Disappointed and a little jealous

Good friday everyone,


There's a contest this weekend, a first. Riverwalk Highland Gathering is Saturday at the one and only Forks in Winnipeg. I've been saying for years someone ought to put a contest there... and they did.

However I won't be able to make it....

The down side to having three jobs is sometimes they conflict and alas, I'm due in Red Lake Ontario for sound check at 2 pm. Translation, after gigging all night tonight me and the boys are hitting the road at 7 am to be in Red Lake on time.

I'll be thinking about my favorite pipe bands, and soloists. I know they'll do well. But as any leader you worry endlessly about your section. Cam Fidler is in charge on Saturday. Cam has proven himself time and time again, and provided I did my best for these guys through the season, they'll do well.

I'm wishing my guys luck, they're taking on Regina without me, and their confidence is strong.

Good luck boys,


Sean

A Sad Day

This is one of those days you know is inevitable but never acknowledge it until it is upon you.

As a young punk being raised by a single mother, you tend to latch on to any sign of male role model you can. Any paternal character willing to tell you to "cut your hair" or "stand up straight" or simply refer to you as "soldier". I guess most guys crave that.

At a point in my simple life when I was destined for terrible, dangerous, and surely jailable things, I came into contact with the Transcona & District Pipe Band.

Mr. Lawrence has passed away today. A pipe major to many, a friend to even more, and a seeming "Grandfather" to countless students of both pipes and drums, there aren't really words to describe the terrible loss we all feel.

As with all great scots young and old, we can be tough yet kind, stubborn yet creative, and passionate always passionate, Mr. Lawrence was all of those. I have spent today going through my countless memories with incredible fondness.

So tonight, when you sit down in the warmth of your homes, or head out sand bagging, or pick up that dusty practice chanter or set of sticks you haven't touched in awhile, find a mirror and look in it, we are Mr. Lawrence's Legacy. Two generations of human beings who, perhaps, would never have found music at all.

God bless, and rest in peace Mr. Lawrence. We all owe you a gift that can never be re-paid.

Sean

Concert Unleashed

Just a quick post today to show off Chris Brown's handy work.

Here's the Concert Poster.

In Search of Perfection

March... Strathspey.... and Reel.....



It's MSR year in Glasgow. I've been obsessed with MSRs for years, mostly because they seem so straight forward, everyone shrugs when you ask them about it, and yet, everyone has something different they look for.


I've learned nothing... kinda.

I know they're the more technical of the contest sets. The March must be brisk and bright, yet not frantic. The Spey must lift like a dancer, yet weigh heavily on the accent pattern. The Reel must swing like Duke Ellington while driving forward with precision...

If you're not in pipe bands, but you're a musician, and you read this, you now know why we party so hard.

I've been listening to St. Lawrence O'Toole's worlds performance, they pretty much nail it. So powerful, yet so musical.

So my goal for the next 3 months is to learn everything I can about MSR's and pass it along to my corp. Then, hope we can input that all into our playing.

I'll keep the blog updated periodically if I learn some new ground shaking truth about idium or something, and just between us, I think I'm going to try and pick the brain of one of the judges who's hammered my corp and our MSR playing in the past. I want to know what we are missing.

Running a corp is alot like an MSR. You have to be brash, yet humble, fearless, yet respectful.

Maybe it's just a balancing act

Sean

Brandon Re-Cap

Happy Monday to everyone,

My apologies for Manitoba weather to those who came in for the games from elsewhere... (thinking of Ken Eller, and Dave Bowman especially)

Despite an election, a military success, a royal wedding, and the announcement of a disturbing trade for the Selkirk Steelers, I have nothing but results to report.

I'm happy to say everyone had a terrific weekend despite the blizzard. Weather was sketchy on saturday but the whole organization made it out to the Brandon Highland Festival for some good old fashioned competition.

I was especially nervous this weekend. Not only had the April plague of exams rendered our drum corp less than my level of up to snuff, but we were taking on two of the best drummers Manitoba has produced.

City of Regina made the trip and we got a look at half of their drum corp. But what a half!!! Blair "Buz" Brown, Ian Aastrom (former l/d in Regina), and Roland Reid (former l/d of my corp). Little intimidating.

Needless to say the corp rose to the occasion, and I'm very pleased with the results. Out of 8 possible placings we won 6. Falling short in the drumming mark in the MSR as well as splitting the piping.

However, on the topic of MSR, I once again feel great pride in our band as a whole, despite our 2nd place in drumming, we won ensemble... Thus the tie is broken by ensemble preference and we come out on top. Saved by the Ensemble again.

What's a pipe corp without a drumcorp?... undynamic... What's a drumcorp with out a pipecorp?... unmelodic... What's a pipe band? A wonderful combination of two sections making up for eachothers short comings.

On another pleasing note we took straight firsts in the medley contest, I'm very pleased with that.

What's next? Further prep. Our concert is coming up in June, we have another contest at the end of May, the grade 3 band is on the road to Minnesota in two weeks, and of course, Scotland is coming up.

Well that's all, I suppose I'd better mention I got engaged Easter weekend, if I don't and Angie reads this I'll be skinned :) we're very excited, and I'm very lucky. As Reid Maxwell once told me, "find one who never asks when you're going to grow out of this pipe band thing"... thanks Reid, sage advice!

Cheers,

Sean