October 2, 2004

     The first meeting of the Society of the new academic year was held on a lovely Saturday in Brown Chapel on the Lyon College Campus.  In attendance were Jim Bell, Tristen Dean, Will Sayer, Fred Bowers, John Sayer, Darrick Williams, Grey Abernathy, Patrick McLaurin, Chris Collins, and Kenton Adler.  Members of the Scottish Society of the Ozark Region and several students came in at various times and listened to the day's presentations as well.

     Darrick was the first to play, presenting a Ground from Glengarry's Lament.  It is Darrick's first Piobaireachd, and his first puplic performance of the tune, and he accounted for himself well.

   Tristen was up next.  he settled the pipe with a 6/8, and then presented the little-known McGillicutty setting of The Boat Tune.  He followed with The Company's Lament, and played a particularly nice G-D-E Taorluath variation, but an unfortunate memory lapse terminated the tune prematurely.

   Patrick then borrowed Tristen's pipe and played Cock of the North. 

    Jim Bell then warmed up with a 2/4 on the lovely new Naill chanter he won as first prize in the light music at Ligonier, PA in September.  He started off with Glengarry's Lament, and then played Tulloch Ard beautifully, as we are accustomed to hearing from Jim.  Then he played a variety of jigs and reels, made a drone reed change and played and assortment of marches and reels, and ended things with a dizzying tune called The Seagull.

     Fred Bowers followed.  He got a 100% on the written in Ceol Mor this semester, by the way.  Fred played the Ground from Glengarry's and then finished up with Amazing Grace.

     Patrick then borrowed Ken's pipe, and after the initial shock of how easy they blow wore off, he gave a lovely rendition of Hector the Hero.

     Will Sayer played next and played Lament for the Old Sword.  Tristen made note of the excellence of Will's Crunluath in particular.

     Father followed son and John borrowed Will's pipe and played a lovely slow air, Katy's Lullaby to warm up and then played Glengarry's.

     Grey Abernathy also selected the Ground from Glengarry's Lament, played on Fred's lovely Hendersons.  He followed with Scotland the Brave, and then Miss Delicia Chisolm.

     While everyone took a short break Ken warmed up his pipe with Leaving Rhu Vaternish, then played Struan Robertson's Salute, followed by McIntosh's Banner.  Then finished up with a selection medley.

     By that time Patrick had gone over and retrieved his pipes, and played an entertaining selection of light music over the next fourty-five minutes or so as the SSOR held a meeting just outside Brown Chapel on the porch in front of The Bevens Room.

     Overall, a splendid day of good fellowship and good music, as always.