PIPERS and PIPE BAND SOCIETY of ONTARIO, OTTAWA BRANCH

Transcription

1 PIPERS and PIPE BAND SOCIETY of ONTARIO, OTTAWA BRANCH **** **** President: John Harper (613) ( Vice-President: Alan Clark (613) ( Vice-President: Ross Davison (613) ( Treasurer: Jack Yourt (613) ( Secretary: Emily Kate MacLellan (613) ( MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM PRESIDENT With the arrival of 2010 we have entered into a new decade and sweeping changes to the Branch Executive. At publication, I have confirmation that three members of the Executive will not be running in the March elections which will leave the following positions open: President: When I stepped into the position of President last year it was with the understanding that, due to work and personal commitments, the term was only for one year and that time is about to come to an end. First Vice-President: Alan Clark is stepping down as his work and personal commitments will not leave him with any time for the position. Treasurer: After 22 consecutive years as Treasurer of the Ottawa Branch, Jack Yourt, will be stepping down from this position to concentrate on his new position as Vice-President of the Glengarry Highland Games. This presently leaves Ross Davison (2 nd Vice) and Emily Kate MacLellan (Secretary) as the only returning members of the Executive. The Branch cannot run with just two members on the Executive, no matter how good they are. For the Branch to continue and offer such venues as the Indoor Games (Kemptville), Ottawa Branch Open Solo, Work Shops and the Knock- Outs requires that the Executive has all the positions filled with enthusiastic people. With the new decade, it is now time to look at where you want the Branch to go but to get there the Executive has to be filled. If you have a little time on your hands and an interest in the piping/drumming community in the Ottawa area, give it some serious thought and on or before 06 March Step up and let it be known that you are interested in helping the Branch. John Harper, Interim Ottawa Branch President *** FEBRUARY MEETING *** CAIRNS CUP *** *** Recital: Andrew Hayes *** Saturday 06 February :30 pm. Walkey Road Armouries, 2100 Walkley Road. Cairns Cup Competitor Level: For Grade 4 competitors and below Tune Requirements: Slow Air, four-parts 6/8 March (one or two tunes for the March) Piping "B" Division... four parts Strathspey/Reel (one or two tunes) Drumming "B" Division... four parts 2/4 March (one or two tunes)

2 ****** Allan Quinn Memorial Results ****** On Saturday 09 January 2010, the Allan Quinn Memorial Contest was held at the Walkley Armouries Officers Mess. Again, it was an extremely talented group of pipers playing off this year for the Ottawa Branch open amateur contest, and Curtis Leblanc of the Air Command Pipes and Drums came out a very deserving winner for the second year in a row. The results of the night s contests are noted below. The judges for the February contests were Fraser Clark (piping below right) and Steve Lanning (drumming, below left), and their support was very much appreciated. Following the night s contest, the audience was treated to another extremely entertaining performance by the Cameron Highlanders ceilidh band under the direction of Pipe Major Alan Clark. Another standing room only house was treated to an excellent evening of piping, drumming and celtic music. Piping 1 st Curtis Leblanc Drumming 1 st Billy Creber Results 2 nd Tom Brown Results 2 nd Erica Pulling 3 rd MacGregor van de Ven 3 rd Tomm MacKenzie 4 th Ross Davison 4 th Matthew Yuen 5 th Taylor Williams 6 th Nico Gravel ************************************************************************************************** Future Ottawa Branch Dates 06 March 2010 Ottawa Branch Knock-Out Finals, Walkley Mess 27 March 2010 Ottawa Branch Piping Workshop with Alasdair Gillies 27 March 2010 Ottawa Branch Open Solo Piping Contest (Glengarry Cup) 17 April 2010 Smiths Fall Spring Fling 08 May 2010 Ottawa Branch In-Door Highland Games (Kemptville) 29 May 2010 Kingston Celtfest Highland Games

3 Ottawa Branch Workshop with Alasdair Gillies Saturday 27 March Place: tbd Registration starts at 12:00 pm. Sessions begin at 12:30 pm. Admission: $20.00 Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies served 17 years as piper and Pipe Major with the Queen s Own Highlanders. He has had an astounding number of successes at piping competitions, winning more Highland bagpiping championships than anyone in recent history. He won the Inverness Former Winners MSR eleven times between 1986 to In 2002, he won the Glenfiddich Championship MSR for the sixth time. Readers of Piper & Drummer magazine named Alasdair as the best piper of the 20th century. Alasdair is also in demand as a teacher and piping competition judge. For more than twelve years, he was director of the piping program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Spirit of Scotland, an all star Grade 1 pipe band comprised of the world s top solo players for competing at the 2008 World Pipe Band Championships. For more information on this world champion piper, go to You won't want to miss this afternoon of excellence. Put it on your calendar now!! Events Pipefest 2010 We wanted to share the exciting news with you all that our band will be involved in the planning and execution of Pipefest 2010 in Ottawa next August. This is a wonderful charity march, and a global piping event which will involve bands people from all over the world! We will have information on the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band site at as we get into the planning stages, and there is info on the Pipefest site at Sons of Scotland Pipe Band National Tartan Day Celebration On Sunday 04 April 2010 the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band will host the National Tartan Day Celebration at 12 noon on Parliament Hill, Ottawa. All tartans are welcome. There will be speeches, highland and step dancing demonstrations and a massed band with an invitation to all area pipers and drummers. There will be an after-party at D'arcy McGee's Irish Pub. All information on the event is available on the Sons of Scotland band site at ************************************************************************************************* Results MID-WEST HIGHLAND ARTS FUND - WINTER STORM Kansas City 15 January 2010 Light Music Gold Medal Contest. 2nd Place Andrew Hayes (Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band) Bass Gold Medal Contest. 2nd Place Mike Daine (Air Command Pipes and Drums)

4 Announcements Andrew Hayes Announced Chair of PPBSO Music Board Reprinted with permission of pipes drums. Published: January 27, 2010 The Music Board of the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario has a new chairman, with Andrew Hayes taking the post after incumbent chair Andrew Berthoff voluntarily stepped down. Hayes originally accepted the invitation to join the group in 2008, and since then has been involved with various sub-committees. One of the world's foremost solo pipers, the Pipe- Major and instructor of the Grade 3 Ottawa Police Pipe Band and a piper with the Grade 1 78th Fraser Highlanders, he will oversee the progress of the group, which currently has ten members. "The PPBSO Music board has a strong reputation for providing well-considered advice to the PPBSO Executive," Hayes said. "The Music Board also has a track record of developing, supporting and recommending innovative developments that serve to improve the performance of piping and drumming. As chair, my objective is to continue to promote the healthy dialogue that has led to innovative results in the past. I have no doubt that the contributions of the Music Board will continue to provide great value to the PPBSO membership and the Executive." Berthoff held the chair role for six years, during which time oversaw and facilitated the development and implementation of numerous initiatives, including the reintroduction of consultative band judging, the organization's Education & Theory program, a revitalized Champion Supreme awards structure, the organization's quadrant solo judging system and other programs, in addition to the day-to-day functions of the group such as grading, accreditation and policy. "It's important that a group such as this shakes things up from time to time," Berthoff said. "After six years, I felt that it was time for new management, and Andrew Hayes will provide a fresh and wise perspective. I look forward to working with him in the future." An Ottawa-based lawyer, Hayes has provided a balanced perspective to many issues since joining the board. His nomination by Berthoff was approved unanimously by fellow PPBSO Music Board members Scott Bell, Kingston, Ontario; Graham Brown, Milton, Ontario; Greg Dinsdale, London, Ontario; Tyler Fry, Kincardine, Ontario; Lynda Mackay, Hanover, Ontario; Jim Scott, London, Ontario; Doug Stronach, Fergus, Ontario; and Bob Worrall, Burlington, Ontario. Congratulations to Andrew Hayes on his appointment to this very influential and challenging position. Our thanks also go out to Andrew Berthoff for the hundreds of volunteer hours he committed to the position of the Music Board Chair and for his valuable contribution that he made to the Society over that time through his tireless efforts. The PPBSO benefited greatly from his guidance and we wish him well as he continues to support the piping and drumming world through all his other endeavours. Robbie Burns Feast Haggis and Wine Pairings (Beppi Crosariol Globe and Mail) DATE: Wine with haggis; it's far better than offal. If you have bagpipes, kilts or a copy of the Burns Supper Companion in your home, stop reading now. I am about to commit Scottish heresy. I want to broach the subject of wine with haggis. Haggis is, of course, the most maligned of Scotland's cornucopia of off-putting dishes, followed perhaps by deep-fried chocolate bars. Here is the recipe: Take a sheep's stomach, stuff it with the animal's hacked-up heart, liver and lungs, add pinhead oatmeal, suet and spices, then boil the crap out of the sucker. As the old joke goes, a haggis is a sheep that swallowed itself. Haggis is also the centrepiece of ceremonial suppers honouring the great poet Robert Burns, held around the world on 25 January.

5 Burns died in 1796 at the age of 37, but not before working his way through more whisky and bonnie lasses than a rock band. In addition to Auld Lang Syne, he wrote Address to a Haggis, helping to elevate what was basically a medieval peasant hot dog to a national totem. The traditional haggis accompaniment at Burns blowouts is Scottish whisky, naturally. To the uninitiated, it might seem a ghastly pairing, like Sean Connery and Highlander II: The Quickening. But it works. The spirit's bracing spice and heat cut through the fat, while the bold flavour and long finish match up against the richness of the dish. Do you know what else works well, though? Cabernet franc, shiraz, barbera, dry oloroso sherry and - you're not going to believe me - icewine. In fact, haggis is among the most versatile canvases for the grape that I've come across. Haggis loves wine. On the assumption there is no tradition that can't be tweaked to capture a broader audience (and a tradition founded on garbage meat and tipsy bagpipers can probably use the help, I figure), I sat down on the weekend with a five-pound haggis and an array of randomly chosen wines. There were winners. There were many competent runners-up. And there were a few clear duds (pinot noir and chardonnay, come on down!). Haggis itself has been evolving to capture a wider audience. John Higgins, Glasgow-born-and-raised director of the George Brown College Chef School in Toronto, has a signature dish he calls Glaswegian spring rolls: deep-fried pastry tubes containing haggis, mashed potatoes and turnips, served with Scottish smoked salmon. Mr. Higgins's wife, Arlene Ferguson, also of Scottish roots, has perfected a haggis pizza with tomato sauce, onions, a big smearing of haggis innards and cheese. ("She's a haggis freak," he said.) There is even now the pointless "vegetarian haggis," a contradiction in terms whose only "organ" is kidney beans. So, why not haggis with wine? Burns even wrote a cool love song to somebody named Anna that opens "Yestreen I had a pint o'wine." For my five-pounder, I ventured to the best source I could find, Allen's Scottish Butchers on Weston Road in Toronto. (It's Mr. Higgins's favourite.) If you think haggis is mostly talked about but seldom eaten, consider this: In January alone, Allen's will prepare and package three tonnes of the stuff, roughly 200 to 400 organ sacks a day, each weighing from a pound to nine pounds. When I walked in on proprietor Stephen Allen, he was hacking away at a baseball pitcher's mound of brightpink lung. If there is a hell for vegetarians, this is it. Taking his cue from the modern-day haggis practice in Scotland, Mr. Allen adds a considerable amount of lean ground beef. "I tell people there's not enough sheep in Ontario for me to make haggis for one year," he said. For his casing he uses beef cap (the large intestine) instead of sheep's stomach because it extends to a wider variety of sizes. Two of his secret ingredients are fatty tissue from lamb shank and a subtle dusting of nutmeg. "A spicy meatloaf is the best way you can describe it," he told me. And it has a slight undercurrent of liver flavour. The texture, unlike meatloaf, is loose, so it's meant to be scooped rather than sliced. If you're a fan of haggis, but not the whisky headache, consider the highlights of my tasting. Generally, you'll want a gutsy, full-bodied wine, preferably a red with strong acidity and pronounced fruitiness. Musically speaking, haggis is a bass note, so you'll want some treble and a good melody of flavours to play over top. And one final recommendation: Don't eat a kilo of haggis in one sitting. While I genuinely enjoyed the flavour and texture, haggis ought be consumed in wee doses - the way you'd sip whisky. Wines to offset the offal Shiraz Mine was from South Africa: Flagstone Dark Horse, fruit forward but smokier than most Australian shirazes. Its bold, jammy plum and blackberry fruit complemented the earthiness of the meat, and the chocolate managed to make the liver taste a little less livery. This roughly also applied to Burrowing Owl Syrah, made from the same grape but with slightly more restrained fruit. Sherry. Specifically, a dry, amber oloroso called Don Nuno from the good Spanish producer Lustau. The nutty tang of the fortified white wine dissolved the fat, while the dried-fruit character complemented the offal essence. Icewine. No joke, a killer match. Reif Estate Riesling Icewine from Niagara was no worse for wear after a mouthful of gutsy meat. The acidity cleansed the palate and the sweetness and ripe-apricot-like flavour complemented the dish. And why not? The classic match for fattened goose liver, or foie gras, is sauternes, a sweet white from Bordeaux. Barbera. Italy's widely planted workhorse red is high in acidity and performed nicely. The combination was like two rugby forwards shaking hands. Cabernet Franc. This was among the top performers, for reasons similar to barbera. I used a top wine from the Loire Valley, Catherine & Pierre Breton Bourgueil, which is medium-full-bodied with a solid backslap of acidity and perfectlyripe-berry flavour. Paired with the haggis, the red actually improved in flavour, becoming brighter and livelier, stimulating the palate. It almost made me want more haggis. Almost!!

6 For Sale Kilt and Pipe Chanter/Drone Reeds for Sale Kilt. MacDonald Modern tartan,13 oz Strathmore wool cloth, three buckles. Total overall length 22.5 inches, waist inches. As new. $250. Gibson ABW pipe chanter, uncarved, true notes, $125. Kinnaird drone reeds, almost new, $95. Contact Mo Aller at or at / Bagpipes for Sale 1. Set of Hardie bagpipes (early 1980's); half-mounted imitation ivory with nickel furrells; original pipe chanter with Elliott pipe reed; MG drone reeds; cords, cover and case; choice of pipe bag. 2. Set of Robertson bagpipes (1920's); wood-mounted projection mounts with nickel furrells; casein ring caps; recently refurbished; MG drone reeds; Gibson pipe chanter with Elliott reed; cords, cover and case; choice of pipe bag. 3. Set of Grainger bagpipes (early 1970's); half-mounted imitation ivory with nickel furrells; polypenco drone stocks with nickel furrells; Dunbar pipe chanter with Elliott reed; MG drone reeds; cords, cover and case; choice of pipe bag. 4. Set of Robertson bagpipes (1930's); button-mounted projection mounts with nickel furrells; polypenco drone stocks with imitation ivory furrells; polypenco pipe chanter with Elliott reed; Henderson drone reeds with carbon-fibre tongues; cords, cover and case; L & M hide bag. 5. Set of Sinclair bagpipes, full-mounted unicorn ivory (imitation); MG drone reeds; wood Naill solo chanter with MacLellan chanter reed; cords, cover and leather case; L & M hide bag or Canmore bag supplied. Prices available upon request. Contact Jack Yourt at Ph/Fx: or jcyourt@gmail.com Passages OPS Const Eric Czapnik Constable Ireneusz Eric Czapnik was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1958 and immigrated to Canada in Czapnik was killed on 29 December 2009 while on duty outside the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, where he had been sitting in his cruiser taking notes. Const Czapnik was the Ottawa Police Service's oldest recruit ever, joining at age 48 to follow in his father s footsteps, who had been a police officer in their original home of Warsaw. Eric, or Pickles as he was better known, was remembered as a person of great passion and integrity, who took great pride in serving his community. On Thursday 07 January 2010 a long somber funeral procession march began at the Carleton University Fieldhouse and ended at the Ottawa Civic Centre (Urbandale Centre), Lansdowne Park with more than 5,000 police officers from across the country, as well as the United States, participating. The funeral for Const. Czapnik was the largest police memorial in the

7 city's history, and was possibly one of the largest police memorials ever held in Canada. The Civic Centre was filled to its 8,000 seat capacity and a large overflow was accommodated at the nearby Aberdeen Pavillion. Massed pipes and drums of over 70 members played outside the Civic Centre on the arrival of funeral procession and played again after the service to lead the funeral party through the ranks of the police officers. Local bands represented included the Ottawa Police Service, the RCMP, the Cameron Highlander and the Sons of Scotland. Police pipe bands were also well represented from the Toronto area and from as far away as Winnipeg. Czapnik's wife, Anna Korutowska, thanked the force and the community for their support saying We are all poorer for Eric's passing. However, I hope that all who knew him will remember him as an inspiring, caring and honourable man who will forever be missed. And please remember: Eric was a hero in life, not in death." RCMP C/Supt Douglas Coates Chief Superintendent (C/Supt) Douglas Coates, of Gatineau PQ (originally from Coquitlam BC), joined the RCMP on 15 September 1978 and over the past 32 years had worked a varied career ranging from contract to federal and international policing. He deployed on his first United Nations mission to Haiti in 1993 and subsequently undertook secondments to the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre in Ottawa and the Australian Federal Police. He became the head of the International Peace Operations Branch in He deployed once again to Haiti in June 2009 where he was the Acting Commissioner of Operations for MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti). Doug was one of 82 Canadian police officers serving in Haiti at the time of the massive earthquake 12 January 2010 and was unfortunately in the United Nations headquarters in Port-au-Prince when it collapsed. The funeral service was held Wednesday 27 January 2010 at the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica on Sussex Drive in Ottawa. About 900 officers from RCMP detachments and police departments across the country took part in the procession consisting of the red serge of RCMP officers, green uniforms of Quebec provincial police, and the blue coats of officers from various city police departments. About 1,600 people attended the funeral at the Notre Dame Cathedral and an overflow of about 400 watched the two-and-a-half hour service on a big screen at the nearby Chateau Laurier hotel. Bands were represented in the funeral procession by the RCMP Pipes and Drums, the Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band and the Ottawa Fire Department Band. In referring to C/Supt Coates and RCMP Sgt Gallagher, who was also killed in Haiti, RCMP Commissioner William Elliott noted In their effort to better the lives of others, Chief Superintendent Doug Coates and his colleague Sergeant Mark Gallagher willingly made sacrifices and ultimately gave their lives for this noble cause. Doug and Mark are true heroes. They will be deeply missed by all who knew them. OTTAWA BRANCH NEWSLETTER LIST The Ottawa Branch newsletter list is now being maintained by the Ottawa Branch Secretary, Emily-Kate MacLellan. Any changes to addresses, or anyone who wants to be added to the notification list, please contact Emily-Kate at emilykatemac@gmail.com. For those on the list, you will continue to be notified when the monthly Ottawa Branch newsletter has been made available on the Branch web-site. VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHLAND GAMES (Spencerville) Cancelled for This is hopefully a short sabbatical; the VMHG Games Committee is hoping to bring back the Games in 2011.

8 Ottawa Branch In-Door Games Saturday 08 May 2010 St Michaels Catholic High School, Kemptville, Ontario 2755 Highway 43 (west of Hwy 416) *** Admission: $7.00 per person, whether competitor or spectator *** Registration starts 8:00 am Solo Piping Competitions start 8:30 am Solo Drumming Competitions start 9:00 am Pipe Band (Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 2) Competitions start 1:30 pm Pipe Bands: Grade 2 (Medley), Grade 3 (Medley), Grade 4 (Medley), Grade 5 (March Medley) Entries to be made by to rossdavison@gmail.com by 01 May No band entry fee. Solo Piping Event 1. Practice Chanter one 2-parted March, any time signature Event 2. Grade 5 one 2-parted March, any time signature Event 3. Grade 4 one 4-parted March, 2/4 time signature Event 4a. Grade 3 March one 4-parted March, 2/4 time signature Event 4b. Grade 3 Strathspey / Reel one 4-parted Strathspey, one 4-parted Reel Event 5a. Grade 2 March submit two, 4-parted Marches, 2/4 time signature Event 5b. Grade 2 Strathspey / Reel one 4-parted Strathspey, one 4-parted Reel Event 5c. Grade 2 Jig one 4-parted Jig Event 6a. Grade 1 March submit two, 4-parted Marches, 2/4 time signature Event 6b. Grade 1 Strathspey / Reel submit two 4-parted Strathspeys, two 4-parted Reels Event 6c. Grade 1 Jig submit two 4-parted Jigs Event 7a. Novice Piobaireachd one Piobaireachd, ground and next two passages Event 7b. Junior Piobaireachd one Piobaireachd Event 7c. Intermediate Piobaireachd submit two Piobaireachds Event 7d. Senior Piobaireachd submit three Piobaireachds Event 8. Age 40 Plus one 4-parted March, 2/4 time signature Solo Drumming Event 9. Novice Practice Pad one 2-parted March, any time signature Event 10. Grade 5 Snare one 2-parted March, any time signature Event 11. Grade 4 Snare one 4-parted March, 2/4 time signature Event 12. Grade 3 Snare MSR one of each tune 4 parts minimum Event 13. Open Amateur Snare MSR one of each tune 4 parts minimum Event 14. Open Amateur Bass one 4-parted March, 2/4 time signature Event 15. Open Amateur Flourishing Tenor one 4-parted March, 2/4 time signature Solo Entries may be made by to rossdavison@gmail.com by 01 May 2010 or by mail as per the entry form below. No entry fee for advance entries. Entry on the day of the competition will be allowed, however, those competitors will be required to pay a $10.00 admin fee (regardless of number of events) in addition to the $7.00 admission fee. OTTAWA BRANCH INDOOR 2010 SOLO ENTRY FORM Name: Mail Entries to: Telephone Number: Ross Davison 1104 Guertin Avenue Event Numbers: Ottawa, ON, K1H 8B6