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.
4 comments:
Shakespeare......outclassed us once again!
Did Shakespeare have a mustache?
Barb
PS. I'm stoked.....or should I say...It's going to be sick...
Also, good on Richard and Marnie to add offspring for future CRPB members. Welcome to the world Fiona and congrats to Marnie and Richard!
Loved the Saint Crispian day soliloquy.
But not to be outdone, I think Sir Winston Chuirchill captures my sentiments:
"What General Weygand has called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour.""
I have never been one to write on blogs but perhaps Shakespeare inspires me. I have had the good fortune to have been a member of some great teams in my life so far, and a part of some great events. I have had more than my share of opportunities to feel the great honour, pleasure, warmth and comradeship of standing among wonderful people, and working hard alongside them to achieve a common goal. I can’t say any of them mean more to me, though, than going to Maxville as a member of the CRPB this week. I cherish a lot of memories of great people, but none more than this crew. It’s great to be one this, “happy few”, this, “band of brothers (and sisters)”. To have come so far, to have worked so hard and learned so much, now that is something special. I look forward to standing on the field together, too (just a couple of months short of St Crispin’s Day), being a part of that sound and doing what we set out to do. I also look forward to a drink together afterward in the beer tent, because it has been one hell of a journey... and it is just the beginning.
2 L’s
A terrific achievement and real testament to commitment and community: two qualities so often lackming in today's pipe band world. Travel safely and enjoy yourselves!
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