoandbreakcues. • PipersshouldfocustheirattentiononthefingersofthePipeMajor(i.e.theirview

shouldnotbeobscuredinanyway).Chantersshouldbedirectedinwardstothe

centreofthecircle(towardsthebassdrum)toavoidsound‘escaping’throughthe

gaps. • Ideally,thebassdrummeriscentrallylocatedintheplayingcircle,havingtheability

towatchthePipeMajor’sfootfortempoandbreakcues. • Intheplayingformationinthecircle,excessivegapsbetweenindividualpipers(and

drummers)shouldbeavoided,topromoteplaying‘asone’.Thephysicalseparation

ofplayerssimplymakesitmoredifficulttoplaytogether;itislesseasytohearone

another.Largegapsletssound‘escape’andfaultswithindividualplayersareeasier

todetect. • Givethoughttowherepipersanddrummerswithdifferinglevelsofability,

experienceandtemperamentarelocatedintheplayingformation.Ingeneral,

interposingweakerplayersbetweenstrongeronesisadvised,andexposingweaker

players(e.g.drummersontheflanksofthesnaresection)shouldbeavoided.Refer

alsototheelaborationinthetablerelatingto‘harmony’andhowpipersaresituated

intheformation. • Bandsthataresmallerinnumbershouldaimtokeeptheircircularplayingformation

inthecentreofthecontestcircleitself.Oftenbandsmarchintothecirclesuchthat

pipersarerightontheinnercircle,leavingdrummerstowardsthecentre.As

adjudicatorsmustpositionthemselvesbeyondtheouterconcentriccircle,this

disadvantagesbothpipers(theadjudicatorcanbeveryclose),anddrummers(the

adjudicatoristoodistant).

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AttheSchoolofPipingShopwecantakecareofallofyourPipingandHighlandDressneedsanddesires!

Contactusatschoolofpiping@gmail.comforeverythingfromreedstotweeds!

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Bagpipes, chanters, practice chanters by David Naill and Co now

available from the School of Piping Shop, contact us at: [email protected] to order.

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SCHOOL OF PIPING PRODUCTS http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop.html

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What’s at the School of Piping Shop?

ebayStoreFortheconvenienceofourcustomerswehaveanebaystore.Manyofourproductscanbe

purchased thereaswell as fromour siteor callingusdirect. You can visit theebay store

here:http://stores.ebay.com.au/schoolofpiping

It ispreferabletocontactusdirectatschoolofpiping@gmail.comtotakeadvantageofthe

bestserviceandadvice.

ChanterReeds.InadditiontoournormalrangewehavenowaddedG1Platinum.Theseareexcellentbandandsoloreeds.DonaldMcPheechanterreedsarestraightcutsoloreedswithabroadtoneand good Piobaireachd High G. We also have a large stock of Shepherd,Megarity andMelvin ridgecutsandGilmour straightcutreedsatall timeswhichareverystable,bright

andexcellentbandreeds.From$18ea.Reedcasesalsoavailablefor$15.

DroneReeds.We are now stockingEzeedrone Increased Absorbent Reeds ($139), SelbieDrone Reeds($120),andthenewKinnairdEvolutionReeds($150)

AsalwayswehavealargestockofReedsfrom,Kinnaird,Canning,Ezeedrone,Crozier,MG.

Wecanoftenmixandmatchbassdroneswithsetsoftenorreeds.

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PracticeChanters.WehaveincreasedourrangeofPracticeChanterstoincludetheMcCallumP2($85)andP4($120), which are the standard and long length Chanters with no mounts. These are

inexpensive,nicesoundingandexcellent fornew learners. Weretaina largestockof the

imitation ivorymountedChanterswhich lookexcellentand soundgreat ($130and$150).

WealwaysstocktheLogan’sBagpipeTutorwithCD-Romandwearehappytoputtogether

somepackagesforlearners.

Logan’sTutorwithoursupplementarylearnersguideonCD-Rom

PipeChanters.We have the newDavid Naill and Co wood solo chanters in stock. These are very full,vibrant andwell pitched. TheMk3McCallum andMC2arebothexcellent solo chanters.

Enquireaboutourspecialpricesformatchingbandsetsofchanters.WealsohavetheMk3

Shepherd Chanters asplayedbyScottishPower, ShottsandDykeheadandFieldMarshall

Montgomery.

PipeChanterCaps.We currently stock chanter caps by McCallum, Moose and also the new Bagpipe Skin

chantercaps.Thesearemulti-colouredwitharemovablestoppertoincreaseventilationto

thereed.

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PipeBagsandMCS.WearenowstockingtheNewRossLeatherBag ($335),WillieMcCallumBag ($290)from

Bannatyne,aswellasourusualstockof theircompositezipperbags ($290).Wenowalso

stocktheBannatyneMoistureControlSystem($125)andDri-Flo($90).Thisisanexcellentsystem that provides a longer playing time, is easy tomanage, dust free and completely

airtight.Wecantieonandsetupthesystemforyou,oryoucandothatforyourself.We

also have the silica beads available separately if you would like to replace your existing

desiccantwithacleaner,moreeffective,hasslefreeproduct.WenowalsostockGannawayBags,BennettandRoss.TrapDriMoistureControlSystemsarenowinstockat$40eaandthefullsystemwithbottleorclosedhosefor$57.

TunersandElectronicChanters.We stock the Blair HBT3 digital tuners. These will also tune the chanters to a correctlycalibratedscale.TheBlairProfessionalHBTC1isnowinstock.WehavetheBlairElectronicChanternowinstockalso.

HumifiersandHygrometers.We are now stocking theHumistat adjustable Humidifiers that fit in your pipe case and

maintain your instrument at a stable humidity level. Alongwith a hygrometer this is an

excellentwaytohelppreventcracking,warpingandshrinkage.Atjust$40forthepairthisis

excellentinsurancetoprotectyourinvestment.

This is an excellent accompaniment to our highly ratedMakers ChoiceRange of oils andwaxes.Thisincludes,jointlube,exteriorwax,boreoilandoilingrods.

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AllofYourPipingNeeds.Westockall pipingaccessoriesandareable to supplybagpipes frommostof theWorlds

premiermakers.WealwaysstockMcCallum,MacRae,andNaillBagpipes. Wealsohavea

numberofvintagebagpipesavailable.

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WecanalsoquoteandsupplyanyuniformorDrumming itemsandhaveaccesstoawide

rangeofpremiumsilverbuckles,sgiandubhsandkiltpinsatveryreasonableprices.

Our fullprice listandcataloguescanbeviewedatwww.schoolofpiping.com. Feel free to

contact is anytime for advice or a quotation and any specific needs.

[email protected].

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PipingSeminarsin2020SouthAustraliahaskickedoff2020withitssecondJanuarySummerSchoolheldat

PembrokeCollegeandKensingtonRSL.Agreatvenueandaverywellattendedand

receivedseminarconductedbyReidMaxwelloftheSimonFraserUniversityPipeBand,

RobertGibbformerlyfromtheCollegeofPipingGlasgowandBrettTidswell,Australia’s

NationalPrincipalofPiping.Theseminarwasheldovertwodayswitharecitalandincluded

aweekofbandvisitsandindividualtuition.

AhitoutattheSouthAustralianSummerSchool

PipeBandsAustraliahaverecommendedaseriesofworkshopsforbandsinallbranchesin

2020undertheleadershipofCollegeprincipalsandbranchvice-principals.

Collegeprincipalsarepreparingtheeducationmodulesincollaborationwiththeirvice-

principalsandbranchesarerequestedtofinalisepresentationdatesby31Januaryfor

publicationinanationaldiaryontheworkshops.

Themesfortheworkshopsdevisedbytheprincipalswillbe:

• PreparingYourMusicalContent(leadPrincipalPiping)

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• JumpingtheHurdlestoGoodIntegration(leadPrincipalDrumming)

• Thebandisanensemble(leadPrincipalEnsemble)

• OpentheBook(leadPrincipalRulesandAdministration)

• D&Dhelpingthemusic(leadPrincipalDrillandDress)

Theworkshopcontentwillbeconsistentforeachpresentationwiththefocusonassisting

bandsintheirpreparationforperformanceandcompetition.

Thenationalapproachwillalsodevelopskillsandknowledgeinallbandsandan

understandingofrequirementsforbandsincompetition,whethermusicorrules.

Theseriesofworkshopsfollowsfeedbackfrommembersandbandsduringthestructural

reviewprocessin2018and2019andwillprovidebrancheswithastructuredframeworkfor

thedeliveryofeachworkshop.

Keepaneyeoutfortheopportunitytoattendtheseevents.

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“THECOLLECTION”AcompilationalbumbyBrettTidswellisnowavailableforonly$9.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-collection/id398480644

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OdetotheBrogue

ByBruceGriffith

Theghilliebrogue startedoutas footwearthatwoulddrainwateranddryquickly. In theveryearlydaysofScottishfootweartheghilliebroguewasmadeoutofanimalhides.Inthe

originalghillie brogue designs, the laceswereabove theankle so the shoeswouldn't getstuck in themud.The shoehadapatternof fineholesperforating the leather, knownas

brogueing.

There'sanearlyreferencetoScottishHighlandersmakingandwearingsimilarshoes.These

weredescribed in1542, JohnElderwritingof thedressofHighlanders toKingHenryVIII:

"...wecannotsuffirbairfootide...afterwehaveslayneredddeir,weflayeoftheskyne,bey

and bey, and settinge of our bair foote on the insyde therof, for neid of cunnynge

shoemakers, by your Graces pardon, we play the sutters; compasinge andmesuringe so

mochetherof,asshallretcheuptoourancklers,pryckyngetheupperpartthereofalsowith

holis,thatthewatrermayrepaswheritentris,andstretchideupwithastrongethwangeof

thesame,meitandaboveoursaideancklers,so,andpleasyournobleGrace,wemakeour

shoois:Therefor,weusingsuchemanerofshoois,theroghehairiesydeoutwart..."

Early1600’ssawreferencestoghilliebroguesandthenamePampooties. Pampootiesareraw-hideshoes,whichwereformerlymadeandwornontheAranIslandsofCountyGalway,

Ireland.

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Inthe17thcenturytheSquirarchyhadheelsaddedandmergedthestylesoftheCuaranand

Ghillie.Thesehardiershoeswere ideal fordeerstalking,huntingandfishing.Circa1640a

shawl tongue was added with a fringe to lend a touch of elegance. It was thought Irish

landownersstartedtodecoratetheirshoeswithpatternedsequenceofholes.Intheoriginal

shoes theholesservedapragmaticpurpose i.e. toallowwater to flowthrough.Forgood

luckthedesignsincorporatedcodedsymbols.Assoonasthestylebecameassociatedwith

thegentrytheholesbecamemoredecorativefeatures(Vass&Molnar,1999).Laterwhen

the holes only served for decorative purposes leather uppers were rubbed with melted

candlewax(ortallow)toimprovewaterproofing.Thebroguebecamerefinedwithoutlosing

itssturdinessasthestylecrossedoverintomainfashion.

TheBrogue (derived from theGaelicbróg (Irish),bròg (Scottish) "shoe")is a styleof low-heeledshoeorboottraditionallycharacterisedbymultiple-piece,sturdyleatherupperswith

decorative perforations (or "broguing") and serration along the pieces' visible edges.

Modern brogues trace their roots to a rudimentary shoe originating in Ireland that was

constructedusinguntannedhide.

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Theghilliestyleoffullbroguehasnotongue,tofacilitatedrying,andlonglacesthatwrap

aroundthe legabovetheankleandtiebelowthecalftofacilitatekeepingthetieclearof

mud. Despite the functional aspects of their design, ghillies brogues aremost commonly

seenasacomponentoftraditional,formalScottishdressandarewornprimarilyforsocial

occasions.

Fast forward a few hundred years from these humble beginnings tomodern day. Ghillie

brogues are marketed and sold around the world and the Scottish heritage lives on.

Howeverhavewereallyevolvedveryfar?Themoderndayghilliebroguestillpayshomage

to its humble roots of style and history. But havemanufacturers been able tomeet the

individualneedsofaworldwidemarket.Themarketplacehasbeenmorphingtowherethe

demands on the ghillie brogue shoe have becomemore a life style shoe than style. Any

doubtofmylaststatementisquicklydissolvedafteravisittoanadultbeveragetentatthe

endofa5mileparade.

Theproblemismostmanufacturersofghilliebrogueshavenotlookedattheglobalmarket

and theneedsofdifferentareasof theworld. Mostmanufacturersaschurningout“one

sizefitsall”broguesandmarketingonaglobalscale. It isnosecretthatdifferentpartsof

the world have different make ups of how feet look and fit. North American feet are

generallywideracrosstheballofthefootandalittlenarrowerintheheel,thusrequiringa

shoemadeonalast(footform)thatsupportstheneedsofaNorthAmericanclient.

To help understand the globalmarketplace better Avriel has recently done some surveys

withourmarketplace.Theresultsreallyshoweduswearegoingintherightdirection.Inthe

pipinganddrummingworlditisalsonosecretweareservicinganagingpopulationthatare

wanting andwishing tomaintain their activities of piping and drumming. Shoes become

evenmoreimportanttobeingabletothriveintheseactivities.Anill-fittingshoewillfatigue

the foot farquicker thanmostpiperswould likeand inextremecasesactuallydoing long

termdamagecuttingoffcirculationtopartsofthefoot.

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In one of our surveys we actually asked the question “are you diabetic? Do you where

orthoticsorhaveotherfootissuesthatneedtobeaddressedinyourchoiceofshoes“.In

partsof ourgreatcountry the responsewasover50%of responses saidYES, theyeither

havefootissuesorneedtowhereorthotics.Atellingtailthatuntilrecentlyhadneverbeen

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ontheradarofghilliebroguesuppliers.IfyouthinkIamoutoflineontheseobservations,

askanypiperthatcannotgethiscustomorthoticinhisbrogueswithhisthickhose.Doyou

knowanypipersthathavesaid“Iwanttoplay,butIjustcan’tmarchanymore”.

AcoupleyearsagoafterrecognizingtheScottishandPipingcommunitywasunderserviced

in life style shoes, Avriel started to manufacture shoes to change the world. Avriel is

producingghilliebroguesin6widths.Wemakethemnarrowandwemakethemwideand

evensuperwide.Noothercompanyhastakenonthischallengeonthisscale.Avrielisalso

theonlycompany“worldwide”producingaproperextradepthorthoticghilliebroguewith

removablelinerstoinsertcustomorthotics.

Maintaininglifestyleatanyageisimportant.Maintaininglifestyleincomfortisimportantat

anyage.

AvrielBroguescanbepurchasedfromtheSchoolofPipingShop.

Formoreinformationgotowww.avriel.com

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Remembering1918

NotablePipersoftheArgyllandSutherlandHighlanders

JohnMcLellanDCM,Dunoon

JohnMcLellanwasborninDunoonin1875. Weknowlittleabouthisearlypipinghistory,

butMacLellanisknowntohavejoinedtheHighlandLightInfantry(H.L.I)at17yearsofage.

Asanavidcomposer,histunes,likethe“BellsofMalta”and“TheBurningSandsofEgypt”startedtoreflectthemobilityoftheH.L.I.

In 1899 the regiment set out for the war in South Africa. It was here that McLellan

composed the retreatmarch “The Highland Brigade atMagersfontein” to commemorate

thebattlewherehewasawardedtheDistinguishedConductMedalforgallantry.

JohnMcLellan,DCMofDunoon.

Leaving theArmy in 1903,McLellan joined theBurghofGovanPolice PipeBandwith his

brotherNeil.HehadreturnedtoDunoonby1905andwasteachinginthearea.Hejoined

the8th

Argyll andSutherlandHighlanders (A&SH)TerritorialVolunteers in1912andat39

years of age, found himself mobilised and dispatched to France at the beginning of the

GreatWar.

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Duringthistime,McLellanwrotemanyfinetunescommemoratingbattlesorcomrades.His

tuneslike,“TheMenofArgyll”,“TheHeroesofVittoria”,“TheMemorialBellsofInveraray”,“SouthHall”,TheDreamValleyofGlendaruel”,“CowalGathering”,areallseriousclassicsofthepipingrepertoire.Twoofhismostfamoustuneswere“TheBensofJura”,laterrenamed

“TheRoadtotheIsles”and“Lochanside”.Thesearesomeofthemostwidelyknowntunes

intheScottishgeneralrepertoire.

JohnMcLellandied in 1949aged73 years. Hewasburied atDunoonCemeterywith full

militaryhonours.Hisgraveisunmarked,butaplaquehasbeenerectedinhishonourandis

situatedintheCastlegroundsatDunoon.

The Bloody Fields of Flanders. The Flanders region is located in Northern France andSouthernBelgiumandwasthesiteofmuchfiercefightingduringtheGreatWar. Fighting

tookplace in this region for four years at placesof significance like Ypres, Passchendaele

andLys.Becausethisisaregionandnotthesiteofoneparticularbattlecasualtyestimates

are vague, but at Ypres alone casualties during the conflict are estimated at almost

1,000,000onbothsides.LossesatPasschendaeleareestimatedataround700,000.TheLys

offensivesawsome120,000casualties. Thisisatremendoustwopartretreatmarch,that

was once a candidate for the Scottish National Anthem under it’s guise as the song,

“Freedomcomeallye”withwordsbyHamishHenderson.

The Taking of Beaumont Hamel. Among competing pipers, this is a very popular

“competitionstyle”2/4march.BeaumontHamelisavillageintheSommeValleythatwas

almosttotallydestroyedby1918. ThefightingatBeaumontHamelwassomeofthemost

destructiveoftheentirewar,onthefirstday,the1st

July1916,theNewfoundlandRegiment

thattotalled800menhadover700killed,woundedormissing.Thevillagewaseventually

taken after almost 4months of fighting by the 1/8th

A&SH on the 13th

November 1916.

TodayalargeCelticcrossstandsnearthesiteasamemorialtothemenofthe8th

Argylland

SutherlandHighlanders.

PipeMajorWilliamLawrie

WilliamLawriewasborn in thevillageofBallachulish,Argyll in1881. Lawriewas initially

taughtpipingbyhisfather,andthenbythefamouscompetitorandcomposer,JohnMacColl

ofOban.HewontheHighlandSocietyofLondonGoldmedalsattheNorthernMeetingand

theArgyllshireGatheringin1910.Hewasonlythesecondcompetitoratthatstagetowin

bothmedalsinthesameyear.HealsowontheMarchStrathspeyandReelatInvernessin

thesameyear,whichwasquiteaconsiderablefeat.

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Having been piper in the local Ballachulish Volunteers and personal piper to the Earl of

Dunmore, ColonelMacDougall of Lunga and also to theMacDonald’s of Dunach, hewas

appointed as Pipe Major of the 8th

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1915. He was

mobilised to France that year and succumbed to illness in the trenches in 1916. Hewas

invalided home and died inMilitary Hospital on November 28, 1916, leaving a wife and

threechildren.Hispassingatsuchayoungagewasatremendouslosstotheentirepiping

community.

Lawrie lefta legacyoftunessuchas“ThePapofGlencoe”,“JohnMacDonaldofGlencoe”,“John MacColl’s March to Kilbowie Cottage”, “Inveraray Castle”, “The 8th Argylls atBazincourt”andmore. Hisrepertoireofcompositions isnotenormous,butthequalityof

hiscompositionsmakesmostofthempipingclassics.

PipeMajorWilliamLawrie8thA&SH

TheBattleof theSomme. Thisisa9/8march,whichhasbecomepopularastheScottish

dance knownas ”The Lilt” is performed to it. It is oneof themost iconic pieces of pipe

musicthatalmosteverypiperknows.TheSommeValleywasthesceneofutterdevastation

intheGreatWar. Fightingstartedonthe1st

July1916andendedonthe18th

November.

KnownasthebloodiestbattleinBritishhistoryitisestimatedthattherewerealmost60,000

Britishcasualtiesonthe firstday. Threemillionmenareestimatedtohave fought in this

battlewithalmostonemillioncasualties.

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CaptainCarswell.Thisisafinecompetitionstyle2/4marchdedicatedtooneofthreesons

ofalocalArgyllshirefamilywhowereallkilledintheGreatWar.Allthreehavetheirnames

inscribedonthelocalwarmemorial.

PipeMajorColinThomson

PipeMajorColinThomson1stBn.A&SH

Colin Thomson was born in Cromarty, Easter Ross in 1869. He was a pupil of Ronald

MacKenzie and Sandy Cameron. He was PipeMajor of the 1st

Bn. Argyll and Sutherland

Highlanders in the BoerWar and between 1908 and 1918was PipeMajor of the 5th

Bn.

SeaforthHighlandersforthedurationofthewar.

ThomsonwontheHighlandSocietyofLondonGoldMedalattheNorthernmeetingin1891.

A2/4marchcalledColinThomsonispublishedinWilliamRoss’sbook3andalsotheJohn

WilsonCollection. Thesearedifferent tunesand there is somedebateover the incorrect

titleofoneversionofthetune.

A prolific composer Thomson wrote; “Bachelor’s Hall”, “Rossie Castle”, “Resolis”, “TheAssyntHills”,“MrsJohnMacDonaldofAultnacealgach”andmanymore.

The Elphin Lads. This is a 6/8 March composed by Thomson. C Company of the 1/5th

SeaforthHighlandershadadrillstationatElphin.Twolocallads,DonaldCampbellandHugh

39


Fraser,bothSeaforthHighlanderswerekilledduringtheGreatWarandarenamedonthe

LochinverMemorial.

PipeMajorWilliamGray

William (Willie) Gray was born in Glasgow on the 9th

September 1883. He had his first

pipinginstructionfromColinThompson,whohadbeenapupilofSandyCameron.Healso

hadinstructionfromAlexanderHutcheonandJohnMcDougallGillies.In1903hejoinedthe

GovanPolicePipeBand(whichwouldlaterbecometheCityofGlasgowPolice).

In1909WilliewontheHighlandSocietyofLondonGoldmedalattheArgyllshireGathering

and when the contests resumed after the war, he won the Goldmedal at the Northern

Meetingin1919.

Willie enlistedwith the 2ND

Battalion Argyll and SutherlandHighlanders in 1916 andwas

appointedPipeMajor. The secondbattalion saw significant actionon theWestern Front

throughoutthewar.

PipeMajorWillieGray,CityofGlasgowPolice.

Returning fromthewar,Willie tookoverasPipeMajorof theCityofGlasgowPolicePipe

Band,winningtheWorldPipeBandChampionshipsatCowalin1920.Hewaspromotedto

Lieutenantin1928.

40


Upon retirementWillie consulted toDuncanMcRaebagpipeMakersandmade reedsand

chantersfromhishomeinIslay.

WillieGraypassedawayattheageofseventy-eightin1962.

PipeMajorJamesMacIntoshLawrie,2ndArgyllandSutherlandHighlanders.WontheGold

MedalattheNorthernMeeting1913.

PipeMajorGeorgeRoss,8thArgyllandSutherlandHighlanders.WontheGoldMedalatthe

ArgyllshireGathering1894.

41


Topurchasegoto:http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop/beginners_publications.html

42


Upcomingevents:RUBrownPiobaireachdSocietyofSAInc.

WhilstinAdelaidein1972,BobBrownrepeatedlyexpressedawishthatweshouldregularly

cometogetherandplay,notinthespiritofcompetition,butjusttolistenandenjoyalltypes

andlevelsofpipemusic.TheSocietynowregularlymeetstofulfilhiswish.

Meetings

TheSocietyholds regularmeetingson the firstFridayof themonth.Meetingsareheldat

theProspectRSL,WilcoxAve,ProspectSAcommencingat7:30PM.Atmeetingnights,pipers

areabletoplaybothpiobaireachdandlightmusictothoseinattendance,oralternatively

justcomealongforalisten.Entranceisagoldcoindonationtowardsthesuppliedsupper.

Everyoneiswelcometoattendandtakeadvantageofsomeexcellentpipingandthefriendly

atmosphere.

ComingEvents

6th

MarchRecitalNight

27thMarchErnestDowlerCompetition

9thMay2020GoldMedalPiobaireachdCompetitionandRecital

5th

JuneRecitalNight

5thJulyPipingintheParkRecitalAfternoon

7th

AugustRecitalNight

22nd

AugustPortAdelaideCaledonianSocietyCompetition

4th

SeptemberRecitalNightandAGM

ComingTutorials

10th

MayTutorial

Fulldetailsforeventsandtutorialstobefoundatwww.rubrown.org.au

43


44


NOW available from:

The school of Piping Shop

45


CLASSIFIED ADS Tomakeuseofthisservicecontactusat:[email protected]

FOR SALE: Peter Henderson Ltd, Sterling Silver and Ivory circa 1930. Superb tone andstability. Excellent condition. A true gold medal winning bagpipe with an outstanding

history.

Contact:[email protected]

46


FOR SALE: Grainger and Campbell full ivory bagpipes, purchased in 1965. Asking price

$3500.Tobereferredtothesellercontact:[email protected]

47


PASTEDITIONS:

PasteditionsofGonePipingMagazinecanbedownloadedfrom:

http://www.schoolofpiping.com/shop/advanced_publications.html

gone piping emagazineschoolofpiping.com/articles/gp-feb20.pdf · diamond jubilee year official...

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