Ceol Mor: April 2008

Here's a couple of fun tunes. It wasn't all piobaireachd at the College. The tune Flett from Flotta has an interesting story behind it. Donald MacLeod, MBE, was a very prominent piper of old in the Scottish regiments. The regimental silver was on it's way down to London for a big "do" and Donald and another soldier were guarding the silver on a train. While sitting on the crates containing the silver, they played their chanters to while away the time. Donald said they should write a tune to pass the time and when the tune was finished they were looking for a title. He asked the big soldier what was his name and where was he from. The rest is (as they say) history. The tune was written after Donald observed the peculiar gait of Flett. The rhythm is supposed to reflect his awkward walking style. Helps with the phrasing of the tune if you think of it like that, too. Flett from Flotta is the second tune and I hope you enjoy it.

In my quest to improve as a piobaireachd player, I arrived at the College of Piping on Prince Edward Island. Here are a few pictures of my adventure.

Let's see. That's Brian, a student at Holland College. Danielle, cello player and one of the daughters of the Bed & Breakfast owners. On the couch from l to r: Christina, another daughter and harpist. Alyssa, pianist and daughter. Last but not least, Charlene, a physiotherapist student from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, doing intern work at a hospital on the island. This is the commons area of the B & B. Charlene and Brian were residents also.

Brian wearing a MacKay tartan kilt and holding my pipes. He really did play them. Well, kind of.

Lindsay Munro, an award winning highland dancer and instructor.

Little Hannah is 18 months old. Most mornings we had breakfast together. Alyssa would usually babysit her while her mother worked at the potato processing plant. Potatoes are a huge crop on PEI.

Brandon Summers and Principal Piping instructor Matt MacLaine. Matt is one fantastic teacher. If I'm fortunate to teach, I'll teach like him and my home instructor Winkie Taylor. Both are very musical and bring out the best in each student.

Drumming instructors Ashley Brockway and Chris Coleman. I think they have a total of 80 students.

Jean Walker, finance director. Tim Horton's is a very popular drink in Canada.

Patsy Martin, registrar. Great lady, she takes care of the paperwork with Scotland.

One of the private study rooms. Plenty of space and a sound proof room to get the pipes going.

Tools of the trade. Sheet music for Clan Campbell's Gathering. Practice chanter. Laptop with a recording of the lecture and canntaireachd. Cell phone. Water.

4th place trophy from the 2007 World Pipeband Championships in Glasgow, Scotland

These pipes were actually played in battle at Culloden. Pipers always led the Scots into battle and the current Scottish regiments of the British army have they're own pipers.

Chalkboard from a piobaireachd lecture of Duncan MacRae of Kintail's Lament. Yes, that is canntaireachd and yes, we had to sing it before we played it. Great stuff

The College of Piping pipebands are consistent winners in North America and Scotland. They've got the hardware to prove it.

Looking out to the Atlantic Ocean. It's pretty amazing this much water can actually freeze over. You can see an island in the distance.

Ice fishing is popular on PEI. This is looking out into the harbor.

The Confederation Bridge links PEI to the mainland at New Brunswick. It's the world's longest bridge over ice covered waters and is 13 km long. The toll is $41.50 Canadian.

My room at the B & B. Very roomy, private bath, queen size bed, my own thermostat, and private entrance. All that with a daily breakfast, an always plentiful and hearty dinner, weekly laundry and bedding change for a very reasonable $150 Canadian. Willowgreen Farm, check out the website.

I had about a 2 minute walk to the College from my room at the Bed and Breakfast. This is pretty typical for the lane, nice and snow covered. Temperatures were around mid-teens to mid-twenties, with the occasional single digit.