ISBN 1352-3848 June 2012 VOLUME 29 NO.1 THE JOURNAL OF THE LOWLAND AND BORDER PIPERS’ SOCIETY Scottish smallpipe by Julian Goodacre IN THIS ISSUE From the Archive (4); Annual Competition (5); Teribus - The Original Set (15); Piping By Numbers (19); Wandering Pipers (27); Playing Reels to Oyster- women (28); Robin Shure in Herst (32); Whores and Rogues and Roundheaded Cuckolds (35); Enlarging the Smallpipe (43); Review (49); Event News (51); 1 President Iain MacInnes Secretary Judy Barker Chairman: Hamish Moore Minute Sec. Jeannie Campbell Treasurer Iain Wells Membership Pete Stewart THE JOURNAL OF THE LOWLAND AND BORDER PIPERS’ SOCIETY EDITORIAL [email protected] t is interesting how some myths At the same time, we are pleased to I survive against all the odds and evi- include the results of Keith Sanger’s dence available. Your editor has had investigation into the state of piping in experience of this in his one-piper the Highlands at the beginning of the struggle to re-instate the correct tune 18th century. Something of the nature for ‘The Day it Daws’, a matter that was of myth attaches to this question, the first correctly stated over two hundred popular notion that pipers were to be years ago and which has been ignored found in almost every household in the ever since. In this issue we print a dis- region. I had long suspected that this cussion of the tune known as ‘Teribus’ could not be the case and it is good to - ‘the Town Tune of Hawick’. Despite have Keith’s deep knowledge of the the fact that this tune has been sung documented sources confirm this sus- and played every year in Hawick for the picion. past 240 years or more, most pipers will Keith’s argument that when the British not recognise it, having been playing a Army began to require two pipers for different tune with the same, enigmatic every regiment those posts could only title. Your editor, in his publications, be filled by recruiting Lowland pipers has been as guilty of this as just about seems to have repercussions beyond every other commentator on Lowland mere numbers. It appears to be a credi- and Border music. We are relieved to ble explanation of the fact that so much be able to put this matter right at last. of the music in early 19th century High- land piping publications is of Lowland The views expressed in Common Stock are those of the contributors and not necessarily those either of the Editor or of the Lowland & Border Pipers’ Society. The contents of Common Stock are protected by copyright. None of them may be reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner. The copyright in the individual contributions belongs to their authors and the copyright in each edition of the magazine as a whole belongs to the Society. ] 2 origin. There is also the possibility that ready in their early stages. However, it in these early sources can be found happens to coincide with a planned clues to the kind of techniques that Bagpipe Colloquium and Exhibition to Lowland pipers were employing at that be held in Edinburgh University in Au- time. We had hoped to include in this gust, and arrangements are being made issue an article exploring just this topic. for the Society to make a number of Both space and time have proved to be contributions to the fortnight of events. insufficient, however. Hopefully this It is also hoped to hold a very special will appear in the next issue. Meanwhile Collogue in the Autumn. Please send you may be interested to learn that the any other suggestions to the editor ‘ceol sean’ collection of bagpipe music, Another myth which has survived de- formerly available on CD, is now freely spite the fact that many instruments viewable at http://www.ceolsean.net/. exist which defy it, is the notion that a Here you will find just about all the ‘cylindrical’-bored chanter, such as that early 19th century collections (except of the Scottish smallpipe, does not McLachlan’s Piper’s Assistant). ‘over-blow’. This is a myth which we are delighted to explode. Those present he number of participants in at this year’s competition will have this year’s competition was heard it defied in no uncertain manner significantly down on recent with the performance by Callum Arm- T strong in the solo smallpipe class. In years with only two classes having more than 4 entrants, two classes having two this issue Julian and Callum explain entrants and two classes having only how it’s done. one. This is a pattern which has been The Society website continues to ex- repeated in border piping competitions pand. Recent additions include the pa- elsewhere this year, particularly at Mor- per ‘The Common Bagpipe’ which your peth. It does give pause for thought as editor presented at the International to whether the appetite for competi- Bagpipe Conference held in London in tions is waning, and that perhaps the March, and sound files of all the award- time for some other format for show- winning performances from this year’s casing achievement might be due. On competition. You can also hear Callum the other hand, it may be that there Armstrong playing the full version, as were too many other things to do in printed in this issue, of his winning Edinburgh this year. We would wel- entry in this year’s New Composition’ come members’ opinions on this topic. class, in which he produces two octaves We would also welcome suggestions plus a sixth from his chanter. It’s small- for how the Society might celebrate its piping, Jim, but not as we know it … thirtieth anniversary in 2013. Some Pete Stewart plans for celebrating this event are al- Winton, May 2012 3 In the December 2010 issue we printed the text of the original 1981 announcement calling anyone interested in Lowland piping to a meeting in Edinburgh. The Society archive contains a sheet of contact prints of photos taken at the first competition held in 1984, from which this photo has been reclaimed. ike Rowan was the original the world and so many hugely talent- instigator of the Lowland ed young musicians roaring away on M and Border Piper’s Society. the smallpipes is wonderful." Recently, writing about the founding he recalled; “I contacted Hugh Cheap and Gor- don Mooney and together we set up the first meeting in the MacEwan Hall in Edinburgh in 1981 and went on to found the Lowland and Border Pipers’ Society. At that time there were 2 working sets of Lowland pipes (one turned out of aluminium by Gordon Mooney!) and no makers and no information on the history of the instrument, though there were a few dead sets in museums. Effectively the lowland pipes were dead. As the first chairman I also set up the first com- petition award - the Mains Castle medal - where I lived at the time.” Since then the Society has spread across the world: Mike Rowan adds: "Forming the society was one of the Gentleman-piper Mike Rowan at the things in my life that I am most proud School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh of. To see so many members round during the first LBPS annual competition in 1984. The Society now holds a large and well-catalogued [thanks to Julian Goodacre] archive of photos of Society events. If you have photos of any LBPS competition or any other event featuring lowland or border pipes, we would be delighted to receive copies. Contact the editor, [email protected] This is a plea specially aimed at the person who took photos at this year’s competition! 4 The 29th Annual Lowland and Border Pipers’ Society Compe- tition was held in Edinburgh on 7th April he competition was once again seemed to be a tendency for audience held at the Pleasance Theatre as judges, who are asked to judge chiefly T part of Edinburgh’s Ceilidh on ‘entertainment’ value, to award high- Culture programme. This is in many er marks to competitors playing familiar ways an excellent venue, the ‘cabaret- music, which inevitably favours those style’ audience seating arrangements playing highland music, whereas judges nicely complementing the informal are asked to also consider ‘appropriate- character of the proceedings [though ness of repertoire’, that is, to consider see Rona’s comments below]. The the Society’s remit to promote the per- availability of car parking so close to the formance of the music of the Lowland city centre is another major advantage, and Border regions. This year therefore as is the adjacent bar and food. It is 75% of marks were awarded by the unfortunate therefore that the only tun- judges, with 25% by the audience. ing facilities it can provide necessitate a Some basic calculations on the results short walk outside and upstairs to a did suggest that the impact of this large and echoing room. change was indeed to bring the audi- This year the numbers competing were ence marks closer in line with those of somewhat down, with several classes the judges. We have however, had ob- failing to produce three competitors. jections to this change, and we are hap- Nonetheless, it was a very enjoyable py to hear the thoughts of others. occasion which owed much to the hard The Novice and Intermediate classes work of of Society secretary Judy Bark- continue to be but sporadically sup- er, who once again, ably assisted by a ported. This year, though the Interme- number of volunteers, managed to pro- diate class attracted four entries, the duce an almost seamless proceedings.