Saturday, August 27, 2011 marked a sad day in the piping community: the shocking announcement of the death of P/M Alasdair Gillies. A tremendous bagpiper, Alasdair won almost every major prize in both piobaireachd and light music throughout his piping career.
Listen to a short radio interview with Alasdair at KPLU during the Mastery of Scottish Arts School in Seattle, WA (2009).
Not only a legendary player with an extremely successful bagpiping career, he was well loved and admired and served as major inspiration to numerous pipers and drummers alike. He will be sorely missed.
JWT Reedmakers extends our deepest sympathies to Alasdair's family and friends.
Watch a snippet from John MacDonald's On The Day where Alasdair speaks about his career:
-JLT
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Watch It! Part Deux
Another wee snippet from Maxville. (Good job to Oran Mor for making it through the Worlds Qualifier this year!)
Oran Mor
-JLT
Oran Mor
-JLT
Watch It!
Here are some snippets from the Glengarry Highland Games (Maxville) where Peel Police took the overall prize for Grade 1. It was a scorcher so I couldn't stand being in the grandstands in the blazing sun for too long...I found a friend with a lawn chair and fresh grapes...all I needed was a giant palm leaf for fanning....
Peel Police
City of Chicago
78th Frasers
-JLT
Peel Police
City of Chicago
78th Frasers
-JLT
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Piping Live!
The week before the Worlds has turned into a major deal over the past few years with many many venues with many many artists from around the world performing throughout the city of Glasgow. For someone who is not scheduled to the ears with practices, performances and contests, it become a serious lesson in time management.
Inveraray & District was one of the performances on Wednesday and James P. playing with them this season, it was a must see. Too bad the weather was so bad (rainy, rainy, rainy) but with such a well run event they are always prepared and there was a tent FULL of people for the band to play in despite the heavy downpour.
We managed to get into the tent that they were tuning in beforehand to have a sneak preview and caught the end of P/M Stuart Liddell's pep talk before the performance - the last thing he said was 'Enjoy the music'.
Enough said.
-JLT
Inveraray & District was one of the performances on Wednesday and James P. playing with them this season, it was a must see. Too bad the weather was so bad (rainy, rainy, rainy) but with such a well run event they are always prepared and there was a tent FULL of people for the band to play in despite the heavy downpour.
We managed to get into the tent that they were tuning in beforehand to have a sneak preview and caught the end of P/M Stuart Liddell's pep talk before the performance - the last thing he said was 'Enjoy the music'.
Enough said.
-JLT
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Father's Day!
Just yesterday James W., James P., Ryan and I were judging at the Legion Highland Gathering hosted by the Pipes and Drums of the Pacific Gael in Ladysmith, BC. We were also joined by Uncle Colin (Magee) and Warren Fells, both founding members of the City of Victoria Pipe Band along with James W.
Taking a brief moment to look around the judging panel during the band contest, it struck me that these gentlemen (James W., Colin and Warren) have not only been pillars of the Vancouver Island bagpiping and drumming scene for double digit years but most importantly, have passed the love of the music down to each of their children. Each of us have done different things with that gift but either way, it's present. And funnily enough, we are ALL members of the Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band, which is the second pipe band on the Island that these fellas have built together. Amazing stuff thanks to some amazing fathers. But Thank You never really ever seems accurate enough.
Going for dinner in the sleepy little town of Duncan on our way home, James W. started talking about his Dad (John) working up there for years with the Canadian Pacific Railway as a dispatcher. Known as the E&N, freight trains no longer run that far up the island and the shacks that Dad used to stay in as a young teenager, working for the railway himself, are no longer there. Familiar landmarks were pointed out and stories were told - one of which had us in fits of giggles (not fit for internet consumption).
John Troy used to be a musician as well. Before his days on Vancouver Island, he was part of a traveling band that toured throughout the Prairies. Known as Mr. Bones, he was a banjo player and had an act similar to that of Al Jolson.
Obviously, music has played a significant role in the entire Troy family...from John to Jamie to Jamie to Jacquie....
James W. has not only passed the ability to PLAY an instrument down to both James P. and I but has managed to deeply engrain his passion and love for the music itself. Forever committed to playing 'the sweet music', James W. has taught us the art of appreciating what music is meant to do: stir up emotion. Conveying a message through music is what every musician is striving for, no matter the instrument.
I think the most important thing that I have learnt from James W. is that you can learn something from anybody; just as long as YOU know your stuff. That requires another art: listening. Having big ears and an open mind will go a long way to help develop and nurture your talent and have an positive impact on the product you produce.
For all of this, both Jamie and I are forever thankful.
We love you Walls!
Taking a brief moment to look around the judging panel during the band contest, it struck me that these gentlemen (James W., Colin and Warren) have not only been pillars of the Vancouver Island bagpiping and drumming scene for double digit years but most importantly, have passed the love of the music down to each of their children. Each of us have done different things with that gift but either way, it's present. And funnily enough, we are ALL members of the Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band, which is the second pipe band on the Island that these fellas have built together. Amazing stuff thanks to some amazing fathers. But Thank You never really ever seems accurate enough.
Going for dinner in the sleepy little town of Duncan on our way home, James W. started talking about his Dad (John) working up there for years with the Canadian Pacific Railway as a dispatcher. Known as the E&N, freight trains no longer run that far up the island and the shacks that Dad used to stay in as a young teenager, working for the railway himself, are no longer there. Familiar landmarks were pointed out and stories were told - one of which had us in fits of giggles (not fit for internet consumption).
John Troy used to be a musician as well. Before his days on Vancouver Island, he was part of a traveling band that toured throughout the Prairies. Known as Mr. Bones, he was a banjo player and had an act similar to that of Al Jolson.
Obviously, music has played a significant role in the entire Troy family...from John to Jamie to Jamie to Jacquie....
James W. has not only passed the ability to PLAY an instrument down to both James P. and I but has managed to deeply engrain his passion and love for the music itself. Forever committed to playing 'the sweet music', James W. has taught us the art of appreciating what music is meant to do: stir up emotion. Conveying a message through music is what every musician is striving for, no matter the instrument.
I think the most important thing that I have learnt from James W. is that you can learn something from anybody; just as long as YOU know your stuff. That requires another art: listening. Having big ears and an open mind will go a long way to help develop and nurture your talent and have an positive impact on the product you produce.
For all of this, both Jamie and I are forever thankful.
We love you Walls!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Troy Reeds are Tweeting
Yep, that's right. Jumping on the social media band wagon, we are on Twitter (@jwtreedmakers). Although we've been on there for a while, we just wanted to make sure you knew.
JWT Reedmakers is also on Facebook. We have made it easy to remember and easy to use with a vanity URL. : www.facebook.com/jwtreeds. 'Like' our page and get the most up to date activities from us in your News Feed!
(Technorati Blog Claim: 884G69W7NRTY)
-JLT
JWT Reedmakers is also on Facebook. We have made it easy to remember and easy to use with a vanity URL. : www.facebook.com/jwtreeds. 'Like' our page and get the most up to date activities from us in your News Feed!
(Technorati Blog Claim: 884G69W7NRTY)
-JLT
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