On piping with Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums - Year 1

It’s December 2013 and I come to the end of my first year in a pipe band. Last Friday was our band’s last performance of the year, playing for the San Mateo Fire Fighter’s Academy graduation in Atherton. At last count the band performed 22 times in the year culminating with our band’s Scottish Christmas concert at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Saratoga, CA earlier this month!

Mathematically the band played almost every other week. We played in six parades, 3 competitions and a myriad of performances big and small; some with the full band, some with smaller numbers of pipes and drums. We played some in full uniform, others in band shirt and glengary. I played in 16 of the 22 gigs and performed as well as Piper John B for additional weddings, memorials and parties. A tremendously big Thank You goes to my wife and family for encouraging and supporting my musical addiction. I would have to say that I’ve had the best year of piping since taking up the bagpipes! Add in weekly practices with the band and practicing my instrument, I’d have to say that I’ve had almost enough piping for one year.

Playing music, whether wood wind, string, percussion, brass or even bagpipes is a wonderful past time. Playing at one level is the partial mastery (spelled: P R A C T I C E) of a difficult instrument, at another is performing at a level that people enjoy hearing. We practice in hope of improving musically and play to give pleasure to those who come to listen. Some of us also have a competition genetic predisposition that spurs us to perfect our technique. The Stewart Tartan’s competed as a band and improved. Hopefully we will continue to improve in 2014. Some members of the band also competed as soloists. It takes guts to put yourself in front of an adjudicator and be judged on your playing. My hats off to Wes, Dave, Daryl and Melody for doing just that, taking the wins and losses in stride, always striving to become better musicians.

As for me, as delighted as I was in 2013 to be playing weekly with many musically kindred spirits in a wonderful pipes and drums corp., I see work (also spelled P R A C T I C E) ahead in the New Year. Work is also spelled: F U N, as I hope to play in a pattern of continuous improvement in preparation for performing for many friends still be met. There’s certainly new music ahead (starting the year with ‘Mrs. Lilly Christie’, ‘Steam Train to Mallaig’ and ‘Colonel Macleod’ reel, maybe solo competition, certainly more parades, band competitions and performances.

Thank you to all those who listen to our band, and music!

Merry Christmas!

John B

'Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people, for unto you is born this day a Savior which is Christ the Lord.'  Luke 2:11

On piping for a wedding in Yosemite National Park

I’ve written before that two of the greatest honors a piper may be blessed with are first, in  playing for a memorial service bringing comfort and in honoring someone who has passed from this life, and second, to play at a wedding ceremony where the lives and hearts of a couple come together in marriage. The bagpipes lend themselves to celebration in either circumstance.

Just before Thanksgiving this year I was asked to travel from our home in Silicon Valley to Yosemite National Park to provide music for a couple getting married next to the Merced River on the Valley floor. I was excited just to be going to Yosemite in the Fall with my young wife, let alone being honored with piping for a very much in love young couple. The groom described the affair as incorporating one of their favorite places, Yosemite, with Scottish touches of kilts and plaid, wrapped in and surrounded by family to witness their bond of love.  

Yosemite in autumn is a magical place with crisp air, trees dropping leaves of orange, yellow and red, the Merced River reflecting the beauty of the mountains backdrop. The fall also sees fewer visitors to the park, so trails and roads are less travelled and the park in general has a slower pace. You can visit the historic Ahwahnee Hotel and sit by the enormous public fireplace, hike across a valley meadow of golden grasses or sit on a rock and take in views that really have barely changed in 150 years. You may experience a frost in the morning so be prepared for cold nights and chilly mornings. In a word: majestic!

The Sunday of the wedding dawned bright, cool and amazingly clear. My wife and I enjoyed coffee and a snack in front of a fireplace near the Visitor’s Center. Then it was off to change into kilt, warm up the bagpipes then meet at the Swinging Bridge. Years ago, it actually did swing, but today is as stout of a structure as you can find, able to support multitude of tourists and one bagpiper. We arrived at the bridge, by arrangement, before the couple, met both sides of the family then struck up playing 11:45am expecting to play for fifteen minutes. As I played, I marched across the bridge within sight of the granite wall of Yosemite Falls. The bridal party arrived, the bride beautiful in her white gown, shoulders covered with the red plaid of her family; the groom in a kilt of green family tartan. I met them on the far side of the bridge and piped them slowly across to the ceremony to Highland Cathedral, with the couple stopping to greet family and friends. The ceremony began on the banks of the Merced with the Sun giving its mid-day warmth to everyone. Once the ceremony concluded, I played from center span of the bridge while the family and newlyweds received congratulations, talked, hugged and took pictures. One touching symbol of their new unity was the bride removing her plaid and replacing it with the groom’s plaid about her shoulders. It was a beautiful meaningful moment; simple and sweet.

We then drove to Curry Village for the reception held for the newlyweds. I played tunes outside to lead and draw wedding guests to the reception room. Once everyone had arrived, I concluded with one last tune. We were then off to drive home to the Bay Area. It had been a beautiful day of celebration and memories; one that no one in attendance will soon forget.

On piping for John F. Kennedy, 1963

As a nine year old boy growing up in the Central Valley of California, the news of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the US, probably went somewhat over my head. Schools closed, my parents were shocked by the news, there was live TV coverage of the formal state funeral and then life went back to normal for me with my parent’s celebrating their November anniversary and then on to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fifty years later events still hold an impact on me and my generation. As a history buff and bagpiper, when I heard that there had been bagpipes included at the funeral of a president, I went looking for more details. On the order of magnitude of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City, nearly everyone from my generation has a story to tell and remembers where they were when the events of November 1963 happened.

On November 13, 1963, a week prior to the Kennedy assassination, the military band, including pipes and drums of the Black Watch Regiment of Scotland made a visit to the lawn of the White House at the request of President Kennedy. As the band played at the charity event, reports would write that this day with President Kennedy and his family was the last happy time they would spend together. Bruce Cowie, who was just 24 at the time (now 74) and one of the Black Watch pipers that day, spoke with BBC News that he remembered that it was "good fun" but he says: "We all did our traditional moaning because it (the day they played at the White House) was our day off." Later he would reflect on the historical significance the band playing would later have. Much of their appearance has been captured on video linked below.

JFK Presidential Library: Nov. 13, 1963 Back Watch Pipers at White House

On November 22, 1963, nine days after their performance, JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Within days, the arrangements for Kennedy’s state funeral were in play. One historical note was that Mrs. Jackie Kennedy sent a note to the Back Watch band, then touring in Kentucky, asking if pipers would come and provide some of the music for the funeral procession. The band would send nine pipers.

According to the Kennedy Presidential Library web site: http://www.jfklibrary.org on the day of the funeral, November 25, 1963, nine pipers of the Black Watch of the Royal Highlanders Regiment marched during the procession from the Capitol, but only played from the White House to St. Matthew’s Cathedral. Their musical selections played were "The Brown Haired Maiden," "The Badge of Scotland," "The 51st Highland Division,” and "The Barren Rocks of Aden." The nine pipers had originally prepared what might have been expected in Scotland for such a somber day: standard laments ‘Flowers o' the Forest’ and ‘Land o' the Leal’. When they found out that the marching pace of the procession would be faster, the band chose the parade pieces. Major Ronnie Proctor, Black Watch Association secretary, said: “It is a great honour that a foreign country’s (the U.K.) pipers and servicemen are allowed to take part in an overseas head of state’s funeral. It’s pretty unique.”

As part of President Kennedy’s graveside service that same day, the US Air Force Pipe Band played ‘Mist Covered Mountains’ while the military honor guard carried the president’s casket from the military caisson to Kennedy’s final resting location at Arlington National Cemetery, where the eternal flame was eventually lit by Mrs. Kennedy thus completing the service.

Thanks to a heritage of highland bagpiping in the US and UK that touches lives wherever the pipes are played, whether in joyful fun or in sorrowful loss.

References:

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/JFK-Fast-Facts/Funeral-Music.aspx

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/angus-the-mearns/black-watch-piper-will-honour-jfk-50-years-on-1.155945

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/angus-the-mearns/an-amazing-experience-forfar-man-remembers-the-day-he-met-jfk-1.157561

On fighting the good fight

November 2, 2013 saw the passing of a brave young woman, Catherine Young, from this life, losing the battle to the nemesis of cancer. I had the honor and privilege and chance to enjoy a short friendship with her.

In December, 2012, my family and I attended the Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums Christmas Concert at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Saratoga, CA. There, we enjoyed the music, bagpipes, drums, Scottish fiddlers, Scottish dancing and singing. Leading the program was an impressive young woman and leader, obviously in charge, with all eyes on her musical direction. Catherine was the Pipe Major for the band. I felt drawn during the concert to approach Catherine afterward at the reception to talk about joining the band as a piper. Approaching her took some time, as many people, friends, family and acquaintances all wanting to speak with her, socialize and congratulate her on the band’s (and her) performance.

Not quite knowing how to open the conversation and feeling a little awkward, I was able to finally have a moment of her attention congratulating her on the band’s performance. Her gracious response put me at immediate ease as she asked key questions as to capabilities, years of playing experience, why I might be interested in playing with the Stewarts, etc. She then gave me an encouraging word to send her an email and she’d have my email added to the band’s New Year’s 1st meeting notice for members. After thanking her, she turned to the next admirer and I was ready to go home and start practicing so I wouldn’t look / sound the total dweeb when I showed up at the band’s first practice.  

Catherine started her piping career with the Piedmont High School Kiltie Band.  She was the Pipe Major for the Piedmont Kilties for two years.  She played briefly with the Black Ravens Pipe Band and more recently was Pipe Sergeant of the Monterey Bay Pipes & Drums. Later she founded and was Musical Director of The Piping Circle, a local group of pipers playing informally for a host of gigs. In 2011 she assumed the role of Pipe Major for the Stewart Tartan Pipes & Drums.  Her enthusiastic leadership guided the Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums to go from a local parade band, improving our level of music, in order to re-enter the Western United States Pipe Band Association’s pipe band competition arena. With a B.A. in music and the natural leadership, Catherine made us want to improve musically on the pipes and as a band ensemble.  She had a drive to never rest on past accomplishments and instead her focus was one of positively looking.

In those early months of 2013 I was blessed to be able to spend a number of pre-band time slots playing chanter and pipes with and for her, going through passages of the myriad of music to be memorized before joining the band for parades, and eventually competition. Catherine made me feel welcomed in the band, as a piper and friend. Her encouragement was inspiring and I found myself wanting to do the best I could for her and the band. Even as she guided the band in those early months, the illness slowly taking its toll, and the doctors doing their best to reverse the course of the cancer, she would still show up to practices and encourage, extoll and demand more and better from us.

We’ve lost a good friend to cancer. My prayers go out to her family. Catherine’s life and influence goes beyond her passing: to the family she loved, to the music she played, to the leadership she showed, to the love of life she lived, to the courage and bravery she demonstrated during her illness and to the many friends she made wherever she went.

I, among many, will miss her.

On piping for a wedding

Of all the requests as a piper which I’ve been given, the honor and privilege of piping for a couple to be married is at the top. To be part of such a joyful ceremony that brings two people who are in love to become one in the eyes of God is very humbling, very enjoyable and a challenge all at the same time. I count myself blessed to be part of such occasions. Whether in a church, other enclosed site or outside venue, the challenge to ‘be your best’ is here.

The occasion, as part of the whole wedding plan, begins months earlier with the bride or couple deciding to use the bagpipes in their ceremony and /or reception. Once contacted, my job begins with offering time in conversation or on the pipes with the engaged couple. On one such occasion, I offered to join the couple for a music ‘tasting’. Much like cake tasting, a sample of music that may be played is presented to the couple. I arrive tuned and warmed up, and present myself at the home, or venue chosen, and play several pieces. Most likely, I will have had a conversation as to what music the couple is looking for. Once, the couple asked me to play several hymns in order to choose the music for the bride to walk down the aisle. I played the tune with the couple listening. We then talked about playing two, the first as a prelude to the bride’s entrance, then the second for her to enter and walk to the alter. As the bride herself is a musician, she knew the tempo in her mind, which we agreed upon. The ‘tasting’ went very well. Then after playing a few more tunes, I paused to discuss with the couple only to hear from two or three doors down a pair of dogs crooning in harmony in response to my playing. It made us all laugh.

Before the wedding I like to preview the venue in person and play the music through (at least in my head) as I march down the (imaginary) aisle. I’ll do this, if possible, a week to ten days before the ceremony. I also confirm with the bride in that time period and the wedding coordinator that everything is set, and confirm the detailed times for rehearsal and wedding. Once the rehearsal day arrives there should be no surprises. Yet a piper does have to remain flexible and open to any last minute additions or changes. After all, it’s not my big day, but the bride’s and groom’s big day.  If any changes are requested, I make those changes happen, confirming with the bride as the final arbiter of changes.

The rehearsal will be a time of waiting for the piper to do my part for the bridal party. I make it a point to show up early, tuned up and ready to play. I may even play a few tunes for fun while we wait for someone to arrive, or some aspect to be handled.  It keeps people entertained and my pipes warmed up. I expect to be there are a couple hours and will probably be asked to do the run through twice. I’m not there to joke around or goof off, but I’m there to act professionally and be at the beck and call (musically) for the bride, groom and/or wedding coordinator.

On the day of the wedding, I plan on arriving early, dressed and tuned, prior to guests arriving. While the caterers are setting up, I’ll check in with the wedding coordinator, say hi to the groom and his men and officiating pastor, and do a final run through in my head. This is where the time in preparation will pay off. The tunes are ready. I’ll do a final tuning sequence in a practice room, if possible, and then wait for the ceremony to begin. Here’s where the experience in bagpiping can pay off. The waiting and then the final OK to play can make one nervous, and may even cause over blowing and take oneself off one’s game. Don’t fall into this trap. The key is being prepared mentally and having confidence in your instrument and playing. Enjoy yourself as the piping commences and play with a surety that will elevate the event from a performance to the experience of a lifetime for the bridal party and all in attendance. Your confidence will shine through. I make myself available for photos with the bridal party and whoever the bride wishes me to be photographed with.

Once the ceremony or reception duties are completed, I make sure to congratulate and thank the bride and groom, wedding coordinator, etc. for the privilege of being part of the day before saying my goodbyes. I will also follow-up a performance with a thank you note to the bride and groom.

On memorizing pipe tunes

Highland bagpipes are certainly one of the loudest instruments you may find; yes, this instrument cannot vary in volume; there is no playing pianissimo or crescendo, just fortissimo, and yet the musicality is still there when played well. As a performance instrument, bagpipes are also always performed with music memorized. So how does one go about memorizing multiple tunes? Is it as simple as playing the tunes over and over again? No. Whether performing solo or with a band (especially with a band!) one needs to play the notes and embellishments as written. One reality that I’ve found is that not everyone memorizes as easily as another. I have to work hard to memorize a piece. Here’s what I found helps and works:

Practice the music – You’ve heard the music played somewhere and you like it! Before it can be memorized and performed a piper must be able to play the music correctly and with proper embellishments. So just start by playing the piece on the chanter. Play it slowly, and correctly with embellishments, until you have the notes played with the grace note embellishments. Soon after, I recommend playing the music on the pipes in practice. This also helps later in transitioning from memorized tune of the chanter to memorized on the pipes.

Phrase recognition – Almost every pipe tune has sections, phrases or bars of music that repeat. It may be a starting or ending theme in a part of music. Recognizing these phrases is key to memorization and helps a piper to better understand the music. Phrases may be from two to four measures of music. Some instructors encourage using highlighters of different colors to show any repetition. This may help inputting the tune together in your head.

Start with the end in mind – Pipers often notice that the ending phrase is one of the most repeated in a tune. Start memorizing these phrases. It will build your confidence in working on other phrases. Tying other phrases into the ending phrase will come easier as you practice tying them together.

Bagpipe music is often composed of two or four parts. As I start memorizing, I break each part of the tune into lines of music and then phrases within each line. As you memorize, you’ll recognize in yourself how your mind works and how long each phrase to be memorized can be. Phrases may be shorter if the complexity of the tune is greater, or conversely longer is the tune’s complexity is easier or that the tune is more singable.

Sing the tune in your head as you learn the tune on the chanter or bagpipes. This allows you to reinforce the memorization. Then when you play the tune, sing the song in your head as you build muscle memory.

Build phrases into parts – Play what you can from memory. Then go back and review the music for what you played correctly and what you didn’t. Memorizing tunes is both humbling and honest work. It’s one exercise where we can’t cheat. For me, it’s just plain hard work. Even while continuing to play a piece of music, building each phrase into a line, then into a part, then into a tune. I use my smart phone to record these memorized phrases, then play them back while I read the music. Great for self correcting.

Keep playing the parts you know adding to them, building each phrase. Envision each line or phrase or part, or repeated part with pick-up notes until you are playing it well. I like to alternate playing a phrase or part by memory then play it the next time with the sheet music. This reinforces playing both the notes and the musicality correctly. Combine that with recording and playback review with music.

Another tried and true technique for memorizing is to do it from the last phrase of a part backward. Take the last phrase, add the next to the last to it and so on. Keep doing this until you have the part memorized. Continue this until the whole tune is memorized.

As I work to memorize, I tap my foot to establish the tune’s tempo and use a metronome to aid in forcing me to memorize to a proper beat. I encourage using the metronome while recording playing as you will soon hear where you are off the beat or are rushing a phrase on run down the scale.

After all that hard work, knowing you’ve mastered a tune, play with all your heart and mind to bless others with your music. Be that at a memorial service, a wedding or a party your practice will pay off in the confidence you have in mastering a beautiful and unique instrument.

On Piping in a parade

Pipers, as musicians, for the most part, live to perform. There are many different personalities that take up piping. Some are quiet, some boisterous, some bossy, some followers, some very dedicated, some are in it just for fun, some humble and some outwardly proud (the list could go on and on). Yet to a man or woman, we love the sound of piping, and I believe we all hope to be asked to play for others. Playing solo can be daunting in that you are putting yourself ‘out front’ for all to hear and see. Some of us love that; others not so much so. Here is where playing in a group or even a pipes and drums band can have its advantages. Parades give us all a chance to perform in the company of others to entertain many who we may march by. The band (pipes and drums) acts as one unit, each supporting the other.

The band on parade is both a musical and visual performance. The picture: the skirl of the pipes, accented by the Scottish snare drums, tenor drums twirling their sticks, the base drum keeping the tempo, band members marching in tight formation all feet marching in unison, lines and diagonals straight, kilts swaying to the temp and music. The music is heard above all else, yet rivets spectators’ attention as the band performs, or even marching sprightly to the drum line’s cadence. The pipe major as the band’s leader calls the tune; the drums roll off; the pipes strike-in in unison; music flows with an ancient musical sense sometime with two part harmonies of the pipes. Combine that with the visual of the band wearing kilts of a specific tartan, jackets, shirts, hats, hose, spats, shoes and you have a stunning performance on parade. In the lead is the Drum Major in his (her) regalia including the traditional long mace used in commanding the band’s march. The Drum Major is not just a figurehead, but functionally leads the band throughout the parade and represents the band at reviewing stands with his salute. 

But there are challenges in piping for parades. First there’s the music, both piping and drumming. A band such as ours has a sense and focus on including all who love the pipes (and drums) and want to participate. We encourage every level of piper to improve the musicianship in learning tunes and improving technique. And from all levels and age of piper we encourage each other to improve and join in whenever possible. This year the Stewart Tartans marched in five parades and a myriad of performances. All are encouraged to join in. I love that about this band. The circular argument comes into play here. No matter your level of play, you are encouraged to join in, but by doing so you need to dedicate time to your instrument and musicianship to play well as you join in. And build the physical stamina to play for extended periods of time. There is a learning curve, but it’s not an insurmountable one.

Second challenge is marching and playing. Ok, I may trip on occasion when walking and chewing gum at the same time. Piping and marching is akin to that. It takes concerted practice. Beginning with learning the music to the point where you can concentrate on both playing music and marching in formation. Add on top of that the visual commands of the Drum Major or Pipe Major (if the DM is unavailable) indication when tunes begin, stepping off, when to mark time (marching in place), when to stop playing (or repeating / keep playing), etc. Are your arms swinging to the height of the other pipers; are you dressing (aligning) yourself to the person to the right, and in front. Then to put it all together as a marching performance and make it look easy. That’s all part of the performance.

Yet, when done right, the band sounds and works as one. The crowd appreciates the professionalism of the band’s performance music, marching and appearance, and the clapping / cheering rings in your ears. Afterwards, someone may come up to you and say a simple thank you… making all the hours of work worthwhile.