Happy New Year
That's it really, nothing big. Have a great last day of 2008, and look forward to lots of band in 2009.

The Christmas List

Dear Santa Callum:
We have been a good band this year, and we have a fairly long list. I hope you're sitting down. Last Christmas, we weren't sure we be around this year to write a letter, but I guess fortune smiles on those who just won't give up. First off, thanks for the new chanters that you brought last year. They have been great, and are easily the best chanters [for us] we've had. Those 1986 Sinclairs were pretty good, too, but after we lost two pipers in the C holes, it was time to trade up. Oh, and thanks for coming up to speak with some of the guys in the Maxville beer tent. Jim, Meg and Jordan were pretty certain that they saw you there, and of course we all believed them.

So, the first thing we need for Christmas is a sponsor. You know, the Legion has always been great to us, and we get to use the hall in return for piping at various functions as they need. We are immensely proud of that role, and will always continue to fulfill it, but we need a "sponsor" with deeper pockets, one who can really support the band financially, in return for the significant benefits that come with having your name splashed all over town, across the province, and wherever the band plays. [In 2008, that included several SK locations, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and North Dakota.] They say that Saskatchewan has among the healthiest economies in North America at the moment, and wouldn't that be a great way for a company to support the arts and culture in Saskatchewan?

OK, the second thing we need is kind of related to the first. We are in need of new uniforms. The pleats are falling out of many of the kilts we have had for years now, and lots of the "Modern MacTavish" is looking a little like "Weathered MacTavish, Ancient Colours With a Touch of Beer and Curry Sauce." I believe the curry sauce may be from the curry and chips stands at the Worlds in 2005 or 2006, or possibly from the tremendous curry buffet next to the Winnipeg Convention Centre, but I don't remember seeing anyone wear their kilt there. Possible culprits: Sean Hall, Gregor Burton. Hey, I'm just sayin....

As you know, Santa, it's hard to make a pipe band in a small city where people get more excited about perogies than they do about pipe bands, but it would really help if all the talented people who COULD play in a local band DID play in a local band. Know where I'm headin'? Santa, you pickin' up what I'm layin' down? Do that magic Christmas dust thing that worked so well for the Riders in 2007, and almost worked this season, until they ran out of legs to break, and played the wrong quarterback.

So, see what you can do. OK? It's been an interesting year Santa, and we can't complain [who would listen?], but you can always sweeten the pot slightly, and we'll be there to say "thanks!"

Who knows, maybe someone in the band would be moved to compose a Christmas Suite of Good Intentions in Bb or something?

Yours sincerely,
The CRPB

Lift a Glass to Alexander!
The band recently got some very good news in that famous brewer Alexander Keith's will be a major sponsor for the Mid-Winter Celtic Festival, one of the band's long-standing fundraisers. Our thanks to the guys who make this happen. We've worked with Keith's previously on projects, and they always turn out well, so we're looking forward to this one. Wherever you are, make sure your next case of beer is Keith's!

This year's Festival is going to be February 6th and 7th, with events and O'Hanlon's Pub [another great band supporter] and at The Exchange, which is a fantastic venue for a ceilidh. The band will be airing some new members and material that night, and we have a full slate of performers, including the Saskatoon band Circling Over Shannon.

There will be a full day of music Saturday at O'Hanlon's, and also Friday night after work, and there are more events to come, so stay tuned to the Festival web site!

The Epic Battle

In the last days of the Queendom, messengers came from West the with tales of dark forces assembling in the foothills, while to the East the blue hordes continued to extend their reign. Quietly, the hobbits made drone reeds, and seasoned bags, and tightened heads, in the knowledge that they would soon meet the forces of darkness.

Easy to portray the pipe band scene like a Lord of the Rings movie. Good and evil are relative, of course, depending on what band you happen to be in. The classic battle of opposing moral forces is often the way these things are sold within bands, as a way to motivate people to prepare. It often amuses me how quickly people are able to transfer from one mindset to another, at least on the surface, when they change bands. Of course, within a band, we also see people differently when they leave the Queendom. It's just the way it goes sometimes.

When the band first formed, we had some clear and distinct rivals: The Clain McBain Pipe Band in Calgary, the Stirling Pipe Band in Winnipeg, and the Victoria Park Pipe Band here in Regina. Later, there was the Glengarry Pipe Band from Calgary [McBain offshoot], and the Edmonton & District Pipe Band, and off and on the St. Andrew's Pipe Band from Winnipeg, until about 2 years ago, when they've been ON the whole time.

It's hard for me to see the current situation like the LOTR. The dark forces on the West have as many old CRPB players as we do, and Winnipeg St. Andrews has its share, too. So in the words of one storied ex-member, how can we "get pumped to do battle"?

Well Frodo, you must look within. What are the things that you seek to conquer as a player? What things are you "battling" to overcome? Coming into another band weekend, we all need to think about what things we can do to take the team forward by improving what we have to offer as individual band members.

The dark forces we need to worry about are the ones we bring with us. In the end, they are the only things over which we have control.

Tomorrow the CRPB will assemble for the 17th time to play at the Royal Canadian Legion's Remembrance Ceremony. Seems hard to believe that when we first started, a number of the current band members had not yet been born, but there it is. I find the day meaningful, sad, and enjoyable.

It is meaningful for many whose parents and grandparents served in the wars. My grandfather, John A. Fraser, left university studies in PEI to join the CEF in World War I, and served in Europe with the !st Canadian Tank Corps. My Dad, who grew up in Saskatoon, left his law career in 1939 to volunteer, and served with the Royal Canadian Service Corps in England, France, Germany and Holland, with several memorable breaks in Edinburgh and Glasgow. I knew all about Sauchiehall Street before I'd ever set foot there. The war was a vibrant thread in the tapestry of my Dad's life, and despite the passing of years, and thousands of miles separating, my Dad maintained a connection with other men with whom he served. When my Dad died in 1991, our family received letters from army friends who told us how important he was to them, despite the many years that had passed.

So on Remembrance Day, I think a lot of my Dad : Major R.A. MacDonald, M.B.E. and also my Grandfather: Lt. John A. Fraser. I think, too, of the many serving soldiers currently, including friends and fellow pipers.

The sadness comes from seeing the diminishing presence of "the Old Guard," those veterans of past wars who marched in such numbers 17 years ago, and who are in short supply now. There are new veterans to remember, and new fallen to commemorate, but time creeps on, the faces change.

And, November 11 is also a time of remembering the good stuff: the bonds and friendships, the shared experiences, and the ultimate victories, despite the odds and the heavy cost. I enjoy witnessing all this, and playing a role in commemorating, and I think the band has, over the years, served the Legion well. Long may it continue.

Remembering Brian
All the recent blog chatter has had me thinking about bass drummers and "mid-sections" or "bass sections" as they like to call them in Scotland. I voted in the pipes|drums poll because it seems like a good bit of fun. Apparently, some are working hard to stuff the ballot boxes, and some seem outraged that an award will be made from online poll results. Incidentally, I voted for Kathryn Tawse and the SFU bass section. I think she's brilliant every time she plays, and this year at the Worlds....wow. Lots of other good plays, too, and I did enjoy the HOE Shotts & Dykehead "inflate the tenor drum" trick. Cool, and fun.

Anyway, I got to thinking about CRPB bass drummers past to present, and the various things they brought to the band: Don Jeannotte, Jody Brin, Brian Fraser, John Hall, Mitch Stilborn, and now Karen Hala. Brian Fraser brought a lot to the band. It was about this time of year when he was tragically killed in a Winnipeg road accident, and I miss him still. Brian was one of those band guys who would do anything for the band, and anything to support people in the band.

In 1997, Brian won "Best Bass" at Maxville in the Grade 2 event. We was also a winner of that award at Moose Jaw, Regina, Red Deer, Canmore and other places. While he was justly proud of his various wins in that regard, he was really more interested in the band succeeding, and his efforts were completely focussed in that direction.

Whatever happens long term with the awarding of bass & mid-section prizes, let's remember that the contest is all about the band's ensemble performance, and not how one section of one band is better than those sections of other bands.

And I'll take a moment to remember a good friend and his bad jokes, and say thanks to all the members who have made the CRPB "bass section" over the years.

What a Difference a Year Can Make
Just completed the first "band weekend" of the new season, with players arriving from near and far for a Friday night to Sunday afternoon extravaganza of catching up, playing, O'Hanlon's, new reeds, tunes, etc. I was SO tired on Sunday night I was ready for bed at 9 pm, and instead watch the Field Marshal Montgomery DVD. More on that later.

A year ago, this band was in dire straits: no committed drum corps or lead drummer, not enough pipers, more than a year off competing...it's all here in the blog, go back and read more about it if you have forgotten! Anyway, to be on stage at Darke Hall Saturday, or in the Legion Sunday morning, you could be forgiven for not remembering how close it was, because we had a great weekend of practice, and played both MSRs and the medley [with 2009 changes] on the floor, and did a lot of work on new music on chanters and pipes.

We had a committed, solid team out to play, and it was a lot of fun. We had a steadily improving sound throughout the weekend, and made some plans for the year ahead. So, stay tuned: it'll be a good year.

And on the FMM DVD: it is an excellent production. The band is brilliant. Pipe sound is great, playing is superb, and the historical and anecdotal interview material is interesting and nicely edited. Lots there for drummers, soloists, and trivia buffs. Support the band, buy the DVD.

Passion for the Music
Thursday evening I had two different and related experiences that spoke to the reasons we do what we do. I met with Gord Taylor at the Conservatory. He got himself a new B-flat chanter that needed a reed, and I wanted to go through his recent book "One Tone Over the Line" with a view to getting my head around his material. Gord has been writing and publishing tunes for some time, and his musical ideas have been the basis for several medleys, and quite a few "show sets" for the old Stirling Pipe Band, and later the Winnipeg St. Andrew's Pipe Band. Gord was a member of both, and he has also developed his abilities as a composer, arranger, and with other instruments.

I found it refreshing and fun to sit down with the composer, hear him play his tunes, and learn from him how to play them, and what concepts were driving the composition. Gord hears lots of percussion and other instrumentation when he composes, and he seems to write music with a purpose in mind. He is passionate about his music and his tunes, refreshingly honest about what he likes and doesn't, and very happy to play and talk about the tunes. There is a lot of good material in this collection, and to get an idea about what Gord hears, be sure to check out his sound samples.

After spending a couple of hours playing tunes with Gord, and learning about his music, I wandered over to O'Hanlon's to talk to Niall about an upcoming gig [October 4th - Alexander Keith's Birthday - come hear us!], and he had a band in there. They were a young group of guys from Ontario, three guitars and a drum kit. They are called Poorfolk and they were good. There were only about 10 people in the place, and a few people on the upstairs balcony, but for any band, it would've been a pretty empty room. The thing was, they didn't care. They played like there was nothing except the music—the playing was very good, and the sound was good, and they didn't hold back on the chat or the rock&roll stage antics, or the passion in delivery of their tunes. If you saw it on YouTube, you'd think there were 1,000 people there.

Anyway, I found that pretty inspiring, too. The music IS what it's all about. They were laying it all out there, and seemd to be having a blast "just" playing. Sometimes, it can be easy to forget that the playing is what it's all about.

Change of Seasons, Change of Bands
If you are a reader of online news for piping, drumming and pipe bands, you will be aware of the many changes that are happening in some of Canada's best-known pipe bands. This trend is also prevalent in Scotland, and last year as a member of ScottishPower, I was amazed at how much chatter there was about who was going where on the weekend of the Cowal Games. It was in the lead-up practices to Cowal, and in Dunoon, that people started broadly discussing changes to bands such as Shotts.

And of course, we have been there, too. Just last year at this time, we were facing the prospect of losses...members going to other bands, taking a break and of course some "not going to other bands" who really were, and even when asked outright, still chose to make excuses about work and money rather than just say they had other plans. Wow. Talk about burning your bridges. There's even a theme song for that story! ; )

But, a spring and early summer of hard work, gain some members, develop some players, and possibly the best band trip yet—results notwithstanding—and here we are in the fall, with a stable membership, a little money in the bank, and quite a bit of work and fun ahead of us.

The first band practice was Sunday, and we had a solid turnout, played some potential new material, and worked on some MSR details, and also talked about plans for the 2008-09 season. At this point we have one US trip on the books, some local performances, some spring contests, and we are developing plans for some exciting travel in 2009.

We capped it with a beer on the deck of O'Hanlon's Pub, on perhaps the last truly warm Sunday afternoon of the near-to-last day of summer. It was a great way to start. Having been through lots of uncertainty with the band, I can only wish "best of luck" to all those bands and players experiencing changes and uncertainty for the coming season. It's never easy getting a large group of people all focussed on the same things and going in the same direction. It's tough.

However, we seem to be in the fortunate position of having a semi-stable starting point, for the first time in three years. Feels pretty good.

Things I've Learned About Pipe Bands

I was looking back over the previous year's blogs, and I thought this was pretty good, and worth repeating. It's a cheap way to update, I know, but I think the points stand up very well, especially in light of last year's on- and off-field developments.

1. You can't make a band sound good unless all the players sound good.
2. The band can't play well unless all the players are playing well.
3. Band players can't play well without investing significant time and energy to do so.
4. Experience and time served count for nothing if you're not working at your music.
5. Enthusiasm for the task and attitude are huge factors, but only if supported by persistent attention to details, and a willingness to change.
6. The point of a band practice is to refine what you bring to the hall. The more you bring, the better we can be. The reverse holds true also.

Maxville: A New Beginning The dust has more or less settled on an amazing Maxville & Montreal weekend, and the next steps are looking forward to building on that for next year. When you consider that we weren't too sure what we had going in January, and were still trying to find clarity in April, having a good-sized band compete in Grade 2—and at the Grade 2 level—was an astonishing turn around, given how few of the players have had any contest experience outside Grade 4, and how many new faces we worked into the mix.

I have heard from a lot of people who both liked the music, and loved the fact that the band was able to overcome such odds and make a showing. And, it was a pretty special feeling to play with so many young people having their first go in the grade. That was great.

The results speak for themselves. We have some things to improve. We need to deliver better tone start to finish: blowing is an issue, and we need to articulate and execute at a higher level so that we can get the unison happening, front and back. And, we will.

Hope that you're all there for the next leg: it was a great start, but it was a start, and the band needs your support and commitment to take the next steps. Have a great August, and see you in September.

Maxville 2008: Couldn't be Better
What a crazy couple of years for the band. From the high of a Scottish trip in 2006, to the low of not competing last year, to the even lower plateau of losing so many veteran members, and contemplating a future with no competitive CRPB. So here we are of the verge of a big band trip, and the players are all lined up. 14 pipers, 5 sides, 3 tenors and a bass. It's as big a band as we've ever played there. That's a long way from where things were in late 2007.

Congratulations to the band members who made it happen. Those of you who raised your level to play Grade 2, who travelled from a distance to play, who contributed enthusiasm and spirit to everything. For the first time ever, new players committed to 2x a week, and in the dead of winter came along for a tune late on a Wednesday night. Members contributed fundraising ideas, beef. quilts, time, volunteered in a wide variety of band related activities, all the while steadily working away to improve the band.

Regardless of contest placings upcoming, the season has been an unqualified success. We likely won't be the best or biggest Grade 2 band there, but we will have overcome the biggest obstacles to be there, and our presence on the field is a success for piping and pipe bands here on the prairie. And keep this in mind: it's a starting point. We going to go a distance.

Looking forward to playing with you all this week. Being a pipe-major is an odd position, and certainly trying of one's patience and sanity. I'll say this though—it's times like this, and this weekend, that makes it all worthwhile. I feel a little like Henry V [bring out your Shakespeare] before the battle. I look forward to standing with you on the field, and what we achieve will be measured not by a result, but by the fact that we faced the various challenges as a team.

KING HENRY V
What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin:
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

I Hear the Honking
The other day I was talking to Barbara about a recent job interview she had. She described how she used the V-formation of geese as an analogy to describe her leadership style. She likes to feel she is out front, but still likes to hear the honking of other geese behind. I guess we're all a bit like that. Sometimes, running a pipe band [is that what I do, or does it run me?] is a bit like that. You hope people are into what you are proposing. You hope that people are "behind you," and it IS good to hearing the honking.

My point: I hear it. I hear it in those great facial growths [The Mustache Silver Chanter], I hear it in the improvement of the sound and the tunes, in the tickets booked and paid for, the raffle tickets sold, the t-shirts ordered. Keep honking, keep practising.

Of Richard, Bags and Teamwork

Last night I was tying on a new sheepskin bag, and I got to thinking about Richard Parkes and the situation that he faced at the British Championships recently. Usually, we rely on Richard to teach us what great pipe sound is, how how to be gracious in victory, or a million other things about performance and preparation. This time, he teaches us that you're never too good to double-check your stocks and reeds. No matter how many Worlds and other majors you win, you still have to do the same stuff as the rest of us [only better] and of course, if you don't...

I was tying in the stocks when I thought of that, and it reminded me of SFU days when we would be hounded to check that stuff the night before, and when all players spent time agonizing over the details of the instrument. It all counts: what kind of hemp do you use on reeds? In which stock do you put the seasoning? How much?

So, make sure! Check your stocks, ensure your reeds are seated tightly, refine the joints on your drones, and [insert appropriate drum stuff here]. : )

While I was tying in the bag [which is BRILLIANT, btw], I was watching the Saskatchewan football game on TSN. The Riders' 1st and 2nd QB were both out of the game, and they brought in the 3rd string guy, who executed the game plan, and brought home the win. Teamwork is about doing YOUR job well. The biggest aspect of being on a team is knowing your role, and fulfilling it to the best of your ability.

As we haul down the last few weeks to Maxville weekend, and get prepared to compete there again, it's important for everyone to understand that the key to band success is YOU doing your part. And if the season so far is any measure—I'm sure you will.

So What Else is New?
This week the bagpipe and piping sites have lit up with comment over the Toronto Police Pipe Band's new "medley." Michael Grey wrote the piping, and Doug Stronach the percussion, and it's a new departure, for sure. Michael Grey explains the composition on his site.

What isn't new in all this is the negative reaction that some people feel obliged to provide, mostly anonymously. I've no quibble with someone who says, "Nah, I hate it!" and signs his/her name. Fair enough. All the gutless anonymous posts, however, lead me to believe that some people are more about just being knobs than about really discussing music.

I think I've listened to the damn YouTube about a dozen times now, and I like it more all the time. Having said that, I thought the Scottish-Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders were pretty good, too, and deserving winners, and I loved the new and improved Peel Regional Police. Way too many people are scathing in anonymous comment, when they wouldn't say it face-to-face.

Quite a bit is new in pipe bands at the moment. It's a fantastic time for listening to the music, and in most cases it's all posted on YouTube, or places like SFUTube within hours of the contest. If the Toronto selection is any indication, it should be an interesting summer!

The Time of Your Life = Today
The last few weeks have been busy ones for the pipe band, and there have been opportunities for multiple posts, but alas, not the time to follow through. This past weekend here was the one annual Highland Games weekend in Saskatchewan. It was a very important weekend for the City of Regina Pipe Band, because it signalled the return of the band to the outdoor competition field, and with a roster that is significantly different than the last time the band competed outdoors [Perth Highland Games, August 2006].

There have been a lot of really great moments in the City of Regina Pipe Band, and I have been fortunate to have been part of them all. We've had some great plays, and some good prizes in many different places. We have also had times when simply competing was in itself a huge victory of will over circumstance and geography.

The past year has been a tumultuous one in many respects. Through all the changes, the thing that has sustained my interest has been the keen desire of people to play. The band that took the field this weekend is a hodge-podge of types: young, old, experienced, inexperienced, and the majority of them have not played before in the band, and over half have not played in higher than a Grade 4 band. And yet...it seemed to work.

We had two great days of some good tone and music, and lots of laughs to go with it. Sure: there's room to improve, and we're a long way from where we want to be, but we're here, and we're getting better every week.

I can't say enough good about the band members who [all] played this weekend. Your loyalty, dedication and desire to make the band work have all paid off. My hat's off to you. See you at practice.

The Long Road Back
It occurred to me the other day that it has been a long time since this pipe band competed. Our last contest was August 2006: Perth Highland Games. A lot has happened since then, not the least of which has been a very major change in the band personnel.A quick poll at band yesterday revealed that of the 11 pipers and 5-6 drummers who were at practice, only 4 people had been with the band at Perth that day. That's huge.

We have a large number of band members who have not competed in Grade 2 before, some who haven't competed in years, and many who are competing with this band for the first time. That makes the upcoming weekend and the Brandon Highland Festival a kind of noteworthy day. We aren't expecting great things: only playing medley this weekend, and that is still "in development," but it was really great to be playing without scores/tunes on the floor for the first time yesterday.

Most encouraging to me was that we had and maintained a solid sound for the entire band practice. It could still be blown better and more consistently, but it is a major improvement over the sound of the band even a month ago.

It's been a long road from Perth to here. Thanks to all you band members who have made the commitment to get the band on the field again. Pipers have mad a strong commitment to two practices a week, and drummers who have worked hard to develop the corps with the LD at a distance. I'm looking forward to the weekend, and will be happy to see us on the field once again.

An Open Window
Today at band, it seemed as though the window opened slightly onto the spring and summer. It was a great day today, warm and sunny—one of those days where you almost [or actually] begrudge going into the dark Legion. But go we did, and it was an excellent practice. Worked on harmonies and medley bits, and played the medley a total of 6-7 times start to finish with the drummers.

Not only did the window open weather-wise, but what I'm getting at is that the medley had real promise today. You can hear the pieces coming together, and the sound getting stronger. Oh....there's still lots to do, no doubt, but there's real promise of some great music about to happen. Nice work.

To Talk of many Things
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
[Lewis Carroll: The Walrus and the Carpenter]

Quite a bit of water has flowed under the bridge since the last post. Hard to know where to begin, or how to draw it together. The weekend after being in Greenwood, NS as reported below, I was off to Calgary to judge a wee contest and play a few tunes. I had the pleasure of hanging out with James W and James P Troy, father and son from Victoria. Ever passionate about everything piping, Jamie senior is a fascinating guy, and no less so is James P, who only a couple of weeks later became one of a very few people in history to sweep all three pro piping events at the BC Pipers Annual Gathering. [See JWT Blog & Photos] What a great result for all concerned.

Also in Calgary, I had the pleasure of spending time with Dave Hicks, and it was great to catch up on the news, and hear how well things are going there. Sorry to hear that Dave won't be playing with the band this year, but it has been great having him in the band for the past couple of seasons! That would be a huge loss to any band.

Then there was St. Patrick's Weekend [remember when it used to be just a day?] and the concerts in Minot and at the Confluence Centre near Williston. Can't say enough about how well we were treated and received, and MANY thanks to the Celtic Committee in Minot for their hard work getting us down, and to the Moose Lodge for sponsoring us, and for Ebenezer's Bar for their fantastic hospitality and pints, and for the many people we met who were genuinely appreciative of the band and the music. Thanks to Paul and Diane Behm especially for their hospitality and organization. Thanks also to the staff at the Confluence Centre for once again having the band down, and for promoting the concert so well. We had a full house once again, and this time a gorgeous day for piping above the rivers. Then on the actual Holy Day of Obligation—March 17— we were at O'Hanlon's for pints and tunes, and quite a few laughs. Thanks to Niall and the staff at O'Hanlon's.

Easter Weekend we had a few sessions with the band. People in from Winnipeg, and drummers working hard to get the medley up, and lots of progress made. The medley is coming together, and starting to feel like fun.

The huge news in the past week os was the tragic death of one-time CRPB member Dan Matheson. Dan played with the band for a season way back in the early days, and then was for many years part of the Victoria Park Pipe Band, up until the last VP trip to Maxville, in about 2003. Since then, Dan had been P-M and piper with the Wa Wa Shrine in Regina. Hard to fathom this kind of news: terrible for all concerned, and certainly the local community will miss Dan's passion for piping and pipe bands. Our condolences to his many friends and family members.

And as to whether pigs have wings...just watch the band fly later in the season. ; )

The Piping Life
This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Greenwood, Nova Scotia to work with the 14 Wing CFB Greenwood Pipe Band. The band is run by Pipe Major Scott Pollen, who started his career in piping with the Kamsack, SK Air Cadet Unit. He learned pipes from Prince Albert resident Dave Monette, and later from the Yorkton & District Pipe Band. I first ran into Scott when he was about 16, and I heard him play solos at the Brandon Games, and asked Brian Fraser [our bass drummer, who lived in Yorkton, just south of Kamsack] who was the kid from Kamsack who could play so well. Scott ended up joining the CRPB, and got leave from cadet camp to attend Maxville with the pipe band. Scott played off and on with the band for a couple of years, and came back for a summer season in 2002 to play with the band. All the while, he continued with cadet piping, reserve pipe bands, and eventually was given the opportunity to join the regular forces, where he received training and passed his pipe major's training course. Now, Scott is a full-time Canadian Forces pipe major. He organizes and trains the 14 Wing Pipe Band, and fulfills other training and performance duties in the local community and with the Canadian Forces. The 14 Wing band performs at various tattoos and at events across Atlantic Canada and beyond.

It was great to get out there to work with Scott's band, and to see the work he is doing for piping in that part of the world. As you would expect of someone dedicated enough to be the only cadet piper in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Scott has thrown himself into the role, and has a professional looking and great sounding band going there, with a strong group of mostly civilian volunteers.

One of the disappointments of running a band like the CRPB is when people move on, and one of the great satisfactions is when you see them succeeding with new piping challenges. Most of us don't get the chance to turn our passion for piping and pipe bands into a full-time occupation, so it's very cool to see Scott's full-time piping life in the military.

Keeping Tracks
This past week my computer started to slow down and complain while I was working, and I had to take a serious look at what I have piled up on the hard drive. The result, as some may have noticed, was a flurry of video dumped to YouTube. It occurred to me while I was doing this, that these are valuable [and fun] bits of information about th band, who played, and where we were. Some of these short clips came from various cameras. I think Alex Rasmussen did the short ones, from Scotland and Canmore. Do you remember the beer tent being that wild? Do you remember being there? : )
Anyway, I know that I have some more gems on tape, and I plan to get them up here at some point, and I want to encourage the rest of you to do the same.

You can all dump photos onto the band's Facebook site, and YouTube for video, etc. Pretty fun to look back, and helps keep us all interested in driving ahead. Works for me, anyway.

Catch the moments as they fly
This week is the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns, and across the world, people will be celebrating his art and life in one way or another. Burns has a lot to say to us, even in this day of blogs, Facebook, Blackberry, et al. This year, the Conservatory of Performing Arts Pipe Band is going to be having a small Burns Supper on Friday, January 25th. CRPB members will also be there. Looking forward to it. Meantime, plans are brewing for the Mid-Winter Celtic Festival and a day of music and fun. Be sure to get your tickets to hear the City of Regina Pipe Band, and also the re-united Iron Brew. It's going to be a party!

Haven't been keeping up with this blog. Been working on a lot of band music, projects and people. Keep watching this space. Happy New Year, and also Happy Burns Day!

Here's A Bottle

There's nane that's blest of human kind
But the cheerful and the gay, man.
1.
Here's a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair, man?
Wha kens, before his life may end,
What his share may be o' care, man?
2.
Then catch the moments as they fly,
And use them as ye ought, man!
Believe me, Happiness is shy,
And comes not ay when sought, man!