Didn’t realise my friend and expert bag maker Jimmy Begg was such a bloomin’ stick in the mud. Here’s an excerpt from his latest Newsletter. ‘We see other subtle concepts like ‘pipes down’ being not appreciated in certain quarters. Well it’s traditional and it’s a sign the band is ready to play – it stemmed originally from army etiquette and it does the job so why change it for no good reason? It sets the scene for what is to come in much the same way as a band forming a circle. It is done for a reason and so what is the advantage in trying other arrangements like an orchestral set-up? Let’s focus on playing our beloved instrument and in honing our skills, rather than tweaking things at the edges for no good purpose. We shouldn’t be trying to turn the bagpipe into something else – if we do away with tradition, it will be the rock that we perish on.’
Now come on Jim, if we held by this dictat we would never have had synthetic pipe bags would we?
The advantage for bands playing in an open circle rather than a closed is that it shows off their music much better and makes for a better listening experience for the people who pay good money to come and hear them. If a band contest is not about the listening public then let them in free (as happens at Dumbarton) and the bands can stand on their heads and play if they wish. The ‘orchestral’ formation is just as traditional as the closed circle and has been used by pipe bands playing in concert for as long as I can remember so what is so wrong with them using it in competition?

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Met Fred Morrison the other day and he tells me he has all the tunes off and has entered for the Clasp at Inverness. Well done to you Fred. I’ve always said his concentration on the folk scene was a great loss to mainstream piping. One of the most musical players I’ve ever heard is Fred and I hope he puts on a show at the Meetings.
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Boghall have completed their rebranding exercise and here is their new logo: Their media man Stephen McQuillan has also sent out this message: ‘Dear Friend, 2012 marks a very special year for the band as we look forward to celebrating our 40^th year. This year the Grade 1 band, with a cameo performance from our Juvenile band, is performing at the famous Pre- Worlds Concert at the Glasgow Concert Hall on Wednesday August 8^th at 19:30. As you know, this is a very prestigious event and one in which we are hoping will be very well attended. We hope you will take this opportunity to support the band and come along with friends and family to be entertained. I really hope you can join us at this time and celebrate with us. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked through the Glasgow Concert Hall on 0141 353 8000 or at their website www.glasgowconcerthalls.com.’
I am sure everyone will come out in force to support the Boggies.
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The band season is almost on us with Gourock on Sunday. My, it’s going to be a dreich day if the weather stays the way it is at the moment here in bonnie west of Scotland. Cold, wet and miserable would be an upbeat assessment. The Scottish Champs will follow soon after at Dumbarton on the 19^th and Scottish Power have their publicity machine in full swing. Not every band has a high powered PR company pushing their case in the media. This was circulated recently: ‘The Scottish Power Pipe Band is hoping to kick off the 2012 season in style by defending their title at the Gourock Highland Games next weekend (Sunday 13^thMay).The leading Grade 1 Pipe Band fought off competition at last year’s event from three other Grade 1 bands to take home the overall prize after coming first in the piping and ensemble categories and second in drumming. Cheering them on to a hopeful win will be the band’s longest-serving member, Jack Henderson, who has played with the band since it was first put together in 1989.  Although Jack, who recently celebrated his 80^th birthday, has now hung up his bagpipes, he is still heavily involved with the organisational aspect and currently acts as the band’s secretary. Jack, from Paisley, said: ‘It has been a fantastic experience and honour to be part of the Scottish Power Pipe Band for so many years and to have helped them win many a competition and pieces of silverware in years gone by. ‘Although I no longer actively compete with the band, it is wonderful to still be involved with such a talented group of musicians and I hope that success at the Gourock Highland Games will spur us on for the summer ahead.’

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Great things happening down East Lothian way with the local Pipes and Drums Trust leading the way. They’ve a summer school coming up: ‘ELPDT are holding a five day piping and drumming workshop at Cockenzie and Port Seton Royal British Legion from Mon 30 July – Fri 3 August from 10am – 4pm each day. The workshop is open to all young pipers/chanter players and drummers in East Lothian. Tutors for the workshop will be Lee Moore of St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band on Pipes and Simon Grant of Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band on drums. Lee and Simon are piping and drumming tutors in the Preston Lodge cluster schools. The cost of the tuition is £60 for the five days. ELPDT will consider helping out those in financial need and applications for help will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Please contact Paul Heward on [email protected] to enquire about financial help. There will be a short performance on the Friday at 3.30pm for friends and family when the pupils will be able to show off their skills.’
I like the bit about helping kids who can’t afford it. It’s what the College has done for the last 60 plus years.