something of them rubbed off on him.The average age of his members is about 19. A number reside in the Inveraray
district and a few travel from further afield. In the pipe corps were Alistair Henderson who is successful in the solo scene and Finlay Johnston who earlier that day played in the Uist and Barra competition in Glasgow and was fourth in the piobaireachd. Doubtless with successful solo players in the band it motivates younger members. Craig Muirhead was taking part and this multi-talented individual was playing the keyboard as accompaniment during some of the orchestrated sets. An example of the good teaching
was a solo spot by a young IanWilson who played on a very good instrument. He played an arrangement of Ae’ Fond Kiss and then upped the tempo with a personal arrangement of The Balkan Hills and flew into some finger gymnastics. Given their dedicated practice, I
suggested to Stuart that it was unlikely that band members could be found loitering about the streets of Inveraray causing bother. Amusingly he indicated that the topography of Inveraray was so complex that it was with difficulty that he negotiated the streets there when sitting his driving test. I must visit Inveraray sometime. It must be quite a metropolis! James Campbell kept us informed
about the tunes and referred to traditional tunes when in fact the sources composers are known. He referred to ‘Mrs John MacColl’ as a traditional march.Traditional in style,
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but the composer was of course John MacColl. Roy Gunn, resident in Australia, related a tale to me of the tune. Pipe MajorWillie Ross anxious to obtain the tune for one of his books knowing it would be good, wrote to John MacColl stating, ‘Send Mrs John MacColl to me!’ MacColl wrote a curt reply, ‘I am not finished with her yet!’ On completion of the concert
some of the audience attended a local where refreshments were consumed and a bagpipe was found in playable condition. It seems that the refresh- ments do not have an adverse effect on the fingers of some. In the sma’ hours going into slightly later hours, the jollifications continued and I sen- sed serious enjoyment in the crowd.
CARLOWAY SHOW AND HIGHLAND
PIPING COMPETITION 2/4 M.S.R: £60-£40-£30-£20 Hornpipe-Jig: £40-£30-£20-£10 Pipers choice Medley (3 tunes of which one to be 6/8 march) £60-£40-£30-£20
ISLE OF LEWIS
GAMES est. 1911
Finlay MacNeil cup and £50 for Highest Points in Senior Competition
Competition takes place on
Wednesday 1st August 2012 At the Carloway Showground – Main stage 1pm.
Register on day-for info contact Alasdair 07885584851