| Nearly everything on this web page is simply copied from emails sent by Ron MacLeod. I
archive them here as a record for all of us. (Thanks very much for all your efforts
in support of the club Ron - is what I'm trying to say) |
Here is a link to a brief history of the Club in Word format as provided by Ron MacLeod. HISTORY
PIOBAIREACHD CLUB
Meeting 27-03-09
A hospitable host and the ‘great music’ – what more can a person expect in this life? Alex Chisamore once again played the role of host to perfection. The meeting at the J.P. Fell Armoury in North Vancouver was a joy to attend.
Kyle Banta led off with MacKintosh’s Banner, followed by Annie He with Catherine’s Lament.
Alan Bevan played A Son’s Salute to his Parents. Jack Lee was up next with Lament for the Bobs of Balmoral. Colin McWilliams closed the evening with The Earl of Seaforth’s Salute.
The tunes played by Alan Bevan and Jack Lee were composed by the late Pipe Major Donald MacLeod, M.B.E. Alan and Jack are two of eight pipers invited to compete at this year’s invitational Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. There are three separate competitions at this event: MSR; hornpipe/jig; and, piobaireachd. At least one tune of each tune-type in the MSR, hornpipes/jigs and piobaireachd must have been composed by Donald MacLeod. A piobaireachd tune is assigned to each competitor by mail a few weeks after they receive their invitation. The piobaireachd to be played were all composed by Donald MacLeod during the 20th century. In other words, they are free of traditional and somewhat fixed styles of performance leaving competitors with the challenge of applying their own musical creativity to Donald MacLeod's tunes.
Donald MacLeod was born in Stornoway in 1916 and died in 1982. Donald MacLeod became a superb piper, one of the best of many good pipers in the 20th century. He was in great demand as a teacher and was a frequent visitor to piping schools and events in Canada. His personality was open and gregarious, that of a man who fully enjoyed life. He became a piper in the Seaforth’s in 1937 and P/M by 1941. In the disastrous early days of WW II, he was taken prisoner with many of his 51st Highland Division comrades, escaped, and made his way back to Britain. In 1945 he piped his battalion across the Rhine, defying his commander’s orders not to do so. In 1978 he was awarded the Membership of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for outstanding service to piping.
Donald MacLeod was a composer of pipe music like no other in his lifetime, and few before. At least 27 piobaireachd and a rich stream of light music flowed from his creative brain. Listening to Alan Bevan and Jack Lee play Donald’s compositions highlighted the quality, glory and diversity of Donald MacLeod’s music. For myself, the opening line in the Lament for the Two Bobs of Balmoral will linger in my mind as the epitome of a Gaelic lament.
The complexity, challenge and beauty of A Son’s Salute to his Parents was for me a revelation of the profound nature of Donald MacLeod’s rare gift.
It is well that he lived and it is well that he left us this precious legacy.
Greetings, time for another Club Meeting. The J.P. Fell Armoury, 1513 Forbes Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. will be
the place. Members who attended the Club meeting last April at the Armoury will recall a great setting for a pleasant
evening of the ‘great music’.
Alex Chisamore has invited us back and we truly appreciate the invitation. The date will be Friday, March 27 and the
time will be the usual -- 7:30 P.M.
The Armoury is at the junction of 15th Street West and Forbes Avenue. 15th Street crosses Lonsdale. If coming down Lonsdale
from the Freeway, turn right onto 15th Street and proceed west for 4 blocks. If coming up the hill on Lonsdale,
turn left. What could be easier than that? Or does everyone have a GPS?
Jack Lee will play Lament for the Bobs of Balmoral.
Alan Bevan will play A Son’s Salute to His Parents.
Theses tunes were composed by the late P/M Donald MacLeod, Lewis
Plenty of room for others.
Regards, the other Ron
PIOBAIREACHD CLUB
MEETING 20-02-09
By virtue of a miracle, it was a clear and starry evening when members trooped to the McIlwaine residence for an evening of cèol mòr, the ‘great music’. The hosts were as generous as ever with heaps of oatcakes and scones along with other goodies.
Edward McIlwaine led off with Lament for Red Hector of the Battles. The tune is a tribute to a noted warrior, Hector MacLean, Chieftain of the MacLeans of Duart who was killed at the Battle of Harlaw, 1411. He was buried on the sacred Isle of Iona.
Hal Senyk came forward to play a tune never heard before at the Club - a pleasant but short Nameless tune from the last page of Angus MacKay’s treasure-trove. Hal went on to play I Am Proud to Play A Pipe. The origin of this tune is unknown as the Masters of earlier days did not pass on any historical information. It may be from the 18th century. Some have referred to the tune as “Hey for the Pipes’, others as “The Earl of Cromartie’s Salute.” A dearth of information about a tune’s history is not uncommon in the piobaireachd repertoire.
Anny He followed with Catherine’s Lament, another tune of uncertain origin. Club member Colin MacRae makes a strong case for calling the tune “Fraser’s Salute” as it was taught to him by teachers whose line reached back to Glenelg and the Bruce family who learned their piobaireachd from the last of the great MacCrimmon family of pipers and composers - Donald Ruadh.
Brian Haddon demonstrated with The Field of Gold that persistence and dedication is rewarded by a great leap forward in the playing of piobaireachd.
Thomas Budd played Lament for the Old Sword in fine style.
Hal Senyk returned with Grain in Hides and Corn in Sacks. A tune that some suggest is a ‘harvest’ tune whereas others suggest that it has a connection to the time when Scots raided into England.
Bob McIwaine played ‘Lament for Mary MacLeod’ and did himself proud in the playing of this magnificent MacCrimmon tribute to the Skye poetess.
Edward McIlwaine returned to close the meeting with MacLeod’s Controversy, a tune attributed to Donald Mor MacCrimmon. It relates to a skirmish at Carinish, North Uist, in 1601 where Chieftain Ruaridh MacLeod and clansmen conducted a surprise raid on an undefended settlement of Macdonalds of Clanranald, tributary to Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat. It was but one of many tit-for-tat acts of warfare over a period of two centuries that had left the folk of both clans in utterly wretched condition. There is a close historic link with the incident that inspired another Donald Mor tune, Dispraise of MacLeod.
Greetings, an alert re the next Club meeting which will be held at the
home of Bob & Mary McIlwaine,
3587 West 32nd Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. on Friday, February 20th.
Piper of the Evening to be announced later.
Later;
Piper of the evening Ed McIlwaine will play Lament for Red Hector of the Battles, one of the older tunes in the piobaireachd repertoire.
Hal Senyk will make a welcome appearance. What he will play has not yet been revealed but he has been known to surprise us with a tune not heard previously at a Club Meeting.
Bring your pipe and you will find an appreciative audience.
Greetings, a note re last evening's meeting. Regards, the other Ron
PIOBAIREACHD CLUB
November 28, 2008
Another wet and stormy night in beautiful B.C. Is there something about a pending Club meeting that brings on the wind and rain? Perhaps the small Celtic gods were upset. If so, there was no evidence of that once inside the warm receptive home of Jack and Christine Lee.
The pre-Christmas meeting is always special for it is at this meeting that many young pipers are first exposed to a caring, supportive audience in the comfort and security of a house filled with friends. Where better to launch a career in piping?
Alan Bevan was first up with Clan MacNabb’s Salute, the tune he played to win the Gold Medal at Inverness this year. It is a long, long road to the Gold Medal – when Alan was a young pupil of Jack Lee he was chosen to be the junior piper-of-the month and the first piper to play at the inaugural meeting of the Piobaireachd Club on February 1st, 1991. A long road indeed. Well done Alan!
The young pipers followed: Aidan Caves with Munro’s Salute; Brian Haddon with The Field of Gold; Anny He with Catherine’s Lament; David Stitt with The Massacre of Glencoe; John Lee with Tulloch Ard; and, Kyle Banta with MacKintosh’s Banner.
Jack Lee then took up son John’s pipe to play Lament for the Bobs of Balmoral. This tune was composed by Pipe Major Donald MacLeod, M.B.E. (1917-1982) to honour the memory of two excellent pipers and equally fine gentlemen, Pipe Major Robert Brown, M.B.E and Pipe Major Robert Nicol, M.B.E. The two Bobs were employed as pipers and ghillies on the Balmoral Royal Estate when, in 1928, King George V sent them to study under John MacDonald, Inverness. They remained under his tutelage until 1939. Donald MacLeod also studied under John MacDonald.
Jack introduced the tune by saying that he will be playing this Lament at the Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition, scheduled for early April, 2009. And, for the first time he will have a fellow British Columbian travelling with him – Alan Bevan is one of eight world-class competitors invited to this competition. This memorial to Donald MacLeod has been organized by the Lewis and Harris Piping Society since its inception in 1994. The venue is the Cabarfeidh Hotel in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. The 2009 competition will feature Donald MacLeod’s piobaireachd compositions.
A great disappointment was the unexpected absence of founding member Peter Aumonier. One can only surmise that somewhere in the murky denseness of deepest, darkest Ontario there is a lost B.C lad struggling to find the trail to the land of sunshine and ever-blooming lotus flowers (except when occasionally it rains).
Greetings, a short report on a performance that deserves better. Regards, the other Ron
Piobaireachd Club
03-10-08
Another dark and stormy night outside. A brilliant night of piping inside! The home of Ron and Eileen Sutherland was well stocked with people, sociability and enthusiasm.
First up was Andrew Lee playing the tune that won him second place in the Silver Medal Competition, Oban – Hector Maclean’s Warning, MacArthur setting.
John Lee followed with Tulloch Ard, the MacKenzie gathering tune.
Alastair Lee followed with The Desperate Battle of the Birds. Credit for composing this tune circa 1750/60 is attributed by many to Angus MacKay, Gairloch. A popular Gaelic poem of his time is thought to have inspired him. However, in true Gaelic style there are suggestions that the origin of the theme could be much earlier in time. This school of thought suggests that the theme may well reach back to the arranged Battle of the North Insh of Perth, 1396, where 30 men from Clan MacKay squared off with 30 men from Clan Chattan while the King looked on from wooden galleries erected to seat himself and his guests. The intent was to end a vicious and long-standing feud between the two Clan. A third inspirational candidate is linked to an incident at Ardvrek Castle where the Lady of the Castle was annoyed at the crowing of the roosters at dawn and sent servants out to tie their beaks and in this way silence them. The tune that sprang from this event is said to reflect attempts to woo the birds with soft words, followed by an explosion of concern that raised a storm of dust, noise and flying feathers from cackling hens, screeching roosters and screaming servants. All of which is reflected in the music. This latter tale, of which I only touch on, originated in Lewis in the late 15th or early 16th century and passed down orally before appearing in an article in 1959 written by the late Roderick MacLeod, first President of the B.C. Pipers’ Association.
Colin Lee then played Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg. This tune laments the demise of MacDonald of Islay, erstwhile Lord of the Isles. The Castle was their final refuge in their struggles with Campbell of Argyll. It was finally destroyed in 1647, 54 years after the MacDonald’s forfeited their title and prerogatives to the King.
Jack Lee played The Phantom Piper of Corrieyarrick, a tune composed by the late Captain John A. MacLellan. To put the matter briefly, the tale has it that a phantom piper, a relic of Montrose’s campaign against Campbell of Argyll in 1645, still haunts the difficult and treacherous Pass of Corrieyarrick over which Montrose force-marched his troops to totally surprise and rout Argyll.
A surprising and very welcome player was up next with Lament for the Old Sword. Kyle Banta has been absent from the piobaireachd boards for a time and it was a delight to see him back at it again. His tune has its origins in the pre-Christian time of the Ossian legends, circa 200-300 A.D. It was passed down by bards and eventually adapted for the pipe by an unknown composer. It celebrates the great sword of Oscar which, as the bardic story has it, came into the possession of the Lord of the Isles and later the King, only to be lost at Flodden Field, 1513 A.D.
The next meeting of the Club is scheduled for Friday, November 28 at the home of Jack and Christine Lee. This will be the Christmas Special where we can look forward to the young pipers playing up a storm. More later.
Greetings, a great evening of piobaireachd on the near horizon. Come and enjoy. Regards, the other Ron
A Parade of Champions
Westcoast pipers took a significant number of prizes at the most prestigious competitions in Scotland this season of 2008.
Oban, August 27th
Senior Piobaireachd, Jack Lee came second
Silver Medal, Andrew Lee came second
Cowal, August 29th
Grade A – Jori Chisholm
Grade B – Alastair Lee, Andrew Bonar second, Colin Lee third
Inverness, September 4th & 5th
Gold Medal, Alan Bevan
Silver Medal, Colin Lee
Clasp, Jack Lee came second
Alan Bevan and the Lee family – Jack, Andrew, Colin, John and perhaps cousin Alistair - will be playing at the Club meeting 7:30 P. M. on Friday, October 3rd at the home of Ron & Eileen Sutherland, 4169 Lions Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C.
John Lee will be attending the Nichol-Brown Invitational in New York on Saturday, October 11th. Ten of the finest amateurs across North America have been invited to contest three events : 6/8 marches, Piobaireachd and MSR. Iain MacDonald from Regina will be one of the judges.
Come and enjoy a great evening of the ‘great music’.
The tunes to be played will include (not necessarily in the following order):
Alan Bevan – Clan MacNabb’s Salute
Jack Lee – The Phantom Piper of Corrieyairrack
Andrew Lee – Hector MacLean’s Warning, MacArthur setting
Colin Lee – Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg
Alistair Lee – pending confirmation that he will be present
John Lee – Tulloch Ard
Meeting of April 25th
On a fine Friday evening that gave promise of better weather to come, the Club convened in the Sergeant’s Mess of the J.P. Fell Armoury, North Vancouver. Pipe Major Alex Chisamore had kindly extended an invitation that was just too good to refuse. The hospitality was outstanding and the aura of the old Armoury (circa 1912) was inspiring.
Alex has been associated with the Armoury for the past 48 years. In recent time, he has been hard at it to create a Pipe Band. A great deal of time and effort has gone into creating the J.P. Fell Pipe Band, to recruit, train and develop a cadre of pipers and drummers. All praise to Alex for his good work. Two of his Band members led off the evening.
Adrienne Quane played the ground and a variation of the Battle of Waternish, a wild exultant tune that celebrates a MacLeod victory over invading Macdonalds. The piobaireachd may have been composed circa 1580 or so by Iain Odhar MacCrimmon or his son Padruig who would have been contemporary with the event. Some attribute it to Iain’s grandson Donald Mor MacCrimmon who was born about 12 years after the event.
Trish Chisamore then played MacFarlane’s Gathering in fine style.
James P. Troy had swept the professional board at the B.C. Pipers’ 76th Annual Gathering in March. His prize in the piobaireachd was for his rendition of Hector MacLean’s Warning, the tune he played for Club members. A complex tune that reflects a complex, uncivil family and time, circa the period 1650-70. The composer is unknown. What is known is the brutal behavior of Hector, his father Ailean nan Sop and his grandfather Lachlan Cattanach (hairy or rough). Hector failed in an attempt to kill his nephew, the Clan Chieftain, and died for his failure. Ailean nan Sop’s specialties were robbery, piracy and murder. The term nan Sop can be translated as ‘a wisp of straw’ or as a ‘firebrand’. He had the uncivil habit of lighting straw at the mouths of caves to smoke out victims who were attempting to hide from him. Grandfather Lachlan had married a daughter of the Earl of Argyle and, when he tired of her, placed her on a tidal rock and left her to drown. When he eventually went to pay his respects to the Earl, the Earl heard him out and when Lachlan was through presenting his condolences, the Earl threw back a curtain and lo and behold! There was the daughter in all her glory - she had been rescued by a kinsman who happened to come by before the tide rose too high. Lachlan’s reaction is not recorded. Soon after, he was murdered in Edinburgh by Campbell of Cawdor, brother of Lachlan’s wife. The rock on which Lachlan’s wife had been abandoned is still known by locals as ‘The Lady’s Rock’.
Colin Lee played the Massacre of Glencoe, which he had played at the 76th Gathering to take second prize in the piobaireachd. Andrew Lee, who was third in the piobaireachd at the Gathering followed with I Am Proud To Play the Pipe, played for the first time at the Club.
After a refreshment break, young Brian Haddon played Munro’s Salute.
Jack Lee closed the evening with A Lament for Angus Campbell. This is a twentieth century piece composed by Archibald Campbell, better known to pipers as Kilberry.
The date of the next meeting will be revealed in the fullness of time.
Another
meeting come and gone with too few members showing up. A fine evening of cèol
mor at the home of Mary and Bob McIlwaine where hospitality is, as ever, a joy
to remember.
James
Beaumont, once of Bo’ness, Scotland, led off the evening with The
Stewart’s White Banner. This tune is of uncertain origin but deemed to
be of the time of the Jacobite risings. But, which one? Some attribute the tune
to the rebellions of 1717 and 1719. Others are convinced that the tune is
linked to the rebellion of 1745/46. There is a story that each clan in turn
would have the honour of carrying the banner when on the march. It may be that
the tune was a standard in both eras. As to the banner, some say it was white,
red and blue silk twice as big as an ordinary banner. More likely, however,
that the banner was red silk with a white space in the middle, thus presenting
the family colours. Prince Charles Edward Stewart’s banner was captured at
Culloden and burned by the Hanovarians in Edinburgh along with the banners of
16 Jacobite families.
Andrew Lee stepped up to play Kinlochmoidart’s
Lament #1.
He was followed by Alex Galloway
with MacLeod’s Controversy, a tune that reflects the serious
consequences that flowed from a raid by Chieftain Ruaridh Mor MacLeod on the
undefended Macdonald hamlet of Carinish, North Uist in 1601.
Edward McIlwaine warmed up with the ground
and variations of Lament for Patrick og MacCrimmon and then played that
little jewel of a tune, Lament for Alisdair Dearg MacDonnell. Alasdair
is thought to have been the first MacDonald of Glengarry to spell his name
MacDonell. He was the son of Donald Gruamach (some might say “gloomy”, others,
“dour”) for whom the piobaireachd Lament for Donald of Laggan. Alasdair
preceded his father in death which is not surprising considering that his
father lived for over 100 years. His sister Isabella, wife to Sir Roderick
MacLeod Chieftain of Harris and Dunvegan, lived to 102 years of age. The tune
was probably composed by Padruig Mor MacCrimmon.
Bob
McIlwaine closed the meeting with Lament for Colin MacRae of
Inverinate, a variation on the theme of the Lament for Duncan MacRae of
Kintail. Colin, a descendant of Duncan of the Silver Cups, was born in 1776.
Greetings, good news. The next meeting of the Club will be on Friday,
March 7th.
James Beaumont will play The Park Piobaireachd #2.
Hopefully, he will be joined by a gaggle of pipers testing their tunes
for the Annual Gathering, upcoming March 21st & 22nd.
Bob and Mary McIlwaine will host the evening. Their address is 3587
West 32nd Avenue, Vancouver, B. C. (just east of Dunbar).
The usual starting time will take precedence over Highland time 7:30
P.M.
James Beaumont is from Bo’ness, close by Falkirk, Scotland. James won
the Silver Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 2007. He has recently
moved to this area and, I believe, intends to make his home in Canada.
Come out and give James a warm welcome to the Club and to Canada.
Regards, the other Ron
Piobaireachd Club
Meeting Nov 30 2007
Santa
Claus came early this year. The annual Christmas evening of piobaireachd was
held on Friday, November 30th at the home of Jack and Christine Lee.
As ever, Christine put a delicious spread of goodies on the table for all to
enjoy, and enjoy it we did. Some will say that a few of us might have
over-indulged in the awesome array of fine foods put before us, but that is the
way of it.
First up
to play was Alastair Lee with Melbank’s Salute. This tune was
composed by John MacKay, Raasay, as a tribute to Kenneth MacKenzie son of Sir
Alexander MacKenzie of Gairloch. In his time, Kenneth was well-known as a
generous sponsor of piobaireachd. Alastair played this tune to win the
Nicole-Brown
Invitational Competition in Albany, New York in October.
Brad
Haddon
made his public debut playing Iain Dall MacKay’s composition Munro’s Salute and made fine work of
it. If he follows through with his training we will have another exponent of
cèol mor, the ‘great music’ in the field.
John
Lee
stepped out with the Desperate Battle of
the Birds, a tune that carries at least three myths on its back. The one
described herein goes back to the Battle of the North Insh of Perth, circa 1396.
This was a battle arranged by King Robert III as a means of settling a long
standing feud between two Highland Clans. Each Clan would put 30 men forward to
fight to a finish. It is clear that one of the Clans was MacKintosh but the
other is uncertain. Some suggest MacKay, but there is a strong case made by
those who claim it was Cameron, given a MacKintosh/Cameron feud that spanned
several centuries. The King had an arena set up with galleries for the guests;
he sat on the field to act as judge. The King halted the battle when
only 4
badly wounded Clan Chattan and one Clan MacKay (Cameron?) were still standing.
The battle did not end the feud which carried on intermittently for over two
more centuries. The piobaireachd is said to reflect the birds sweeping down on
the corpses to get their fill. If this scene is indeed the inspiration for the
piobaireachd, the tune would have been much simpler than what is played today,
or, it may have been in the form of a Bardic song that inspired a later
composer. An interesting side note is that because one clansman failed to
appear, the battle was about to be called off. However, a member of the audience
volunteered to stand in for the missing clansman, was accepted, and the battle
proceeded to its harsh conclusion.
Erin
Warkman played
MacLeod of MacLeod’s Salute, Failte
Ruari Mor as the Reverend Doctor Norman MacLeod heard it called when visiting
the Dunvegan home of MacLeod in 1799. The tune is one of a trilogy composed by
Donald Mor MacCrimmon to celebrate the end of 200 years of MacLeod/MacDonald
feuding.
Colin
Lee closed
the evening with Corrienessan’s
Salute, composed by Ruaridh MacKay in the mid to late
1600’s.
Notice of
the next meeting will be revealed in the fullness of
time.
The Club meeting of Friday, October 19th, 2007,
was convened at the home of Eileen and Ron Sutherland. As one has come to expect, the hospitality was generous and warm.
Jack Lee got the music off with a master-stroke. He played Craigellachie (known also as Grant’s Gathering) and followed
immediately with Lament for the Laird of Annapool. This Lament was composed by Iain Dall MacKay to honour his second cousin
Donald MacKay. Donald had become the Laird of Arnabol through marriage to Marion Munro who held the estate of that name.
It is thought that “Annapool” is a corrupt translation of the Gaelic title. The tune is complex and, as Jack commented,
one of the most difficult tunes to memorize but, the result is well worth the effort.
Andrew Lee followed with The King’s Taxes, a composition by Ranald Ban MacDougall.
Jack Lee returned to the floor to play The Daughter’s Lament. This is a difficult tune to pin down. It apparently once
carried the name, Lament for General Cleaver, in other words, Bonnie Dundee. A tradition that no person should have more
than one tune dedicated in his or her name is said to have led to the re-naming of the tune by a person or persons
unknown to honour Dundee’s widow. After Dundee’s death, she had married the good Jacobite, Lord Kilsyth. Unfortunately,
she died in her first pregnancy. She was buried with her unborn daughter in the Kilsyth kirk where her body was
found 100 years later during repairs to the kirk.
Ed McIlwaine then took up Jack’s pipe for the final tune of the evening, Lament for the Children.
News about the next meeting will follow in the fullness of time. Queries can be directed to Ron Sutherland at
rsutherl@sfu.ca
or, Ron MacLeod at jrmacleod@telus.net
Greetings, the Christmas Meeting of the Piobaireachd Club will be convened at the home of Jack and Christine Lee,
19514-76th Avenue, Surrey on Friday, November 30th at 7:30 P.M.
As is customary, this meeting will feature young pipers.
Alastair Lee will be the guest piper. He will play the John MacKay (Raasay) tune, Melbank’s Salute, a musical
tribute to Kenneth MacKenzie who had an estate at Millbank, near Dingwall. In his time, MacKenzie was a generous patron of
piobaireachd. Alastair won the Nicole-Brown Invitational Competition in Albany, New York in October with this tune.
Hope to see a good turnout to encourage the youngsters.
As to directions, take your chances on the following:
1. Those coming from Vancouver – I suggest the TransCanada (Highway #1) to 176th Street; turn right and
proceed south to 80th Avenue; turn left onto 80th Avenue and proceed to 192nd Street; turn
right onto 192nd Street and proceed to 76th Avenue; turn left onto 76th Avenue and proceed
almost to the end of the street.
2. Those coming from the south – take 176th Street (Highway 15) to 80th Avenue and turn right
onto 80th and proceed as above, (a bit longer but no kinks and turns). (192nd is also good but there
is a right-left jog at 64th Avenue & Fraser Highway that may confuse some at night).
3. Those coming from the east via the TransCanada – take a left at the 200th Street intersection
and proceed to 80th Avenue; turn right onto 80th Avenue and proceed to 192nd Street; turn
left on 192nd Street and proceed to 76th Avenue; turn left on 176th and proceed almost to
the end of the street.
4. To those coming from the east via Fraser Highway – turn right onto 192 Street (at the juncture of Fraser Highway
with 64th Avenue and 192nd Steet) and proceed to 76th Avenue; turn right onto 76th Avenue
and proceed almost to the end of the street.
A good map is your best guide to secure travelling through deepest, darkest Surrey to the warmth of the Lee residence.
Regards, the other Ron
MARCH 23, 2007
It was a raw and rainy night but, once inside the home of Mary and Bob McIlwaine,
the climate was definitely sunny and warm.
Colin Lee led off the evening with The Groat, a tune composed to celebrate the
birth of an heir to a Highland Chieftan. A silver coin (groat) was offered at the
christening, followed by an exuberant merriment that could go on for several days.
A MacCrimmon tune attributed by some to Iain Odhar or his son Padruig Donn and by
others to Padruig’s son Donald Mor.
Andrew Lee followed with the classic, Lament for Mary MacLeod, the Skye poetess who
outlived the several MacLeod Chieftains she sang of in her poetry. A distant
relative of Sir Ruaridh Mor, she sang of him thus:
With Roderick Mor, MacLeod of Banners,
In his house I have been joyful,
Dancing merry on a wide floor.
The fiddle-playing to put me to sleep,
The pipe-playing to wake me in the morning.
Bear my greeting to Dunvegan.
John Lee played the late Pipe Major Donald MacLeod’s Cabar Feidh gu Brath.
Hal Senyk played the ground of the Big Spree in the MacArthur setting. He followed with
The Parading of the MacDonalds, played for the first time at the Club. Apparently the
history of the tune is lost in the mists of time. An enjoyable tune that has a ‘lift’
that strikes a chord with the listener.
Ed McIlwaine followed with Lament for Alasdair Dearg MacDonell, the first of the Glengarry
MacDonald to spell his name MacDonell. He was the son of Donald of Laggan and brother of I
sabella who married Sir Ruaridh Mor MacLeod. The composer may have been a MacCrimmon but
there is no certainty about that assumption.
Alex Galloway stepped up to play the ground of the Park Piobaireachd.
Bob McIlwaine closed the evening with the Lament for Sir James MacDonald of the Isles
who died in 1678. This fine tune is attributed to William MacDonald of Vallay, better
known in his time as MacDonald’s Tutor. William had protected the Sleat estate after the
Battle of Killiecrankie where his brother Sir James had led his clan against the forces
of King William III. William MacDonald made a deal with King William whereby he would
take over the estate as Tutor and keep the peace, a role he played for several years until
things had settled down and he was able to return the estate to his older brother, Sir James.
Fri. Dec 8, 2006
The meeting convened at the home of Jack and Christine Lee where the hospitality was generous and warm.
As usual, the December meeting is given over to young pipers. It is with these young folk that the future
of piobaireachd rests. Judging by the quality of piping, the future seems to be secure.
Anthony Low led off the evening with Munro's Salute and was followed by Alexander Jantzen playing the
ground of Corrienessan's Salute. Both of these tunes were composed by a MacKay. Iain Dall honoured his
patron and relative with the first; his father Ruaridh paid musical tribute to a corrie south of Tongue
in the NW of Scotland, in a glen that was a favorite hunting ground of the Strathnaver MacKays. It appears
that Ruaridh took his theme from a poem by his friend, the bard and harpist Blind Ruaridh Morrison. As was
the custom of the time, Blind Ruaridh's poem would have been sung, thereby providing a theme for the piper.
John Lee played a strong Caber Feigh gu Bradh. Alistair Lee gave a fine rendition of Melbanke's Salute
and was followed by Erin Warkman with the evocative Massacre of Glencoe, a presentation of which Erin
can be proud . Tim Byron did justice to MacLeod of Raasay's Salute.
After an intermission to enjoy the overflowing table of delights, Kyle Banta led off with Lament
for the Old Sword. The mythology of this tune reaches back to pre - Christian times on the westcoast
of Scotland. Oscar, son of the bard Ossian, possessed a sword that few others could wield. Oscar was
a prodigious fighter but, like most of his peers, died young. Oscar’s sword, so mythology holds,
eventually passed into the possession of the Lord of the Isles and eventually to the Kings of Scotland
only to be lost at the battle of Flodden Field. The composer is unknown.
Micah Babinski with Beloved Scotland and Chris Donald with Lament for the Rowan Tree closed off the
presentations by the young folk in great style.
Jori Chisholm stepped up to put finis to the evening with the magnificent Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay,
15th Chieftain and first Lord Reay, 1590-1649. Donald the Dauntless, as his clansmen called him, lived a
tempestuous life in tempestuous times. He raised troops and fought for three rulers - The Elector of Hanover
and King Adolphus of Sweden in the 30 Years War in Europe, and, for King Charles I during the English rebellion.
All of the rulers failed to compensate him for his services. He eventually lost all of his traditional lands.
He died in Denmark in the service of the King of Denmark. The name Duaghal derives from his association with
Denmark – ancient Danish Vikings were known to the Strathnaver folk as Dhu Ghalls, that is, black strangers.
Some think the tune was composed by Iain Dall MacKay, son of an illegitimate daughter of Donald Duaghal.
Others attribute the tune to Padruig Mor MacCrimmon who would have known Donald through a daughter of Donald
who married into the family of Ruaridh Mor MacLeod.
During the evening, Jack Lee spoke briefly about his experience on the way to winning the Scottish Piping
Society of London’s Bratach Gorm. The glorious Glazier’s Hall, scene of Jack’s first Bratach Gorm triumph,
was not available. The substitute facility was makeshift. In fact, pipers for the final warm-up used a bathroom.
Never mind, the honour is substantial, particularly when the competition features some of the best piobaireachd
players in the world. To top it off, Jack gets to keep the 2006 banner.
|
Piobaireachd Club
On Friday, October 28, 2006, an elite group of Club members met at the home of Ron and
Eileen Sutherland for a grand evening of music.
Jack Lee led off with Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar (1662-1741), a man known
to his contemporaries as Raghnall MacAilean Og. He was the third son of Alan, 4th Chieftain
of Morar. Ronald was known for his exceptional physical strength as well as for his musical
talents. In addition to being called by his clansmen "The best piper upone the pipe now living",
he was also a fine fiddler and harpist. He composed at least three piobaireachd that are still
played - The Finger Lock, The Vaunting, and, The Red Speckled Bull. The composer of this fine
tribute to Ronald MacDonald is unknown but it is generally assumed that it would have been a Clanranald piper.
Hal Senyk made one of his rare but very welcome appearances. He played two tunes in the Angus
MacKay setting. He led off with Catherine's Salute (a rare tune about which, more later) and
followed with Weighing from the Land. As to the latter, one source suggests that it was composed
by a Mull piper - another suggests Uist. The unknown composer observed a shipload of emigrants
leaving a Hebridian island bound for Charleston in the Carolinas and endeavoured to convey the
strong emotions of the emigrants. In a common custom of the time, many would have plucked grass
from their family graves to carry with them as a remembrance. Although those who emigrated before
1800 left voluntarily for the most part, they did so with heavy hearts, perhaps singing the Gaelic
version of the following song, circa the late18th century:
We shall go to America
It is our destiny to go there;
A plague on the landlords,
With their greed for money;
They prefer flocks of sheep
To their own armed hosts.
Edward McIlwaine stepped up to play The Battle of Strome, a tune that celebrated the successful
MacKenzie seige of Glengarry's Castle Strome in 1602.
Jack Lee closed the musical evening with The Big Spree, a tune composed on a MacGregor blacksmith.
He was a man who was fearless and ferocious in battle but given to excessive tippling that would
inevitably turn into a spree that rendered him temporarily helpless. Some credit a MacGregor Chieftain
with the composition. However, it is more likely that it would have been one of the MacGregors of
Glen Lyon, famous bards, fiddlers and pipers who provided hereditary pipers to the Clan Chieftain.
By sheer determination the Glen Lyon family maintained their piping school despite King James VI's
proscription of all things MacGregor.
The next meeting of the Club will be held at the home of Jack and Christine Lee, Friday,
December 8th. This pre-Christmas meeting will feature the young pipers as has been the custom
for many years. Details to follow.
|
To: PiobI@priv-edmwaa05.telusplanet.net
From: Ron MacLeod <jrmacleod@telus.net>
Subject: Meeting report
Greetings, another great night of piobaireachd. Regards, the other Ron
PIOBAIREACHD CLUB
April 7, 2006
What a splendid evening for driving to Bob and Mary McIlwaine’s home to hear the
‘great music’. And great it was, to the delight of the many who turned out to
enjoy the hospitality, socialization, and, most of all, piping in a relaxed setting.
Jack Lee led of with the monumental Lament for the Harp Tree, at 25 minutes, the longest
tune in the piobaireachd repertoire. What an experience! The history of this tune is
murky. Trying to unravel the story behind the tune is like trying to unravel a muddle in
the middle of a dark room. However, it is not for want of trying by many experts in the
field of cèol mor historical research.
There are at least three threads to the tale that I am aware of: One has it that the
‘tree’ is the frame of a harp and what is lamented is the demise of the
traditional Gaelic harpist-poet-story teller, bard to Chiefs and recorder of heroic deeds
and profound sorrows.
Another thread has it that there is a link to the Isle of Skye, to a place where pipers in
a time long past were wont to meet to play in friendly competition. This site was called
“Rudha Craobh nan Teud” – the headland of the harp tree. The lament in this
story is for the forsaken meeting place as well as for the diminished art.
A more likely tale is posited by Bridget Mackenzie in her book Piping Traditions of the
North of Scotland. Blind Ruairidh Morrison, harpist-poet-bard, friend of Iain Dall MacKay
and his father, composer of the song/poem Corrienessan, is the source here. The story has
it that two piobaireachds flowed from Ruairidh’s song – The Lament for the Harp
Tree and Corrienessan’s Salute. The Salute was restored to what it may have been
originally by the creative efforts of Dr. Charles Bannatyne in the 1920’s.
It is not beyond belief that these three threads are each in their own way woven into the
fabric of the tune for it was in this period, circa the mid 1600’s - early
1700’s, that profound changes that left the Gaelic culture in tatters began an
inexorable march through the Gaeldom of the Highlands and Western Islands of Scotland.
Alex Galloway followed with In Praise of Morag. Andrew Lee with The Unjust Incarceration
and Colin Lee with Salute to Lady Margaret MacDonald in the MacArthur style.
To close the evening, we had with us a wonderfully fine young piper who is over from
Scotland for a two week visit – Callum Beaumont. He played Corrienessan’s
Salute, the second piobaireachd to flow from Blind Morrison’s poem.
The date of the next meeting will be revealed in the fullness of time. |
To: PiobI
From: Ron MacLeod <jrmacleod@telus.net>
Subject: Meeting Report
Greetings, here is a report on Friday's meeting. Regards, the other Ron
PS the Annual Dinner of the BC Pipers Association will be on Saturday, March 11th. Contact
Ron Sutherland at ronald_sutherland@sfu.ca or 604-988-0479 for information.
PIOBAIREACHD CLUB
February 10, 2006
The home of Ron and Eileen Sutherland was the setting for an outstanding evening of cèol
mor. Those in attendance were obviously appreciative of the privilege of listening to the
great music so well played.
Jori Chisholm was the featured piper. He led off with a splendid rendition of Lament for
the Only Son. The tune is a poignant memorial to a beloved son, a memory long lost in the
mists of time. But oh! the music. The music has not faded. Indeed, the music will never
fade as long as there is a piper with the skill to honour the tune. There are two thoughts
about who composed this lament. The most widely held view is that the composer was the
great Padruig Mor MacCrimmon. The other view is that it is a MacIntyre tune, composed by
either Donald or his son Robert, circa the mid 1700’s, that is, almost 80 years after
the close of Padruig Mor’s reign as Scotland’s greatest piper-composer. An
attribution of the tune to Padruig Mor refers to it as “Cumha an aona Mhic”.
While it would be interesting to know for certain who composed the music, not knowing will
never dampen the joy of hearing it well-played.
Andrew Lee played the Battle of Strome, a tune that flowed from a Mackenzie/MacDonald
battle, circa 1602.
Jack Lee followed with a magnificent playing of the stately MacLeod of Raasay’s
Salute. Angus MacKay, Gairloch, son of Iain Dall, was commissioned by John, XIth Laird of
Raasay, to compose a tune to celebrate the birth of a son and heir after six daughters had
been borne. Paradoxically, in the 1820’s, Donald MacDonald called the tune a Lament
according to Kilberry who also noted that Sandy Cameron of the great Cameron family of
pipers played the tune as a Lament. MacDonald and Cameron must have thought the music
celebrated Malcolm, father of John, who gave over his patrimony to his son when he went
off to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745/46. Malcolm died about the time that the
tune was composed.
Jori Chisholm then closed the evening with a splendid presentation of The Old Men of the
Shells, otherwise known as The Carles of Sligeachan. As I listened to the music, I could
almost see the old men of the MacKenzies of Kintail seated in a circle, sipping the
water-of-life from scallop shells, toasting their young men who had been killed in a trap
sprung by the MacDonalds and all the while passionately cursing the perfidy of the
MacDonalds of Sleat. The tune is another that flowed from the long and bitter feud between
the MacKenzies and MacDonalds in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
The next meeting of the Club will be Friday, April 7th. Further details to follow.
|
To: PiobI
From: Ron MacLeod <jrmacleod@telus.net>
Subject: Club Meeting
Greetings, a report on Friday's meeting. Regards, Ron PIOBAIREACHD
CLUB December 9, 2005
The Club met at the home of Jack and Christine Lee for the annual Christmas meeting.
The atmosphere was festive. As one true believer put the matter, “What could be
better? The music, the sociability, the warm venue, and the wonderful spread of goodies
that Christine put on the table - there is nothing in this world like it!”
Twelve young pipers lined up to do the honours, from the youngest to the eldest, with a
senior piper closing the evening. The influence of the list of tunes recommended for the
2006 Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting was evident in the selection of tunes
played as the evening progressed.
Anthony Low got the meeting off to a great start with the ground and first variation of
The Desperate Battle. Then, following in timely order came: Scott Wood who played Lament
for the Old Sword; Chris Low with The Massacre of Glencoe; Kyle Banta with
Catherine’s Lament; Erin Warkman with The Battle of Auldearn #1; John Lee with Too
Long in This Condition; and, Griffith Gustafson with Sir James Douglas of the Isles
Lament.
At this point there was a break to enjoy the delicious spread that Christine laid out.
Tim Byron got the second session off with The Massacre of Glencoe and Alastair Lee
followed with MacFarlane’s Gathering. Then came four of the recommended tunes: Colin
Lee with The Battle of Strome; Will Nichols with Grain in Hides and Corn in Sacks; Andrew
Lee with The Duke of Atholl’s Salute. Jori Chisholm put finish to the evening with
Fair Honey.
The last two tunes are new to the Club, bringing the total number of piobaireachds played
to 120 since the formative meeting 15 years ago. Mary MacLeod and Auldearn are the
favorites, each having been played 11 times. Viscount Dundee and the King’s Taxes are
next (7 times). followed by Glencoe (6 times) and Patrick Og (5 times).
As to the Battle of Strome, circa 1602, the tune arose from an extended feud between the
MacKenzies and the Macdonalds of Glengarry in the late 1500’s and early 1600’s.
The Castle of Strome was captured and destroyed by MacKenzies. Glengarry himself was
killed in a battle fought from boats on Loch Carron. A sorry outcome of this feud was the
burning of Cille Chriosd Church by Macdonalds, with the congregation inside, although
there is some uncertainty about the latter point. The Battle of Strome was one in a long
series of battles that followed on the demise of the Lord of the Isles, circa 1476, as
Campbells and Mackenzies fought for dominance and Macdonalds and other clans struggled for
survival.
The next meeting will probably be in February, 2006. Watch for a notice in due course.
|
Piobaireachd
Club - October 28 , 2005
Those who gathered at the home of Ron and Eileen Sutherland enjoyed a wonderfully fine
evening of cèol mor. It is an occasion like this that reminds the writer that living to
an old age isn’t all downhill.
Colin Lee, fresh from winning the Nicol-Brown Memorial in Troy, New York, led off the
evening with The Desperate Battle of the Birds. There are two well-known inspirations
given for this tune. However, there is also a less well-known third source for which I
draw on an article by the late Roderick MacLeod, a Lewis man. (He was a founding member
and first President of the B.C. Pipers’ Association). His story is based on the
folklore of Lewis. A lady of Ardvrek Castle, Assynt, was given to partying and liked to
keep the dancing going as long as possible. One evening she ordered that the beaks of the
roosters be tied so they couldn’t announce the breaking of day with their crowing,
thereby bringing the dancing to an end. She sent a team of servants – piper, maids,
shepherd, smith – to the henhouse to carry out her order. There was a terrific battle
in the henhouse before the servants could capture all the roosters and tie their beaks.
The dancing that night went on and on and didn’t stop until noon the next day. The
tune that sprang from this event is said to reflect the attempts to woo the birds with
soft words, the initial low key reaction of the birds to the intrusion, followed by an
explosion of concern that raised a storm of dust, noise and flying feathers from cackling
hens, screeching roosters and screaming servants. Just another heather myth in the jungle
of piobaireachd mythology. This particular tale could probably have its origin in the late
15th or 16th century when Assynt was still in the possession of the Lewis MacLeods.
Jack Lee rose to play the Earl of Ross’s March, a tune attributed to Donald Mor
MacCrimmon. The hero it celebrates forfeited the earldom 87 years before Donald was born.
A thought that comes to mind is whether this is one of the ancient tunes that may have
grown over a period of time. It is not beyond credibility that Donald’s grandfather
(Iain Odhar) or great grandfather (Findlay of the Plaid) may have composed the original
melody that subsequent generations expanded until Donald put the final touches to the
major tune we now know as the Earl of Ross’s March. Speculation about the unknown and
unknowable can lead to wild surmises about things that never happened, but, the mind does
have a tendancy to wander.
Andrew Lee played Grain in Hides and Corn in Sacks, followed by Edward McIlwaine with
Lament for Mary MacLeod and Alex Galloway with MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute.
The next meeting of the Club will be Friday, December 9th at the home of Jack and
Christine Lee. This is the Club’s traditional pre-Christmas meeting featuring the
children. Details and map to follow in the fullness of time. |
Piobaireachd Club -
February 18, 2005
It was good evening of piping, hosted by Bob & Mary McIlwaine.
Jack Lee introduced his tune, Lament for MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart #1,
by illustrating the difference between tune #1 and #2, the latter being considered a
Salute. Like so many others, the origin of the tune is lost in the mists of time. There is
a tradition that the tune was originally played as a lament for Munro of Foulis. Munro was
killed at the Battle of Falkirk, 1746 while serving on the Government side; the tune was
reputed to have been played at his graveside with many Jacobite officers in attendance.
MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart, a highly respected man, was on the Jacobite side. He was
taken prisoner, tried and hanged. Despite the uncertain origin, there is little doubt that
the tune has a connection with the Jacobite uprising of 1745/46. It is a fine tune,
grandly played by Jack.
Kyle Bantra played Lament for Sir James Macdonald of the Isles, Sir James
was the 9th Chief of the Macdonald’s of Sleat (Mac Dhomnuill nan Eilean). In his time
he was considered the inheritor of the Lordship of the Isles, a title forfeited in the
late 16th century. He fought under the banner of King Charles I at the Battle of Worcester
in 1651. The tune is credited to William MacDonald of Vallay (MacDonald’s tutor).
Andrew Lee presented a well-played Lament for the Viscount of Dundee.
David MacNeill followed with Glengarry’s Lament. Alastair Ranaldson MacDonell was the
15th Chief of Clanranald and 22nd from the founder of the MacDonald of the Isles line. A
notoriously extravagant Chief, he left his estate with an enormous debt when he died in
1828. The tune was composed by his piper, Archibald Munro. It is said that it was played
at his graveside by six pipers.
John Lee gave us the Desperate Battle (of the Birds).
Edward MacIlwaine closed the meeting with a wonderfully fine tune, not
played at the Club before. The Lament for Rory MacLeod (usually presented as Rory
MacLoud’s Lament) was probably composed by Patrick Mor MacCrimmon. Although there is
no absolute certainty, Rory the Witty, the 17th Chief of the MacLeod’s of Dunvegan,
is believed to be the Chief for whom the tune was composed. He died young in 1664, not yet
30 years of age. Of the other two Chiefs who bore the name Ruaridh, one was the great Sir
Ruaridh Mor, Xvth Chief, who died in 1626. The other was the much despised Ruaridh, XIXth
Chief, who turned management of the estate over to people who abandonded the Gaelic mode
of life and turned Dunvegan into a fashionable English establishment. It was in this
period that the Gaelic poetess Mary MacLeod was banished for not singing the Chief’s
praises in her poetry – an unlikely candidate for a piobaireachd.
The date of the next meeting is yet to be determined. Contact Ron
Sutherland, ronald_sutherland@sfu.ca or Ron MacLeod at jrmacleod@telus.net
Ron MacLeod Email of Feb 7:
Greetings, the next meeting of the Club will be held at Bob and Mary Mciwaine's home,
WHERE: 3587 West 32nd Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.
WHEN: Friday, February 18th at 7:30 PM
PIPER-OF-THE-MONTH: Jack Lee
TUNE: MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart's Lament
CONTACTs Ron Sutherland at ronald_sutherland@sfu.ca or Ron MacLeod at jrmacleod@telus.net
See you there, regards, Ron
Greetings and best wishes for good health in 2005. Regards, the other Ron
Piobaireachd Club
December 17, 2004
It was another dark and stormy night. Have the Sassenachs put a curse on the weather for
Club night? Anyway, the weather inside the home of Ron & Eileen Sutherland was balmy
and conducive to some excellent piping.
Once again, the December meeting was dedicated to young players with a few older pipers
getting in a blow as well.
Scott Wood got the meeting off to a fine start with the ground of Corrienessan’s
Salute. John Lee followed with Munro’s Salute. When I listen to this tune, a picture
that comes into my mind is of the Blind Baron, Robert Munro, sitting by a fireside in his
castle listening to the blind piper Iain Makay play this tune. Iain had composed the tune
to honour Munro, his patron of the time.
Kyle Bantra followed with Sir James MacDonald of the Isles Lament. Sir James was of
Sleat, Skye. He died in 1678. The designation, Of the Isles (na’n Eilean), was how
the Gaelic people referred to him. The title was a carry-over from the days when the
Chiefs of his Clan had been called Lord of the Isles. The tune is attributed to William
Macdonald of Vallay.
Chris Low played Munro’s Salute, followed by Colin Lee with Lament for Mary
MacLeod and Ben Parsonson with Lament for the Old Sword.
Andrew Lee played a tune not previously heard at the Club – March for a Beginner.
This tune, without grace notes, is in Joseph MacDonald’s A Compleat Theory of the
Scots Highland Bagpipe, 1760/1763. It is a tune blessed with several names: The Black
Watch Salute, Bengal Piobaireachd, Home Memories from Bengal. Joseph MacDonald served in
Bengal with the East India Company and died there shortly after joining the army.
Hal Senyk gave a fine rendition of The Old Woman’s Lullaby. This is thought to be
among the oldest of the tunes. Indeed, heather myth carries the tune back in time to
harpists and, perhaps, to the pagan era. Some think it was originally a tribute to a Moon
Goddess. In various mythology, Moon Goddesses are depicted as easily offended and prone to
quick revenge for slights and neglect. Pity the poor wretch who offends her! Better to
sing her praises and offer up a song in her honour.
Tyrone Heade played another tune heard for the first time at the Club – Lament for
the Little Supper. This is thought to be another very ancient tune. The event that
inspired the tune involved the Comyns and Clan Mackintosh circa 1430. The Comyns invited
Mackintoshes to a reconciliation banquet. Their intent was to put them to death when a
black bull’s head was brought into the banquet room. The Mackintoshes were warned
beforehand and carried hidden arms to the banquet. As soon as the bull’s head came
into sight, they turned on the Comyns and put them to death. This action broke the power
of the Comyn family and brought an end to centuries of struggle between the Comyns and
Mackintoshes.
Ed McIlwaine closed the meeting with the majestic Lament for the Earl of Antrim. It is
an historical oddity that MacDonalds and MacLeods of Skye were induced by a progenitor of
the Earl to give up their endless feud and join with him in warfare against Queen
Elizabeth. This they did and fought side by side. On returning to Skye, they promptly
resumed their feud. Donald Mor fought in Ireland with MacLeod’s troop. Whether the
tune was composed by Donald Mor or his son Padruig Mor remains an open question. Some say
that because of the style, the probability rests with Padruig. Others hold the view that
Donald was still alive when the Earl died and he composed the tune. Whatever! It is a
glorious piobaireachd that well deserves to be called The Great Music.
The date of the next meeting is yet to be revealed. For whatever information that may
be available, contact Ron Sutherland, ronald_sutherland@sfu.ca or Ron MacLeod at
jrmacleod@telus.net
November 19 2004 - Piobaireachd Club Meeting report:
The November 19th meeting was hosted by Ron & Eileen Sutherland. A conjunction of
events made for a small turn-out. The quality of attendees, however, was suberb.
Alex Galloway was the featured piper. He played the Battle of the Pass of Crieff. It was
at Crieff that cattle drovers competing for the best grazing ground would indulge in some
vigorous jostling. There is no known link between the piobaireachd and a warlike battle at
the pass of Crieff. Just as there appears to have been no battle of warriors, there also
is no pass at Crieff except that it is here that Highland drovers passed across the
Highland Line into the land of the southerner. The discussion about the music did reveal
that a battle had occurred at or near Crieff circa 962 A.D. Who fought who is unknown - in
all probability rival Thanes competing for power. What is known is that the Great Highland
Bagpipe would not have been dreamed of, let alone played at that early age. So, it would
seem that this very fine piobaireachd arose from a much later local incident that has
since faded from the collective memory, an incident as trivial perhaps as a drover's
quarrel.
Bob McIlwaine followed with Lament for MacRae of Inverinate.
Alex Galloway closed the musical evening with Catherine’s Lament.
The next meeting will be December 17th (see below).
Contact Ron Sutherland at 604-988-0479, email ronald_sutherland@sfu.ca or, Ron MacLeod at
604-538-5709, email: jrmacleod@telus.net
NEXT CLUB MEETING
The next meeting of the Club will again be held at the home of Ron & Eileen
Sutherland.
The focus of December meetings has been and continues to be on the young pipers. Senior
pipers may be allowed to respond to an inner call for a favoured tune.
WHERE: Ron & Eileen Sutherland’s, 4169 Lions Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C.
WHEN: Friday, December 17, 2004
TIME: 7:30 P.M.
FEATURED PLAYERS: Young pipers
TUNES: Various
CONTACTS: as above
regards, the other Ron
November 15, 2004
Good news! The Piobaireachd Club meets again!
WHERE: Home of Ron & Eileen Sutherland, 4169 Lions Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C.
WHEN: Friday, November 19, 2004
TIME: 7:30 P.M.
FEATURED PLAYER: Alex Galloway
TUNE: Battle of the Pass of Crief
CONTACT: Ron Sutherland at 604-988-0479, or, ronald_sutherland@sfu.ca
Bring pipes and present a favoured piobaireachd. |
|
