fairbanksredhacklepipeband.org Blog

Well, our 2008 competition season has come, and gone. The 27th Alaska Highland Games were a lot of fun with good weather, good fair food, and catching up with other Alaskan Scottish musicians. The biggest challenge was dealing with the impact of the south central environment on the pipes. They have way more moisture there than we have here. It took us all a little out of our game. But, we managed to put together one of our best sounding selection medley’s in spite of the extra challenge. The band placed second in the selection medley and third in the quick march medley. We had lots of individual competitors and a couple trios. For the third year in a row, the Shaggy Grey Bucks were the top trio!

The athletic events attracted a big crowd and there were several vendors with irish and celtic goods. The ceilidh band, Stand Easy was a lot of fun to listen to. I think a couple band members are a little inspired to put together a celtic folk/rock group for fun. It’s always great when folks get an idea and start running with it. That’s why the FRHPB exists!

At the Tuesday practice following our return home, we basically held a brainstorm session on how we can improve. Everyone threw in some great ideas and comments. We’ll be discussing them at the next BoD meeting.

Enjoy the summer. If you aren’t out of town, I look forward to seeing you at practice.
Slainte!
FRHPB President

Over the Memorial Day weekend, the Band hosted Andrew Hayes, from the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (http://www.sfupipeband.com/html/members.html). He instructed the band, and students, in a number of topics including instrument maintenance, tuning, playing together, and musicality. Many folks had individual lessons as well spending an hour one-on-one. Even the trios spent time with Andrew working on their competition sets. Overall the weekend was a great success and a very good time.

Tonight, at our first practice after the workshop, we are using the techniques that Andrew taught. The band’s sound has greatly improved and tuning came together much quicker. The key now is to maintain the sound, and keep practicing the tunes.

Hopefully, what will stick with us longest is Andrew’s four themes for bagpipe bands: execution, tone, expression, and ensemble. We have a month to pull all four themes together for the Alaska Highland Games on June 28th. Execution comes with practice, and we are starting our two practices a week this week. Tone is already improving thanks to Andrew’s instruction and help getting instruments in shape. Thanks to the concentrated practice time this weekend expression is coming together. Ensemble is also improving; as soon as the drummers joined us this weekend we started sounding like a performing band!

We greatly appreciate Andrew’s time, and I expect that we’ll be inviting him back again in the future, if he’s willing to put up with us.

Slainte!
FRHPB President

Traditional on the Burns Night program is the ”Toast to the Lassies” and the “Lassies’  Response.” A lad is asked to deliver a toast expressing his sentiments about the eternal, mysterious Woman, a topic upon which Burns often mused. 

A lass is asked to consider this male-centric view of love, the universe, and everything, and to respond on behalf of what used to be called the “gentler sex.”

Brandon and Anna, among the youngest performers in the band (both drummers), delivered these toasts for our Burns Supper 2008.  Their remarks deserve to be preserved forever in the annals of the Fairbanks Red Hackle Pipe Band’s Burns Suppers.

Thanks Heidi for rescuing Brandon’s and Anna’s notes for posterity. 

Brandon’s “Toast to the Lassies”

For public speaking I tend to be shy,
But I thought I should give this a try.
After all who is better,
At getting under a sweater,
Than a charming young man such as I?

See, men and women are quite diverse.
We’re lazy, we drink and we curse.
I mean, you’re so complex,
And we just want sex,
It’s a wonder we can ever converse!

Please understand our frustration,
When you try on some ugly creation,
You’ll ask us, “Sooo, what do ya think?”
And we’ll give you a wink,
But that’s only to avoid. . .castration.

Lassies, I tell you this true,
Though you nag till your faces are blue,
On behalf of the fellas tonight,
We think you’re alright.
This special toast is to you.

Here’s to the Lassies!

“Lassies’ Response” from Anna

To follow such a long-winded speech,
I will tell you about this life-sucking leech.
He calls himself a charming young man,
But does he think he can do what I can?
I cook, I clean, I do everything
And what does this mean? Not a thing!
I have to force him to leave the den
Only to find him staring at all the other women.

This is to all the men here:
 Put down the beer,
 Go out and get a career.

But to end on a good note,
Thanks for listening to what I wrote.
We lassies could not bare
If you gentlemen were not there.
So here is to all the laddies!

Cheers!

                                                          —posted by dennis

We looked fabulous, didn’t we? If you weren’t there, you missed a great time.

We had a swell turnout in spite of the cold weather. Heidi and LeaAnn found the location; the Taste of Alaska Lodge was a pleasing venue with comfortable rooms and an attentive staff. (They even packed up the leftover haggis and washed the pot). Ok, the parking was a bit squirrelly, and plastic car body parts shatter at the tiniest impact when it’s minus 32 degrees….

Everyone contributed to the program. There was lots of reading of Burns. Lee and I piped ourselves blue for a crowd of Strip the Willow dancers with the endurance of marathon runners. Lee also piped in the haggis, and piped for the dancers. The man has got the heart of an ox.

Thanks to Ed for the welcoming piping and Jean McDermott for playing music with us (The Tanana Highlanders). Rocky’s talk on “The Immortal Memory of Burns” was very insightful, and Art channeling the “Address to the Haggis” inspired us all. The haggis was the peak of the meal thanks to our masterful haggis cooks, June and Joan, and Heidi contributed excellent moose meat.

We were keenly looking forward to Brandon’s “Toast to the Lassies”, and we were sure not disappointed. It was perfect, with original limericks. Anna’s “Lassies’ Reply” properly dissed the testosterone-poisoned point of view. The text for these two toasts needs to be on our webpage, soon. Lots of photos were taken. Perhaps we could have some of those on our webpage also? Send the texts and any photos to our Webmasters.

Lastly, thanks as always to Warren for pipe majoring us.

My balmoral’s off to the organizing committee: Heidi, LeaAnn, and the co-MC, Mike.

There’s leftover haggis safely tucked away for the next time we do this, but we’ve packed some baggies as well for those who want to take some home. Let me know if you want a haggie-baggie. Good with scrambled eggs for Sunday breakfast.

Thanks again. You’re all wonderful. We must do this again sometime.

Yer Past Gig Chief.

A new year with new tunes and lots of fun ahead. As part of the new year, we’re also experimenting with new web tools available from Yahoo web hosting. This should be interesting.

The New Year Eve gig(s) at the Pump House went very well. Thanks to all who performed. The audience enjoyed it very much. Our next big event is the Burns Night Dinner. Members, please remember to get tickets at band practice or by contacting the Secretary. Invite your guests early so they can plan the drive out Chena Hot Springs Road.

The Events page has been updated for 2008 as has the Rates page. Also the contact information for our new Gig Chief has been added to the main page and the Events page. All gig inquiries should be directed to Mike Green. Welcome aboard sir!

Everybody keep warm indoors and keep those fingers limber. Now is the time to practice, practice, practice; the competition and performing season is just around the corner.

Slainte!
FRHPB President