February 2004

On a cold breezy day, with threatening snow, we held our latest Arkanasas Piobaireachd Society meeting here at the Lyon College campus in Batesville.

Starting off the playing was young Tristen Dean of Boise Idaho. He chose Clan Campbell's gathering to play, from his ever increasing repertoire of tunes. The Russian, aka Serge Kuzin, helped out with the fine tuning for young Tristen. An excellent ear on that multi-instrumentalist, Serge. The ground flowed nicely with just enough on the low A's to keep things honest. Tristen is want to emphasize the high A, and although this is acceptable, not advised in these regions. A cracking good crunluath variation finished off a very nice tune.

Ms Lisa Ronis was next up with a lovely rendition of MacIntosh's Banner. Pipes were going nicely, with a stopped bass drone towards the end of the crunluath a bit of a shock for all attending this day.

An ill Ken Adler rolled off his deathbed, and crawled over to the Scottish Heritage building, after making a dozen donuts and putting them in a box that he hand-painted to look like a Daylight Donuts box.  Then he courageously presented The Field of Gold, and Struan Robertsons Salute on an incomparable bagpipe.  For a sick guy.  We all expect more Low A when he's better.

Jim bell went through his list of tunes for the upcoming Metro Cup. The MSRHJ tunes were Portland Castle, Shepard's Crook, Loch Caron, Wee Man From Skye, and Bingo and the Boffer, written for Dave Bailiff and John Wassman respectively.

The Ceol Mor selections on the day were Grain in Hides, Corn in Sacks; The Bell's of Perth, Kiss of the King's Hand, and End of the Great Bridge.