November 1, 2003

It was a perfectly lovely autumn day with temperatures in the low 80s by afternoon.  The sky was a deep blue, and punctuated only by cottonball puffs of cumulus.  The leaves on the trees surrounding St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway were in the process of turning, and a soft breeze lightly caressed the attendants of the November gathering.  The sole drawback was that I took along a digital camera to get some photos, and the re-chargeable batteries had gone beyond their useful life.  The camera was dead.

But the music was alive.  Jim Bell, Chris Knife, John Sayer, Tristen Dean, Will Sayer, Steve Hurd, and your humble correspondent were present to partake of fine weather, good company, a friendly church cat, and most excellent bagpipes.

We started the day in the cool, dark fellowship hall with practice chanters around a table.  Jim went over some refresher information for those who took up The MacIntosh's Banner at the October meeting.  Then he covered some of the fine points of Lament For the Old Sword, and we finished up with some discussion between Jim and Chris about Squinting Patrick.

Then it was time for breaking out the big sticks and adjourning to the churchyard.  Will was up first, and after a tasteful selection of light music that included a couple of jigs he gave us the previously mentioned Lament For the Old Sword.  Will has been unable to ascertain the make of his drones, but was loaded with Rockets, and played a new Naill chanter which combined to produce a lovely sounding, well-played tune.

Tristen was up next, and warmed up with Lyon College March.  He then showed great promise with a recently learned Struan Robertson's Salute.  A few minor memory problems were balanced by a particularly sweet sounding Soutar chanter.  He followed up with a bith of Caber Feidh Go Bragh, and then a set of light music which included The Jolly Beggarman.  He concluded his performance by playing Miss Delicia Chisolm.  He eventually turned around.

I was up next, and settled the pipe with Rhu Vaternish, as I often do.  I tuned a bit and followed with Captain Norman Orr-Ewing to get the fingers going.  As Tristan had just played Struan Robertson's, I settled on MacIntosh's Banner and was satisfied with the sound of my 90 year old Henderson drones (dubbed Rory Mor some years back) and silver soled Naill chanter of 1999 vintage.  A slightly flattish F was my only complaint, but the audience did not seem to find it offensive.

John Sayer followed me and tuned up a bit with Ian Rhuad's Lament.  He then played a lively version of the lesser known 6/8, Miss Ishabel T. MacDonald.  His Henderson drone sound was warm and full, and he provided us with a very pleasing rendition of The Old Woman's Lullabye.

Jim Bell kicked off with a bit of dance music to settle the pipe, and then played a Clan Campbell's Gathering that was smooth as butter.  Fhuair Mi Pog was then presented to us on an impeccable pipe.  He finished up with The Wee Spree in the Cameron fashion, Robert Reid cut ups in the variation, and an open Fosgailte as an A Mach, in homage to those long dead.

Chris Knife rounded out the afternoon of Piobaireachd playing.  He also settled the pipe with a selection of knuckle busting dance tunes.  Nice fingers on this youngster from Conway.  We think he shows real promise.  His A Machs in the last part of Reel of Tulloch RIPPLED!  The Flame of Wrath for Squinting Patrick was the piece Chris honored us with to cap off the gathering.  He burned the house down.  Ezeedrones in his Naills provided a lovely sound.  Also interesting to contrast with the sound produced last month by his fine sounding old Grainger & Campbell.

Next month takes us to Fayetteville on December 6th.

Slainte,

Kenton Adler