in Stormont. Not only did we win the drum- ming but the band got three firsts from the judges — and an 11th for ensemble! Thankfully we have not had a result like that since, and we went on to get a second place at the Worlds for drumming. I have never had a first place at the Worlds as a leading drummer, and I hope to get one before I retire, but I would hardly think it will be in Grade 2. “When I joined Manor Cunningham I thought we would have a good band that would get to Grade 3, but I can honestly say that I never expected to win a drumming prize, or a major — or four All Irelands in a row. However, I do remember coming back from a Grade 4 competition on the bus and everyone having a disbelieving laugh when Gordon suggested the band had a lot more potential and that we were going to climb the grades. “Since the day I arrived, four seasons ago,
we have had the same five drummers and it has been good to see us adapt each season to step up the grades. Gordon and I both believe pipe bands should not be a numbers game — you don’t need a big band. Tightness of playing is most important and once that is achieved you can slowly grow the band over time. “When went to the British Championship in
2011 we had only four drummers, and I would never have believed that only four drummers could have won a major championship in Grade 3A.” Gordon continued: “In the whole of the 2011 season we only lost one local contest in Grade 3A. In our first major, the British at An- nan, we performed very strongly and got four first places — with eight pipers and four drum- mers. One week later we won the All Ireland again making four in a row, and we also won the Ulster title and came second in the Europeans. By this stage, the alarm bells were ringing that we would be promoted, and at the Worlds we won our qualifying section and finished second overall — our highest place ever at the Worlds. Since then the band have been promoted.” It seems to me that a large part of Manor
Cunningham’s success comes down to Gordon’s own drive, musicianship and pipe major talents in setting a band up and preparing them to play in competition. There is no magic ingredient, Gordon says it’s “simply hard work”. However, preparation is also key. During the winter, he looks two seasons ahead and introduces tunes that are harder than the ones needed for the following season to help the band get to grips
Manor Cunningham’s Equipment Set-up
Pipes: Various
Drone Reeds: Murray Henderson cane tenor reeds and plastic bass reed
Chanter: New Shepherd Chanter
Chanter Reed: David Caldwell Pipe Bag: Bowes Sheepskin
Drums: Pearl with PDX sticks by Beatstreet
with repertoire they will need in future. The band’s practice routine is two three-hour sessions a week with a fairly strict format. From 7pm, pipe sergeant Geoffrey takes the learners for an hour while Gordon spends that time working with pipers on technique, new tunes or harmonies. By 8pm, the whole pipe corps will be around the table to work on practice chanters. “We would then spend 20 minutes playing
6/8 marches and then bits of our medley to get the hands moving and in the winter we would keep that going until 9pm,” explained Gordon. “After a 10-minute break, I give some time to one-on-one practice to try to sort out any problems, and then from 9.30pm we add the drummers around the table to work on our ensemble playing for the last half-hour. “By the time we get to March, the pipes
start to take over the practice nights but we still spend about 40 minutes on chanters, with 20 minutes at the start to get the hands moving and 20 minutes at the end to work hard on ensemble with the drummers.” Alan realises it’s crucial to create the right balance between pipes and drums in the final performance. He added: “Ensemble has been the key. Before I create a drum score, Gordon will give me a recording, then we meet with chanter and practice pad to learn it. We move to pipes and drums to record and listen to it, then we teach the rest of the band. I would rather win ensemble any day than win a drum- ming prize. It is a good mindset to have as a leading drummer as at the end of the day it is a pipe band.”
This attitude has paid off as Manor Cun- ningham were only beaten once in ensemble in 2011. At the end of the 2008 season, the band’s
bass drummer moved on. One of the pipers, Jonathan Lecky, was having health issues and wasn’t able to blow pipes so Gordon suggested that he should try the playing bass drum. It turn out to be a masterstroke with Jonathan picking up seven bass section prizes over the past two seasons. Happily for Jonathan and the pipe corps, his health has now improved and he is piping again, and is one of four new pipers who will swell the numbers to 12 for the coming season. Gordon added: “The age range in our band
is from 15 to about 44, so we have a nice mix- ture of experienced pipers and youngsters who are very hungry to learn and play in a Grade 2 band. It is quite an achievement for us to have a Grade 2 band in our area and it is down to the hard work of the players. You would need to travel for two hours to find the next band at our grade, so it is good to give the youngsters the opportunity.” As well as four new pipers and a step up to a
new grade, the band also have a new uniform, with kilts in the Laggan tartan which the band designed themselves. Gordon is optimistic about 2012 and be-
lieves they are in good shape: “We have been practising harder than ever and are probably going better at this stage of the season than we have done before. We are looking forward to it. “There has never been a band from Donegal
in Grade 2 before and the last time a local band from across the border were in Grade 2 was 18 years ago.
“Come the end of the season, alI we will be looking for is to have improved from last year and to establish the band within the grade. We are under no illusions — it is going to be tough, so we will work hard and let it take its course.” I'm sure they will. I was hoping for some pipe major secret formula for success when speaking to Gordon, but he said it was all down to the talent and hard work throughout the whole of the band. I don’t disagree but I’m sure many bands could claim the same, so I have a feel- ing that the close friendship between Gordon and Alan, and the passion and drive they both share for pipe bands is the ‘secret formula’ at work. Unfortunately, their friendship, passion and drive have intangible qualities that can’t be taught or learned by the rest of us. l
PIPING TODAY • 41
DRUMMING
BAND PROFILE
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