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The
Birmingham Irish Pipes and Drum putting on a display at the
St. Mary's Hospice Fete last month |
Firstly
a huge thanks to The Harp for the articles that were put in last
month’s edition. We are incredibly fortunate that there is
a community focused and driven paper where we can both advertise
ourselves and let you have an insight into the band and its workings.
In the last issue we asked for new members to come forward and we
are still asking. The reason we need new blood is that we do undertake
a lot of functions, (far more than any other Pipe Band that I know),
and it is hard for the members that we have to attend all that we
are asked to attend.
To give you an insight into the band workings we practice on a Tuesday
evening. From 6.45 to 7.30 is the beginners session which is very light
on numbers and from 7.30 till 10.00 is the full band practice. During
the full band practice the first hour is taken up by chanter/pad practice.
The pipers will go through tunes old and new on the practice chanters
(a bit like a recorder but better sounding). This is used to tighten
up on the timing of a tune, to ensure all are playing the same notes
and to work on the new sets.
The drummers will practice on pads and are continually tightening up
their beats, accents, flams and bass beatings. They will practice the
sets and the different time settings for the tunes. At present we play
2/4 3/4 4/4 and 6/8 tunes and eventually this will lead us into playing
hornpipes, jigs and reels. The only person who seems not to have a
pad to practice on is Bass Drummer Maurice Long. In the piper’s
room we certainly know when Maurice has arrived by the BOOM BOOM coming
from the drummers’ room.
At 8.30 things move up a gear and the pipes are brought out. There
will be ten minutes when all the pipers disappear to their own spot
in the hall and start to warm the pipes up. Generally it is not worth
tuning the pipes up unless they have been played for 20 minutes. So
for 10 minutes we all play what we want and then for 10 minutes we
form a circle and play a few tunes. When we first form a circle we
can tell how much work we will have to do on the sound. Sometimes the
chanters sound quite good and only need a little adjustment to get
them sounding the same but at other times it can be awful and we have
to get to work retuning to create a decent musical sound. The drummers
during this time have put their drums on and started going through
the tunes on the sides, tenors and bass. As with the pipers they may
find 1 or 2 of the drums are out of tune and this is when they are
adjusted.
By 9.00 we all get together and start going through the repertoire.
If we have an event coming up and we have the tunes sorted out that
we will play then these are the ones that we will concentrate on. Also,
if we are learning a new set these will take priority because it can
be easy to play new tunes on the chanters or pads but transferring
them to pipes and drums takes a while. This part of the practice will
go on to near 10pm when we then stay in the practice circle and go
through details of any events coming up.
The practices are well structured and aimed at increasing the sound
and the repertoire of the band, but without new members we will start
to stagnate and we will not be able to attend all the functions that
we do at present.
On Saturday the 17th June we opened the St Mary’s Hospice fete
at 10.30am. This is an event we have carried out for the last five
years and we thoroughly enjoy it. We play it as a charitable event
and don’t ask for a fee because one day we could all be there
or in a similar situation and to be able to help them in the incredible
work that they do is a pleasure. As usual we played to the fete and
then marched to the gardens at the rear of the hospice where we played
for the patients who were unable to get from their beds.
Bill Traigis, (many happy returns Bill – who was 76 on Monday
19th June), played Flower of Scotland as a slow air for the patients
and it was both beautiful and haunting.
From there it was over to Catskill in Bromsgrove to appear at their
fun day. What we did here was not ask for a fee but had a raffle stall
where for £1 you had the chance to win a 32” TV worth £180.
The TV is bought from funds that are raised by our secretary and side
drummer Paul Brady, who has, through sending letters out, received
donations from many companies. At 4pm the draw was made and a young
lad of twelve won the TV. I hope his bedroom is big enough!!
On Sunday we were privileged enough to be opening the Bob Brolly Charity
Show for Diabetes at The Symphony Hall in Birmingham. The show starts
at 6.30pm but we meet at 5pm to tune up, go through the sets and entertain
the crowd as they arrive - except this year I took the band out by
the canal at the back of Symphony Hall to tune up and lost all notion
of time and when I thought okay that’s good it was 6.05pm. So
for those of you that heard and saw us by the canals I hope you enjoyed
us, for all those coming in the front door I am sorry! As usual it
was my auld mate Maurice who put me right. At the time I asked why
he didn’t tell me what the time was his reply was, ‘fella
you’re in charge not me’ (revenge will be sweet I thought
to myself).
The band was excellent on stage and we are probably the only act that
has to go onto that stage without rehearsal, we will have been through
it many times at practice but the real thing cannot be emulated. As
we marched on to one of our new sets – Mairi’s Wedding – the
applause was wonderful but I and a few of the band didn’t dare
look at the crowd as there were several thousand people there. We would
all like to congratulate Bob on another wonderful evening and I know
you say this is the last but as always we will be very honoured if
you ask us to help next year.
Friday the 23rd saw us playing at the Sacred Heart Club in Aston. It
has been refurbished and is always one of the best places we play at
because the acoustics are excellent. We were playing because a great
friend and sponsor of the band Pat Baggot had been selling tickets
for the Parish Dance and also the re-opening of The Sacred Heart. As
we arrived we were told that Pat was in hospital again and all in the
band wish him a speedy recovery.
As the call to play was shouted I looked round and saw no Bass Drummer.
Where’s Maurice !!!! came the cry. Revenge was in my eye. Maurice
claimed to be in the Gentleman’s but I believe he was at the
bar and as we marched on Maurice came hurtling round the corner with
his Bass Drum in hand. As I say the sound in the Sacred Heart is great
and I was really proud when my son Joel walked forward with his Bagpipe
Tutor, Pat Cox, and played an intricate reel called Kelsey’s
Wee Reel. The applause was great and can only boost Joel’s confidence
as he enters a solo bagpiping competition at Ashbourne in Derbyshire
on the 16th July.
See what I mean about a lot of events and playing more than other pipe
bands? What makes it worthwhile is all the friends that you make in
the band and that you meet as we play many, many different events.
So, if you are young, forget the dancing, forget the hurling, forget
the gaelic football and join The Birmingham Irish Pipes and Drums.
See the world and enjoy the Craic.
You can contact us by telephone on 0121 686 3832/0121 783 0323 or by
visiting our website at www.birminghamirishpipesanddrums.co.uk have
a look at what we do, where we have been and be a part
of it!
Coming up!
Saturday the 8th July Solihull Hospital Fete at 2pm
Saturday 9th July The GAA for Africa at Parc Na Eirrean in Solihull.
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