December 2007

PIPERS’ and PIPE BAND SOCIETYof ONTARIO, OTTAWA BRANCH

**** www.ppbso-ottawa.org ****

President: Graeme Ogilvie (613) 830-9160(email: graeme.ogilvie@sympatico.ca)

Vice-President: John Harper (613) 830-8962(email: harper@magma.ca)

Vice-President: Jenny Putinski (613) 836-7372(email: pjputins@sympatico.ca)

Treasurer: Jack Yourt (613) 774-3622(email: jcyourt@hotmail.com)

Secretary: Douglas Heyland (613) 821-2505(email: keemik@ca.inter.net)

*** JANUARY MEETING *** MAJOR ARCHIE CAIRNS CUP ***Includes performance by the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Pipe Band

Saturday 05 January 2008. Time…7:30 pm. To keep the evening from running too late, all competitors are asked to be registered by 7:15 pm. If you can’t make it by 7:15, please contact any of the Ottawa Branch executive in advance to reserve a spot in the draw. Place… the Walkey Road Armouries, 2100 Walkley Road, between St. Laurent Blvd and Conroy Ave (the Armouries are on the south side of Walkley Ave, right beside the Walkley Bowling Centre parking lot). *** NOTE: do not park in the reserved parking spots, the Armouries are a 24/7 facility ***

Competitor Level: For Grade 4 competitors and below (includes all “B” Division pipers)Tune Requirements: Slow Air, four-parted 6/8 March (one or two tunes for the March)

Drumming "A" Division.... March, Strathspey, ReelDrumming "B" Division.... four parts 6/8 March (one or two tunes)(a reminder that a “duty piper” is available for all drumming competitors (if possible, provide music in advance to graeme.ogilvie@sympatico.ca).

Future Ottawa Branch Dates

02 February 2008 Allan Quinn Memorial Contest, Drumming Knock-Outs, Walkley Mess Guest performers…. Air Command Pipes and Drums

01 March 2008 Ottawa Branch Knock-Out Finals, Walkley Mess Guest performers…. Glengarry Grade 2 Pipe Band

05 April 2008 Ottawa Branch Piping Workshop and Open Solo Piping Contest

26 April 2008 Smiths Falls Indoor Games

10 May 2008 Ottawa Branch Indoor Games… Kemptville, Ontario

24 May 2008 OPG Kingston Celtfest

30 Jun - 04 July 2008 Kingston School of Scottish Music and Dance – Bob Worrall, Glenn Brown, Scott Bell, Ross Brown, Graham Kirkwood, John Fisher, Tyler Fry

** NOTE: Winchester Highland Games move to Kemptville for 2008. Bigger and better!!!

December 2007

*** PPBSO ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ***In accordance with the PPBSO web-site, memberships paid on or before 31 January 2008 are $57.75 (GST included).

For memberships paid after 31 Jan 08, a monthly surtax of $5.00 plus GST will apply (renewing members only).Make sure you get your membership early!!!

December Knock-Out Contests Results….. The knock-out series continued on 01 December featuring the “A” Division pipers playing a slow air into a four-parted 6/8 Jig. The “A” Division drummers played a Strathspey/Reel this night, and the “B” Division drummers rounded out the evening with 3/4 Marches. The piping event turned out to be quite a tough contest to judge, with all the pipers playing about equally well. Our thanks go out to John Wright, our piping adjudicator for the December contest, and to Neil Birkett, our drumming adjudicator. Following the knock-outs, a casual recital was performed by Riverdance fiddler Alexis MacIsaac, including some accompaniment with “friends”. The piping and drumming results were as follows:

Piping “A” Division Drumming

1st Jonathan Verrett Drumming “A”2nd Cameron Baskerville 1st Iain Bell3rd Karrie McLeod4th Mark Porter Drumming “B”5th Emily Gerrie 1st Francis McArdle6th William MacNeil 2nd Laura Dawson

**************************************************************************************************

Drumming Workshop - Graham Brown

The Highland Mist Pipe Band Drum School held a drumming workshop on Saturday 15 December 2007 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 593, 4026 Richmond Road, Bells Corners, Ontario. The instructor, Graham Brown of the Peel Regional Police Grade 1 Pipe Band (formerly of Shotts and Dykehead) provided instruction to 27 beginning and intermediate players from ten pipe bands in Eastern Ontario. Students traveled from as far away as Montreal, Kingston, Brockville and Renfrew for the all day workshop.

Graham covered stick grip and control in detail, stick selection, exercises for singles on each hand and together, flams, and rolls, all leading up to the teaching of a Grade 5 or Grade 4 drum score for “At Long Last” by James McHattie of the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band. Graham also covered how to prevent injuries to the hands, wrists and arms. An excellent session on drum maintenance, tuning and carrier height finished off the workshop. The feedback from those in attendance was that this workshop was very interesting and informative. Said one participant, “That was probably the best drumming seminar that I have attended”.

The Highland Mist Pipe Band Drum School runs from September to May and is held every Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 am at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 638, 70 Hines Road in Kanata, Ontario. There are seventeen students in the School ranging from eight to eighty years old. Instruction is given to beginning and intermediate levels in Pipe Band Snare Drum, Tenor Drum (Rhythm and Flourishing) and Bass Drum. Contact Tom MacKenzie 613-327-9616 for more information. For further on Graham Brown, you can see a video of Jim Kilpatrick (far left), Blair Brown (2nd from left), Graham (3rd from left) and others performing the Shotts Drum Salute at http://youtube.com/watch?v=7jmCX_vTbS8.

December 2007

Air Command Pipes and Drums at 2007 Grey Cup Game in Toronto

The Air Command Pipes and Drums, with the Central Band of the Canadian Forces, participated in the opening ceremonies of the 95th Grey Cup at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, 25 November 2007. A hundred-person Guard of Honour from CFB Petawawa and colour party from HMCS York were also on hand for the ceremony. As noted by Lieutenant-General Marc Dumais, Commander of Canada Command, “The Grey Cup is a uniquely Canadian event and is therefore a perfect opportunity to showcase the great work done by the members of the Canadian Forces at home and abroad”.

Events

RCMP Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers Robbie Burns Fund-RaiserSunday 27 January 2008, 2:00 pm, at Dominion Chalmers United Church

Featuring the RCMP Pipes and Drums (NCR), the RCMP Highland Dancers, Alexis MacIsaac of Riverdance, Garth and Brad Hampson, a special performance of a selection of Beethoven’s Scottish Songs for violin, cello and piano (Opus 108), and more.

Tickets ($20, children under 12 free) will be available in the new year from Garth Hampsonat 613-824-2350 or from any member of the RCMP Pipes and Drums.

30 Jun - 04 July 2008 Kingston School of Scottish Music & DancePlace: Queen's University, Kingston, OntarioPiping Instructors – Bob Worrall, Glenn Brown, Scott Bell, Ross BrownPiping Instructors – John Fisher, Graham KirkwoodPiping Instructors – Tyler FryFor more info, contact: (613) 542-7287 or email:

swb1@post.queensu.caWebsite: http:// www.macgregordespitethem.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Ramsay Pipe Band is hosting Pipefest Japan 2008. At the time of writing they have 84 participants signed up and although there is no idea

how many will come along, over 1,000 participants are anticipated. They’re looking for those interested. James Leonard has been working at the Scottish Academy Nursery School for one year and part of his job is to help the children practice their drumming and piping as some of them join The Ramsay Pipe Band. During his year at the school, on behalf of the Ramsay Pipe Band, he has volunteered to help contact bands worldwide to invite them to come to Pipefest Japan. In some cases where funding has been a problem (coming out this far is not cheap!) individuals and bands have clubbed together to contact town mayors and companies etc to help financially. They also understand that due to personal and work related issues whole bands might not be able to join them. However this is not a problem! Individual pipers and drummers are welcome as the main aim of Pipefest is to give everyone the opportunity to play in

December 2007

massed bands, meet people of different cultures and raise money for charity. If you have any queries please feel free to contact James Leonard at scottishacademy@sin-cos-group.com. More information is available at the Ramsay Pipe Band web-site http://www2.gol.com/users/ramsay/a_index.htm and at Pipefest Japan http://www.pipefest.com/.

December 2007

*** Instruments For Sale ***

Limited number of 'A' Highland Hornpipes and Other Models in StockThe Highland Hornpipe is an exciting new instrument fingered exactly like the Highland bagpipe chanter, but uses a saxophone reed and mouthpiece to create a completely different sound. There is currently a limited number of Sessioneer Highland Hornpipes in the key of 'A', and other models, back in stock. This will likely be the last run of these unique instruments, due to some very frustrating supply problems and the rising cost of materials. Once the current stock of all Highland Hornpipe models is gone, no more will be made unless circumstances change drastically. The Highland Hornpipe will then only be available as a collector's item. The Highland Hornpipe is available in the keys of A and D for session playing, and bagpipe pitch and concert Bb for playing with bagpipes or other band instruments; includes mouthpiece, reed and instructions. To hear sound clips, to place your order, or for more information on these instruments visit www.highlandhornpipe.com for more background or contact us

at info@newcelticinstruments.com or (613) 237-8027. Cost is $229.00 CAD , shipping is $16 CAD to the U.S., $12 CAD in Canada, and $20 CAD outside of North America.

McCallum AB2 pipes. Sheepskin or synthetic bag, nickel sole, McCallum polypenco chanter. Excellent condition. Purchased new in 2005. Asking $1500. Gibson fireside pipes. Rosewood drones, poly chanter. Excellent Condition. Asking $600. Reply to Chris at cagilbertson@yahoo.com.

Jack Yourt Specials. Jack Yourt, our intrepid local piper and craftsman nonpareil, is working on a new model of small pipes with a distinctive sound quite certainly heard nowhere else at the moment (see photo to right). The instrument will come in sheepskin or leather bag, single or double chanter, depending on the adventurousness of the musician. Fingering will be similar to that of the great highland bagpipe. Despite its appearance, the conception of this instrument was not the result of observing the preparation of the Thanksgiving turkey. Small technical details (and some major technical details) are still being ironed out, but no difficulty is considered insurmountable. For more information you’ll have to wait a bit until the experimentation reaches a satisfactory stage producing at least some semblance of an acceptable sound. Let the anticipation begin!!

Announcements

An outdoor amphitheatre has been donated to the village of Morrisburg and they are now prepared to book performances for the 2008 season. It has an oval stage of approximately fifty feet. It is an outdoor facility with access to public washrooms. The seating area is currently all grass and would accommodate between 250 to 300 people. The stage is located at the south end of the area with the audience looking at the St Lawrence River in the background. Accommodation can be made for performing groups with access to the local arena for dressing rooms, etc. For more information please contact Laurie McElheran at 613-989-5739 or by email at laurie.mcelheran@ucdsb.on.ca.

December 2007

AULD LANG SYNE

On the 17th of December 1788, Burns wrote in a letter to close friend Mrs Frances Dunlop “…..Two veterans of the ‘men of the world’ would have met with little more heart-workings than two old hacks worn out on the road. Apropos, is not the Scotch phrase auld lang syne exceedingly expressive? There is an old song and tune which has often thrilled through my soul. You know I am an enthusiast in old Scotch songs. I shall give you the verses on the other sheet.” The song on the other sheet was Burns' first version of “Auld Lang Syne”.

With slight amendments, the Scottish poet sent a copy of the song to James Johnson (Burns’ editor), who delayed publishing it, possibly because the air to which it went had already appeared in the Museum with words by Ramsay, beginning: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot.” But Johnson eventually changed his mind and put the song into the fifth volume of the Museum, which

appeared about six months after Burns' death. The tune to which it was matched in the Museum first appeared in Playford's Original Scotch Tunes, in 1700, though doubtless it was then at least half a century old for it was the tune to which the antecedents of Burns' poem were written.

The first phrase ‘should auld acquaintenance be forgot’ can been traced as far back to an anonymous ballad in the Bannatyne Manuscript of 1568, “Auld Kyndnes foryett”, the last of the eight stanzas which ends with “Thairfoir this warld is very frewch; And auld kyndnes is quyt foryett." From that first known use, it is also recognized in a slightly later ballad, probably by the courtly poet Sir Robert Ayton (1570-1638). First published in Watson's Choice Collection of Scots Poems, 1711, Ayton's poem begins “Should auld acquaintance be forgot; And never thought upon; The flames of love extinguished, And freely past and gone?”. The next reference is in the Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence Display'd published in London in 1694. The author quotes a sermon: “Did you ever hear tell of a good God and a cappet [pettish] prophet, Sirs? The good God said, Jonah, now billy Jonah, wilt thou go to Ninevah, for Auld lang syne?” Henley and Henderson refer to a street song, dating from the end of the 17 th century which had the refrain “On old long syne; On old long syne, my jo; On old long syne: That thou canst never once reflect; On old long syne." This, attributed to Francis Sempill, appeared in Watson's Choice Collection, but appears to derive from Ayton. The song which Ramsay wrote to the tune, printed with his words in the Museum, was published in his Scots Songs, 1720. The first eight lines establish the connection, "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Tho' they return with scars? These are the noble hero's lot, Obtain'd in glorious wars.”

At least two other political ballads of the period exist which exhibit turns of phrase which sound in Burns' version: and in 'The Old Minister's Song', 'Tullochgorum' Skinner came nearer than most: "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Or friendship e'er grow cauld?..... We dinna for ilk ither spier As we did lang syne?" So the question exists was Burns, in fact, aware of these older poems? Almost certainly he was. But if his claim to Mrs Dunlop was correct, the poem could possibly have also come from an unknown poet of whose version not a trace can be found. Cromek (author of the 18 th

century “Reliques of Robert Burns”) alleged evidence that the two best stanzas were by Burns. William Stenhouse, the editor of an early 19 th Century reissue of the Museum, stated that Burns admitted to Johnson that only three stanzas were old, the other two being written by himself. George Thomson was certainly suspicious of the supposed old originals. In September 1793, Burns forwarded him the third known manuscript of the song, with some minor changes, the most important of which is the substitution of 'my dear' for 'my jo' in the chorus. In the accompanying letter Burns remarked: “One song more, and I have done, 'Auld lang syne'. The air is but mediocre; but the following song - the old song of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript, until I took it down from an old man's singing - is enough to recommend any air.”

Some time later, after Thomson had discovered from Stephen Clarke that Johnson had a copy of 'Auld Lang Syne' and had noticed that the air was already in the Museum to Ramsay's words, he must have written to Burns, who replied in November 1794: “The two songs you saw in Clarke's are neither of them worth your attention. The words of 'Auld lang syne are good, but the music is an old air, the rudiments of the modern tune of that name. The other tune you may hear as a common Scots country dance.”

From these tangled starts, bandleader Guy Lombardo is often credited with popularizing the use of the song in North America through his annual broadcasts on radio and TV which began in 1929. However, newspaper archives have

December 2007

articles dating back to 1896 that describe revellers on both sides of the Atlantic using the song to usher in the New Year. Regardless the origins, it is and will continue to be a staple for all New Year’s Eve festivities.

Available at all local Chapters outlets.

December 2007

CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

The following strings represent the first letters of each word in the first line of popular Christmas carols and songs. See how many you can solve!!

1. JBJBJATW2. OTFDOCMTLGTM3. IDOAWCJLTOIUTK4. SNHNAICAIB5. AIAMNCFAB6. RTRNRHAVSN7. FTSWAJHS8. JOSNLYETW9. OCAYFJAT10. CROAOFJFNAYN11. DTHWBOHFLLLLLLLL12. OTNPLHFTH13. SBRAYLITLSIG14. OHNTSABS15. CSBSDIHSITATAFOC16. OLTOBHSWSTL17. WTKOOABGWTA18. GTIOTMOTHAEW19. YBWOYBNCYBNPITYWSCICTT20. WWYAMCWWYAMCWWYAMCAAHNY

Christmas sale is in full swing.