Thursday, July 24, 2008

Current Eastern United States Pipe Band Association Rankings.

Piping Grade IV Sr (745 pipers) Piobaireachd Only


Rank Name (Association ID) Branch Total Points

1 Lawrence Selden (80996) Southwest 68

2 David Madock (81751) Mid-Atlantic 58

2 John Daggett, Jr (80353) Northeast 58

4 Michael J. Capone (80492) Northeast 55

5 Robert W. O'Connor (81131) Mid-Atlantic 54

5 Robert Strother (80901) Ohio Valley 54

7 Andrew J Douglas (81558) Ohio Valley 48

7 Jack Barry (81545) Southern 48

9 Jerald Yaden (81439F) Southern 47

10 Daniel Cheuvront (81863) Northeast 46

10 Chris Benton (80880) Mid-Atlantic 46

12 Adriel Yaryan (80752) Southern 43

12 David McCrabb (80998) Mid-Atlantic 43

14 Josh Whitson (81393) Ohio Valley 36

15 Scott Solomons (80772) Metro 35

16 Timothy Stakem (80731) Mid-Atlantic 34

16 David McMath (81657) Northeast 34

18 Matthew Cornetto (80518) Metro 33

19 Peter Lockwood (80634) Northeast 32

19 James Lee (81942) Other 32







Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA) is the govering body of bagpiping in the 26 eastern states. Highland games are sanctioned by EUSPBA and have a representative at each game. Judges must pass strict standards of testing and have competed at the highest levels themselves. Most are world class. All in all, a pretty fun hobby. I've made a lot of new friends and enjoy traveling to the various highland games. Currently tied for 5th.



I had arthroscopic knee surgery on July 11 and missed the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in NC on July the 12. I would loved to have competed and hopefully placed to add more points, but I'm thankful my knee is pain free. I'm doing physical therapy now at Mountain River Physical Therapy. Great place. (A free commercial for Justin, Nikki, Jeff, Chris and everyone.)



My next competition is Ligonier Highland Games, near Pittsburgh, September 6. Very large venue and great fun. It is a full piobaireachd and I'll play Struan Robertson's Salute.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Duncan MacRae of Kintail's Lament


I played "Duncan MacRae of Kintail's Lament" for the first time in competition at the Kentucky Scottish Games. I learned this tune at The College of Piping and really love it. A very sad, mournful tune that has a lot of music and expression in it. It's in 4 parts with each part having it's own interpretation of grieving. Mourning, celebration, anger and reluctant acceptance must all be conveyed by the musical presentation. Piobaireachd has lots of lights and shadows that must be handled delicately. Duncan MacRae has no taorluath or crunluath variation, but "Colin MacRae of Invereenate's Lament", is a very similar tune with these varations. I was very pleased to receive 3rd place out of 14 competitors. You'll notice the judge is following the tune in the Piobaireachd Society book.