Glasgow - Tuesday - Practice

I awoke to sunshine this morning and a then a hot cup of coffee in the kitchen! 

The focus of the trip here is to have the band compete at the worlds so this means practice!  Initially the band sections start with group practices in the various rooms. The drummers have taken over our kitchen with the pipers on chanter, in the Troy's kitchen.

Drumming

Tenors

Pipers

Each group goes through the various music that compromises the competition "set" that they will play in front of the judges. It is an MSR that consists of three different time signatures. The tunes are the March - Donald Mclean's Farewell to Oban, Strathspey - Susan MacLeod and Reel - Lachlan Macphail

The judges will be looking for clarity of notes, unison, tempo and clean breaks (change between tunes) and overall musicality of the performance. With this in mind, each section practices separately and then joins together as an ensemble on their respective instruments

There are many bands staying in and around the University so I am treated to music from 10 am through to 7 pm should I stay in my room.

My view out my window :-)

The morning practice finished off with the band playing in between the dorms. Tuning the band is always a bit tricking as the weather can significantly effect the instruments. First each pipe chanter is tuned to each other and then the drones are adjusted to reach a specific pitch. Once all done the pipes sound identical and this is where tuning comes into play. The idea is to sound like one set of very loud pipes and if everyone plays the notes the same then unison is achieved.

Tuning the chanters...

After the practice there was a brief announcement on the bands departure time on the day along with some instructions on personal behavior expected during the run up to the competition day. All very straight forward stuff.  More work ensued on individual pipes to get them up to the standard required.  

We made some bacon sandwiches at the flat and then Kelly and I launch off in an Uber to Clydebank about 11 km to the west of Glasgow. This is the once proud home of one of the largest shipbuilding areas and the Singer Sewing Machine factory that employed thousands of people back in the day. There is a museum in City Hall that Kelly wanted to see as her Singer 222 was built here. Unfortunately the museum was closed for renovations but there was a small... very small... collection on the wall :-)

The sewing machine on display was no match for the condition of Kelly's so it was a bit of a bust... oh well... we grabbed a geocache close by, popped into a cab and ended up back at Buchanan St in short order. 

A walk up the street to the Whisky Shoppe and then around the corner to Tesco's for some supplies. A short walk up to the National Piping Center to hopefully watch the Piping Idol Competition. With more bands pouring into the city as the weekend approached, the crowds grew and we could not get in to see it. Oh well we pulled up a chair in the refreshment area and shortly thereafter pretty much the whole band showed up. 

Warren dons his old City Of Victoria Jacket

Lots of fun as we had a good social.

The local TV station was doing a promotional video and the gals helped out.

We all returned to the dorm and got ready for our dinner. Bobby G had arranged for Indian food at one of the many restaurants in the area. About 25 of us descended on the place and enjoyed a great meal.

A quick stop at the Station Pub and we returned to the dorm for a small social... including card tricks by AJ's daughter Cailidh. 


 Done for the day.

Glasgow - Monday - Day Off

It's an official "Day Off" for the band so everyone is headed in different directions... some are headed to see relatives, others off to visit significant historical sites in the area.

Kelly made coffee for me as we planned our day... shoe repair and check out the goings on in the city. Lots of piping & drumming events as the whole week become a non stop music festival. Not sure were we will end up but away we go.....

Outside the dorms numerous bands from around the world were practicing in the parking lots and grass areas. We stopped and listened for a while.... good sound!

This is the Hawthorn Band from New Zealand. 

First agenda item was Kelly’s shoes as they needed some repairs and cleaning so off to the local cobbler. Kris brought his and Anna brought a couple pair as well. We quickly found the place and the fellow said back in thirty minutes! Excellent!

We wandered over for lunch at the Iron Horse and (mince & tattles) and then it was a bit of a walk about back to the shoe place.

The fellow at Timpson Ltd on Sauchiehall Street had the shoes repaired and polished... they looked like new! I suspect once the band mates see these he may have additional business! 

Kris & Anna headed back to the dorms with all the shoes while Kelly and I headed over to the National Piping Center. There is lots of musical activity around the city and this is just one of many venues that you can go to. Some are free to listen and others are offered with an entry fee. (Most are very reasonable)

The entire event program for the week can be downloaded on the right side of this page here 

Today was for the Big Rab Show featuring G1 chanter reeds. These are the guys responsible for the many podcasts and live streams from piping/drumming events around the world. Both Kelly and I have spent many hours watching from the comfort of our living room. 

We sat right beside Deej (one of the Rab Guys) who broadcast the live stream... and got a great picture of them.

A big selfie!

We enjoyed a pint and watched the show. It was a very inspirational as one former Shots Piper Andrew Shilliday performed. He had caught a virus resulting in the amputation of his left leg and most of his fingers and later, through the assistance of John Elliot, was given a custom designed chanter that allowed him to play again! He did a great job and the crowd was moved beyond words. You can read about it here
 

Next up was the Solo Under 21 Pipe Idol competition. This pits four players per day against each other with the winner (chosen by three secret judges in the crowd) to go to the finals on Thursday. It was great entertainment and these guys could play! 

Following that we made a quick stop at home and then headed off to the Chippy Doon The Road for fish & chips.  It was very good. 

Yes that is blue sky!!!

A stop for some groceries as we headed back to the dorm.  A short social took place in our kitchen as everyone got caught up on travels the events experienced today. Turns out Sarah and Scott got engaged on the Stirling Bridge... her favorite landmark in Scotland. 

Everyone was also clearly tired and we all hit the rack early.

Scotland - The next adventure begins!

Welcome!


If your joining us from my previous blog here then welcome back!


I'll start part II of my "vacation" by attending the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. I'll be supporting both Kelly and my son Kris, who plays side drum, along with the other band members as they compete in Grade 4A.    



 After a short separation due to commitments, I am met up with Kelly today in Glasgow!

The band members started to arrive last Thursday (8th of August) from various points and Kelly met Kris and the gang when they arrived off their flight from Dublin. They had done a short stint in the Temple Bar area :-)

The band then bused to North Berwick on Saturday to attend the Highland Games and compete against some of the other 62 bands that attended. (Numerous bands come early to acclimatize and get some competition in before the World's)

The band at North Berwick. 

The band placed 3rd in their respective grade and they even made it to the big screen... a shade fast on the tempo (nerves always do that it seems ) but great breaks and a solid sound overall.

Sunday... we headed off for a pint at the Station bar and met up with Krystal and Cody Navid from North Stratton Pipe Band. We then grabbed a dinner and after a quick stop at the grocer for supplies, we went back to the Glasgow Caledonia University dorms.   A quick visit with band members and I was done for the day.