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Glasgow in January: The Bothy Band & Altan

January 30, 2024 on 3:01 pm by Michael Grey | In Music, Photographs, Pipe Bands | Comments Off

That wise and great song-writer, Paul Simon, said that “music is forever; music should grow and mature with you, following you right on up until you die”. I’m not sure if in these words he referred to the music he made or if he was talking about the music he loved. I know the two are likely not quite the same; I’ll assume the later and bolt on a, “hear, hear!”. So, to be clear, I agree: music should grow and mature with you.
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Be Thankful: New Year’s Eve, Central Hotel, Glasgow, 1929

December 31, 2023 on 5:30 pm by Michael Grey | In News, Photographs, Stories, Tips | Comments Off

For many of us, especially those living in the so-called developed world, 1929 was a watershed year. Among other things, this year marked the beginning of “The Great Depression” and, with it, real economic and social upheaval. It’s unlikely that your parents, grand-parents or great-grand parents – depending on your age, of course – were untouched by the significant fall-out from roiling economies and the resulting widespread feeling of human want across much of the world.
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Practice Chanters Up!

November 30, 2023 on 11:59 pm by Michael Grey | In Stories, Tips | Comments Off

There are apparently no fewer than 19 musical instruments that can be played with one hand (or no hands!). Among them, as you’ll likely know, are the trumpet, trombone, harmonica and didgeridoo.
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Halloween Bagpipes

October 31, 2023 on 4:06 pm by Michael Grey | In Music, Photographs | Comments Off

It’s All Hallow’s eve and shenanigans and candy-collecting have been going on for hours all over the world where Halloween is marked. Here, a stash of chocolate bars sit in wait the first knock at the door in, I’d guess, less than two hours.
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Magic with No Borders (Prosit!)

August 31, 2023 on 8:21 am by Michael Grey | In Photographs, Stories, Tips | Comments Off

It’s the last day of August and, for the second time in about a month, I’ve found myself in the stunning pastoral countryside of rural Germany – for piping. What else!
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Maxville Games 1949 / What’s their secret!?

July 31, 2023 on 5:34 pm by Michael Grey | In Pipe Bands, Solo Piping, Stories, Tips | Comments Off

In undertaking some other work related to this coming weekend’s North American Championships, the Glengarry Highland Games at Maxville, Ontario, I stumbled on an interesting broadsheet page from Glengarry County Archives. This edition of the paper is full of interesting facts and colour related to the 1949 games, including, one back-page story headline, a real eye-waterer for pipers, especially: “Ottawa Girl Loses 3 Fingers While on Vacation”. You will see most of the games’ headline reporting lands on the front page (photo from front page included here).
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In Praise of Round Reels

June 30, 2023 on 1:11 pm by Michael Grey | In Audio File, Solo Piping, Tips | Comments Off

I’ve always been a big fan of “roundish” bagpipe reels. Not every reel suits this style but when I say “roundish” I’m talking about tunes that are less dot-cut and more even; that is, where time is more evenly distributed. In saying “dot-cut” I’m referring to a figure of notes where a note steals time from the note next to it and so the thief note is held longer than the victim note (and apologies for the strained metaphor).
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Adventures in Judging Piping & Drumming (and a photo)

May 29, 2023 on 3:38 pm by Michael Grey | In Humour, Photographs, Pipe Bands | Comments Off

Aside from getting a front row seat to good music, the best part about travelling around the place judging pipers and drummers is the people you meet. At its heart a good pipe band is a social club and that goes, too, for the judging game. While judges in most places are compensated for expenses and receive a fee, most don’t sit in judgement for the money. Travelling to games usually involves some degree of tedium – a little traffic here, a crabby border agent there. Its new friends made and old friendships renewed that is the best part of judging (that and the always five star accommodation, of course).
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Among the Best Ever Piping Events in Ontario: The 43rd Livingstone Invitational

May 15, 2023 on 12:35 pm by Michael Grey | In News, Photographs, Shout Outs! | Comments Off

My first time attending the annual Livingstone Invitational piping contest was in 1980. Then I was a kid in senior amateur solo piping – “grade one”. Like now, I was a keener. Loved the piping. Like now, I thought I knew a lot more than I did. I was then taught by Bill Livingstone, Jr. – so likely had a sort of Livingstone bias: his Old Man – the founder of the gathering – was a great character, and, I have to say, I’m grateful to have known Bill, Sr. a little.
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John Wilson’s Finest Tune: Tom Kettles

April 30, 2023 on 3:59 pm by Michael Grey | In Music, Score & Sound File, Stories | Comments Off

In his autobiography, “A Professional Piper in Peace and War” (1979), John Wilson wrote that he considered his composition, the six-parted reel, Tom Kettles, his “finest composition”. It’s a technically tricky tune, full of interest – and original melody. As I’ve mentioned before, for me it straddles the line between hornpipe and reel, with maybe the reel vibe edging out that of the hornpipe by a hair. It’s a happy-sounding tune with a bright and lyrical – almost song-like – quality to it.
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