The past year has been a really exciting time for Rocky Mountain, and it largely started with Sean Somers taking the lead in September 2008.
A few new players followed, and, the 2009 season - our first in grade 2 - was a successful debut. I don't think any of us could predict what would happen this off season, though. The number of new members this year is almost staggering; 8 new members to the pipe corps, 4 to the snare corps, 2 to the midsection!
Most of these new members bring grade one and two band experience, some are World Champions, others are North American Champions.
It's always exciting to see the band grow - to make new friends, and add numbers to the ranks - but what we've seen in the past 12 months has not only doubled the size of the band... it's changed the dynamic of the organization in every conceivable way. We've been so fortunate to gain members that have previously played at the highest level in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, and, having this tremendous mix of people, and ideas, has been a benefit in so many ways. It's been a benefit to the executive, to the fundaising commitee, to the music selection commitee... and the addition of so many accomplished players has brought with it a deeper focus, and a passion that comes through in the music.
I always appreciate when a person decides that our band is the band that they want to play with. I really get excited when I see those people anxious to get involved with the executive, eager to raise funds... overflowing with ideas, musical and otherwise!
So, welcome to the band Andrew, James, Emma, Kyle, Duncan, Krissy, Sandy, Derrick, Matt, Brent, Willie, Ross, (but not Willie Ross), Andy, Gregor, Elizabeth, Trevors 1&2, Holly, Abbey, Elliot & Pat! You've made this organization bigger, better and stronger already!
-----------------
Now, everyone looks forward to this time of year for one reason: new music!
All the drum scores for 2010 are written and being worked on already, which is a freakin' record for this perpetually tardy lead drummer. Last year I was still writing and handing out new scores in April, and, it didn't make me a popular guy with the corps!
As the lead drummer, I have a bit of say into what tunes we play but, generally, I don't make too many suggestions. When you have pipers like Sean Somers, Andrew Smith and Ann Gray in the band, the selecting of music is in pretty good hands! I will, however, suggest some ensemble ideas, breaks, etc., or vote out a tune that I just can't get a feel for.
This season however, I had the band add a little 4/4 march that I've been in love with for about 10 years; Loch Ruan. I first played this tune in 1998 with Iain MacDonald and the City of Regina Pipe Band, and I wrote the following snare score that year. We only played it for one season (I left the band in 1999), but I've always kept it in the back of my mind, hoping to play it again. RMPB added it to the repertoir last month, and, it opens a set of "little 4/4's": Loch Ruan, At Long Last (by James MacHattie) and the classic Flett from Flotta.
The popular 2 part, Loch Ruan, was written by George McIntyre and published in his Minard Castle Collection. This is one of McIntyre's most famous composition [he also wrote the hornpipes Lucy Cassidy and Hazel Thompson to name a couple] and the tune has become a standard in many a Celtic fiddlers repertoire. Often played briskly on the fiddle, and sometimes as a hornpipe, we play the tune at a more suitable marching tempo of about 84 bpm.
In 1996, I attended the Long's Peak Scottish Festival in Estes Park, Colorado, with Alberta Caledonia, as one of the featured guest bands. The other guest band that year was the Victoria Police Pipe Band, from Australia, who would go on to win the World Pipe Band Championships two years later. The Vic Police band, and especially lead drummer Harold Gillespie, were a major influence on me in the late '90s. I remember being absolutely in awe standing beside them as they played. The 1st and 5th phrases of this score, with the snares playing the most basic of rhythms, was influenced by a march that the Vics played that year in Colorado...
Hope you like it!
ps/ there's a wonderful recording of Loch Ruan on Stu Liddell's solo album Inveroran.
Cheers!
Right on. I've always liked that tune and nice work on the style of the whole thing. I think some rock'n 3/4's should be next on the to-do list. Seriously!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog too, keep it up.
Dave R.
p.s. you should get out of your basement more often, the pizza boxes(video) are starting to pile up.
Was there in '96, Fabulous trip but don't remember much except sitting in one of the flats drinking Everclear w. Adrian Melvin.
ReplyDeleteGreat Tune! Awesome arrangement. Might be nice as a crisp Jig.
Jay.Haverstock