End-of-decade lists abound from every corner of our culture this week. The last decade has not left U.S. piping and drumming unscathed, so what has shaped our art through the “aughts?” Here is a list of five things that shaped, or left an indelible mark on, American piping and drumming in the last decade.

No. 5

The building of online community. The earliest days of internet culture saw the rise of community bulletin boards which morphed into newsgroups and mailing lists. The “aughts” saw piping and drumming gravitate to this new medium like moisture on a reed. The audience that grew from the old rec.music.makers.bagpipe and moved to the current forums started by the late Bob Dunsire continues to grow today and the “dunsire forums” and their offshoots are now the default places to find up to the minute gossip, scuttlebutt, results and immediate first-hand accounts of the events that shake the piping world. From there, the communities and fellowship that spring forth remove the old obstacles of geography and distance and make the piping world that much smaller and tighter-knit.

No. 4

The elimination of the “off season.” The last decade has seen an explosion of educational offerings and competitive and performance events for pipers and drummers which, to everyone’s benefit, have also become popular gathering points for the piping community. Expanded educational offerings such as Winter Storm in Kansas City, the tried and true “summer schools” offered countrywide, as well as wintertime events such as the U.S. Silver and Gold Medal events at Winter Storm and The Metro Cup in Newark, NJ in February have all but eliminated any downtime pipers and drummers typically went through in the late-fall through spring. The opportunities offered now make it possible for an active competitive soloist or bandsmen to perform, compete, learn, and stay sharper than ever year ‘round.

No. 3

The rise of the organization. The success of groups such as Field Marshal Montgomery and Simon Fraser University over the last decade have as much to do with the quality of those bands’ organizations as it does with their music. The two go hand in hand. The passing decade revealed that it is no longer possible to excel in the realm of pipe band competition without an effective organizational structure and framework. No longer can a loose collection of players getting together to have fun and play music make any serious gains on the competition field. The logistics of travel, equipment purchase, personnel management, and musical arrangement alone require skills in fundraising and finance, as well as general executive function—all outside the ability to play pipes and drums. The competition game has become a serious one over the last decade and a serious musical attempt by any group requires a serious organization at its foundation.

No. 2

The viral spread of digital media. Digital music and video, aided by the medium of the internet, has given access to the events and history of our art like never before. Say what you will about the general legality of any of it, but there can be no doubt that the instant gratification of an emailed sheet of music, or video link, or recorded audio snippet has given more people than ever before access to the best of our art. Whether it is a personal video of your band’s performance at a local games, the prize-winning performance by a Grade 1 band or premier soloist at a high-level event, the archival home videos from the great solo performances of the past, or the BBC-backed “webcasts” of something like the World Pipe Band Championships in 2009, pipers and drummers of all levels worldwide can now partake in the experience and bear witness to the performances that inspire us all.

No. 1

The rise of the synthetic. The use of synthetic materials in reeds, bags, and drum heads is certainly not unique to the aughts, but the last decade saw their use creep into a level of innovation and development in piping and drumming products that has likely not been seen—ever. The experimentation in materials in moisture control systems, pipe bags, and drone reeds has given any piper at any level the opportunity to find an instrument set up that is more comfortable and playable than could be created using the old natural traditional materials of cane and hide. As a result, more people than ever before can now take up the bagpipe and reach a personally satisfying level of competency. Newer, more efficient pipe bags and drone reeds have provided an easier learning experience and a more rapid development for beginning musicians. The general age of the latest crop of top North American soloists stands as an example of what can be achieved in a short period of time when the frustrations that were once an impediment to learning have been removed. These materials have given experienced players and bands greater flexibility to find their ideal sound as well. The ready adoption by the players and bands at the top of competitive success have only hastened the adoption of these materials and spread their benefits to the greater piping community. As a result, a general listen at your average games can hear even mid-range soloists sounding pretty darn good. Pipe bands at the lower grades sound better than ever and the sound of higher level bands continues to reach a point of perfection that bands ten to fifteen years ago only dreamed about.<—5f1da80e674dd79b3e9dc975dba3722a—><—5f1da80e674dd79b3e9dc975dba3722a—>

This could be your Pipe Major’s newest tool for listening to the band, or the latest in bagpipe band enthusiast headgear for the Grade 1 circle at next year’s Worlds! Check with your local stockist…<—cbb5f1796de638d8158614052732196b—><—cbb5f1796de638d8158614052732196b—><—cbb5f1796de638d8158614052732196b—><—cbb5f1796de638d8158614052732196b—>

Certified bagpipes? That is the likely future as pipe makers deplete their existing stores of aged and seasoned African Blackwood and turn to the global market of mpingo timber for more. When all of our everyday products—from coffee to sneakers—make an effort to reduce their carbon emissions, or have a “green” seal of approval or stamps that indicate “fair trade,” it is inevitable that our beloved instrument will follow. Fair trade and “green” manufacturing principles have creeped into just about every item we buy and bagpipes are no exception.

Since “Blackwood Down” appeared in the Fall and Winter 2007 issues of The Voice, many of the preservation and resource management programs to help sustain the mpingo tree, the tree that gives us African blackwood for bagpipes, that were mentioned have begun to bear fruit. This past June and July of 2009 saw the first mpingo trees harvested under Tanzania’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. The country has recognized the crucial link between its natural resources and economic success and is taking a more aggressive approach in the management of its market for valuable timber.

Through a partnership with the Mpingo Conservation Project, two communities in the Kilwa district of Tanzania will be the first to experience the benefits of community-managed forestry and harvesting that will guarantee a more sustainable future for themselves and for this important timber. Once the initial harvests of sawed mpingo wood has been dried and are ready for sale in 2010, woodwind instrument makers will be able to buy blackwood labeled with the FSC “mark,” guaranteeing sustainable harvesting and a fair price paid to forest managers. As previously mentioned in “Blackwood Down,” well more than 90 percent of the blackwood currently on the market is a result of illegal harvesting, and much of that through slash and burn techniques which weaken existing trees and contribute to global climate change. It is just such illegal activity that completely stripped the forests of Kenya and Uganda of its once plentiful mpingo trees.

It’s a well established fact that a majority percentage of the population in sub-Saharan Africa lives in poverty. Mpingo timber is valuable on the open market but it is also an important fuel source to the local population around miombo woodlands and essential in traditional medicine and healthy commerce. Managing their own forestry will allow communities to earn 250 times more on the open market from their timber. Selling certified mpingo will enable poor communities to control their economic fate and benefit from a true market value of blackwood.

Marketers the world over have leveraged our desire to feel we are doing some good in world even when we are buying simple items. Playing a set of pipes that you know is made from wood that has contributed to an enhanced lifestyle and sustainable future for communities of fellow human beings and helped stop rampant deforestation should do that as well. Last year, The Voice partnered with the Mpingo Conservation Project and donated the proceeds from the sale of an exclusive T-shirt to the work they have done to help communities manage a sustainable living from the harvest of the mpingo tree. The shirts are still available and you can still contribute your small part to the above-mentioned important programs. Go to www.thevoicelog.com/store to get yours.

For those stuck here in the homeland during “Worlds week” back in August, here is is the Top Secret Drum Corps from Basel Switzerland performing at Drumming for Dinks at the Lord Todd Bar. Behold the origins of our pipe band drumming.

For another look at their whole routine, here is the corps performing elsewhere in Scotland.<—05fd049420d35335080f8387e29c84af—><—05fd049420d35335080f8387e29c84af—>

I have forgotten how excruciating the march past is. Makes me wish for a webcast pint from the beer tent. As it is moving along, a few thoughts about today’s contest:

• The webcast gets an A++. Bob Worrall could not be equalled as a commentator. It was truly the next best thing to being there and made me feel a whole lot better for being stuck at home.

• Can anyone remember the last time 78th Fraser was not in the final? I think you can count on one hand how many times they have not been in the top 6 in the last fifteen years. In fact, eastern Canada was not represented for the first time in a long time.

• Cullybackey is the band to watch. If they keep their momentum, they could pick up the right folks and start doing damage. They were impressive if not a bit green. They evoke SLOT in the early days of their Grade 1 forays.

• The best non-European piping is coming from western Canada and the southern hemisphere apparently.

• I cannot see how the size of those pipe corps and drum lines is sustainable.

17:25

Yes, Shotts is not on the list. But they could easily supplant Boghall or Strathclyde depending. The bottom 3 are always a crap shoot. However, to see Shotts have to qualify next year would be mind bending, wouldn’t it?

17:16

Bob Worrall is not making any predictions right now, but I will: MSR scores will be all over the place and could disrupt someone’s chance at the list (Strathclyde [cough]). Medleys were all very good with individual statements. My list: 1. SFU; 2. SLOT; 3. FMM; 4. Boghall; 5. Power; 6. Strathclyde.

17:15

Vale making a good go. Good sound, but a bit unclear. Ensemble issues? Sound is starting to drift. Too bad.

17:11

Vale up. Final band. Long day. Early E. Gads!

17:06

Tone troubles really hurting the overall presentation now. Shame. Playing and unison is really good.

17:03

Triumph St. up. Lower pitch than all the other bands. Top hand tone issues right out of the gate. Hurting the harmonies quite a bit.

16:59

Although, it is the same medley they’ve been playing with a few alterations. No wonder it looked effortless. But still, very advanced level of arrangement. It should score well despite the off tone on the top hand.

16:58

SFU got game!

16:58

And they make it look so easy! Curse them! Not a struggling player in the bunch.

16:55

More perfection oozing from SFU. My goodness. How does this band stay so effing good? Are those top hands a bit suspect? HiA and F?

16:48

Only SLOT could play The Grey Bob round and make it work. That was good. The top 4 are going to be pretty close.

16:47

If you had to make a comparison, FMM’s stiffness in their presentation is the converse to SLOT’s color and flavor.

16:43

Nice sound. Better than the MSR. More polish and good depth. Big bottom hand on Hen’s March sounds deep and full.

16:41

SLOT taking the field. Playing Donald McLean as did Manawatu. Will they play each part only once through? Sounding good in Girl from Dungannon so far. Naturally.

16:36

Manawatu putting on a competent run. Top hand issues hurting the musical effect. Wonder how playing a 4 part jig only playing each part once through will go over with the men with the boards?

16:30

Wow. That was good. Some of the bands that are scraping their way into the pack have the most interesting music. The Aussies had a well structured medley that was full of interest. Nice nice nice.

16:28

Love that arrangement of MacCrimmon Will Never Return. Love it.

16:24

Nice exciting stuff so far from the Aussies. Well arranged with musical flow and dynamics from drum line. Not as tonally polished as the “big three” but quite good.

16:21

Just listening to the Aussie Highlanders tune list makes me excited to hear it.

16:16

Good stuff from Fife. Transitions are a bit drastic but they work. Tonal issues hurting the counter melodies.

16:09

Nice medley by the polis! The MSR was strong but not as. It might be a squeeze, but the top 6 awaits.

16:08

Ensemble is crackin’. Great movement and rhythm.

16:05

Nice arrangements in the slow air. Fits the beginning and acts as a real transition to the next part.

16:04

Strathclyde comes out strong. Chanters a bit uneven at the start on the top hand.

15:58

Cullybackey is the band of the day. Very impressive all around. Their medley is well put together and full of original color. Lots of rhythm and melodic turns.

15:49

Another nicely done performance with drive and energy that was well arranged by a band that is frequently in the top 6. They made a good go today. We’ll see what happens.

15:46

Can I say how much I like the aerial shots of the bands on the pitch with the big crowd and obelisk in the background. Not an effect you get in the cheap seats. Although, I suppose I am in the cheapest seats of all?

15:44

FMM are a tough act for Boghall to follow. The melodic playing and counter melodies and smooth polish is something everyone should set as an example. But Boghall is making a good go. Their playing is rock solid albeit straight but very effective.

15:37

Oh FMM, why do you torment us mere piping mortals. We’re not worthy! Seriously, is there anytime when this band is not spot on? They’re playing is musical if not a bit stiff, but man o man does it work and is it sweet.

15:30

Nice. But no turn to the audience. Do ya no like us nae more Rab?

15:27

Nice all around, but some definite unison troubles in places scattered about—and frequently scattered about, in the slow stuff particularly.

15:18

Nicely done by Scottish Power. Beautiful arrangement of S.Crook and Little Cascade! Coupled with their strong MSR, that is top 6 material.

15:14

Oh no. The stream is getting wonky, just at the good bits!!

15:11

There is just something “extra” about these experienced bands at the top. They just seem to make it look so easy. Confident playing, rock solid musicality right from the start. Power is the best band to never win the worlds….

15:09

Bob is whetting our appetite for Power’s medley with a bit of piobroch, an interesting arrangement of Shepher’d Crook, and Little Cascade. Can’t wait Bob!

15:06

Are they losing drive as they hit the ending reels? Seems draggy and lackluster. Maybe a corps coupling issue.

15:00

Ballycoan kicks off the medley portion under beautiful skies. Starting strong and sounding smooth. Very nice.

14:31

Vale of Athol solid and good. Generally no surprises in the MSR portion. Those you expected to be good were good. Those who qualified were good, but not as. But some good solid music from all that can serve as an example. SLOT added subtlety and color to their set, which is a hard thing to do in something straightforward as an MSR. SFU and FMM were perfection, or at least as perfect as anyone is going to hear anywhere right now. There it is.

14:26

Triumph gave a good run for their first time in the modern grade 1. Tone not up to the level as the top group, but in the mix. One more band to go, then I take a quick nap before the medleys.

14:23

Triumph Street comes out strong with good music. Solid and aggressive. Some ensemble connection issues.

14:15

They are one polished outfit. Every beat in its proper place. Tempos so solid you can set your watch by them. You can hear every single gracenote articulated. You have to respect their professionalism. They are serious about what they do.

14:09

5 time champs SFU coming to the line. If you’re following the YouTube clips from out west, you know they’re ready for this.

14:08

Nicely done. That was good. Excellent music.

14:01

And the sun is back for SLOT!

3:56

Tone issues. Losing coherence in the sound.

13:54

Strong out of the gate! That’s what I’m talkin’ about, mate.

13:52

The rain comes back for Manawatu.

13:48

Oh my. Aussie Highlanders not going in as strong as the qualifier. Mistakes going into the circle. Drums dull. What happened? Tone sounds “overcooked”—flat and dull.

13:41

Very strong so far. Much improved over their qualifying set.

13:36

Fife Constabulary up to the line. A surprise for them to be here honestly. Did not think they had it over a band like AlCal frankly. Oh well.

13:32

Not as strong a performance as they’re known for. Good music, but mistakes! Overall presentation a bit sluggish with unison trouble. Tonal issues. Good strath.

13:26

Wait, they’re playing McCallister’s Dick? Wait again, they messed up the number of the sets! It’s Donald Cameron with Mrs. MacPherson of Inveran. Whew.

13:25

Strathclyde playing Green Hills of Tyrol up to the line, nice!

13:18

Cullybackey sounding strong. A bit tentative with the presentation, almost draggy. Very impressive band though. Have to admire any band that scrabbles their way to the grade 1 final by way of the lower grades.

13:08

Dig those funky orange bass and tenor sticks in the Boghall corps.

13:04

Sweet performance.

12:59

Man, they just ooze polish and perfection

12:57

And the sun comes out for 6 time champions Field Marshal Montgomery.

12:55

Good all around. A bit unsettled in spots. Tone deteriorated a bit. You really notice it in a band like this…

12:50

It’s solid. It’s Shotts. Some issues on the bottom hand balance?

12:46

Here comes the rain again for Shotts. Sorry Rab.

12:45

Smooth playing and refined sound from Scottish Power. Some roughness in unison in small places.

12:41

Power, out of the box, confident, aggressive. The set is moving for sure. Local boy Derek Midgley among the ranks.

12:36

Ballycoan, good solid effort. Less aggressive than their qualifier though. You gotta mean it!

12:30 BST

Sharp and on time Ballycoan kicks off the Grade 1 final.

11:53

My breakfast will consist of eggs, bacon, and one glengarry. Qualifying bands for the final: Ballycoan, Fife, Triumph Street, Aussie Highlanders, Manawatu, Cullybackey.

11:24

Tune back in at 6:45 am (11:45 bst) for the qualifying bands.

11:22

Qualifying prediction (is it 6?): Ballycoan, Peel, Aussie Highlanders, AlCal, Manawatu, Pipe Band Club

11:20

Tayside not in the upper group of this round, although a good run. Some unison issues in both corps. Tone drifting in the strath.

11:16

Tayside police the final band up to the line. A Maggie Cameron in the set! How 1990s!

11:14

11:45 BST will be the time to tune in and hear the qualifying bands for the final. Refresh your browser says Bob.

11:13

They win points for good chederis on Dora! Solid into the reel. There are bands who are clearly part of the upper pack of the grade 1. Another qualifying performance.

11:09

Another Dora MacLeod in the set. Nice sound going in!

11:07

Triumph Street coming up to the line. Another biiiig pipe corps. They look like they mean business.

11:05

Another nice performance here at the end of the group. Good presentation. Solid tempos and ensemble. Should qualify.

11:00 BST

Another Clan MacCrae Soc. Nice sweet and refined sound. Like the drum scores. Nice fit

10:58

More Aussies coming to the line. The Pipe Band Club qualified their first time out. Let’s see if they can pull it off again.

10:56

The stands are filling up now that the rain is gone and the final will be coming up soon. Qualifying bands get no respect.

10:54

Tone is holding nicely through the reel. A bit of unison issues here and there. Very very good.

10:50

Good robust sound. March is quite good so far.

10:48

Manawatu making their way up to the line.

10:46

More coffee then.

10:45

The kiwis are taking their sweet time and eating up the extra minutes.

10:42

AlCal was the probably the best performance so far. I’ll eat my glengarry if they’re not in the final.

10:41

Now that was a performance that should be in the final! The sun almost shone on them by the reel.

10:35

Alberta Caledonia has qualified several times. Nice intro. Solid solid sound at the start. All bodes well.

10:33

Dang it if things aren’t running a full five minutes ahead of schedule.

10:30

Some unison issues. Tone drifting slightly in the reel. Very good for the California lads and lassies.

10:28

Strong march. Solid playing and good tempos. Nice lift so far in the strath.

10:27

Funny attack with odd drone strikes. Another big drum line.

10:24

LA Scots with a smallish band comparatively. The spitting rain has started up again.

10:23

Fun to hear Bob fish for good things to say. Music was good, but overall…

10:22

Tone has left the green.

10:20

Some ensemble decoupling going on. Where’s the support from the midsection?

10:20

Holy sh**! look at that drum line! Unfortunately, that many drummers ends up sounding fairly muddy and unclear if it’s not bang on. Some definite unison issues and we’re just into the march. Och.

10:17

Lothian & Borders up. Jim Barnes and the band has had uneven success since moving up.

10:13

Very good indeed despite the tonal issues

10:11

Impressive presentation and unison. Good ensemble. Charlie’s Welcome is a tune you play when you mean business. Come back tone, come back!

10:09

Oooh. Tone is leaving them very early, still in the march. Nice drumming.

10:08

Tone from all the bands sounding a bit stronger now that the rain has let up. Big corps. from the Aussies!

10:06

PM Boyle of the Australian Highlanders in crutches!

10:06

Bob Worrall took the words out of my mouth. The contest is a difficult one to judge so far.

10:05

A bit of a loss of lustre toward the end of the reel.

10:04 BST

No rain capes to be seen yet. Very strong from Fife so far. Smooth break into strath. Clear playing and unison. Tone is drifting early. Some disconnect in the two corps going into the reel

9:58

The first Mrs. MacPherson of Inveran coming up with Fife. The Murray brothers seem to have the band up to snuff.

9:55

All in all, the webcast is pretty awesome so far. More coffee!

9:53

Tone is drifting in the reel. Excellent presentation and consistent. Ensemble issues slightly in the reel.

9:50

The rain has let up. Quite good so far in the march. The first Sheepwife to look forward to.

9:46

Dig those judges’ huts. Here comes Cullybacky. Another new Grade 1 band, only their second year out.

9:45

I watch and burn with desire to be there in person. But it isn’t so bad watching with a coffee in my pajamas.

9:41

Trailing drones! Mars an otherwise excellent performance. The set moved forward and had drive.

9:40

John has whipped these guys into shape! Good break into reel. This band has changed pipe majors like socks!

9:38

Big sound. Maybe not as clean as Ballycoan’s but very punchy. Like the confidence in the playing.

9:36

John Cairns with his Mark Saul tuner strapped on!

9:35

Peel Police up. Slight delay in the visuals and sound is a bit distracting. Och.

9:31

Why are so many more watching along the free edge of the field than in the allegedley sold out bleachers?

9:30

Tone is slipping away. Pretty Marion is a great tune. Very ballsy. Unison is suffering a bit here though.

9:26

Was that a mistake into the circle?! Drum line playing with plastic sheeting over the heads? Very aggressive and pointed so far.

9:25

78th follows. First non-UK band to win the Worlds. A big set comes up with 6 and 8 part tunes.

9:22

Very strong lads and lassies! Andrew Douglas smiles at the end. Well done!

9:19

They make a big circle in the pissing rain. Dang. Nice presentation on the march. Rough break into the strath. Another Susan MacLeod!

9:17

Oran Mor up now. Another Grade 1 debut! Hear it for the home team!

9:16

Nice performance. Tone is going to hurt them.

9:13

Presentation is a not as aggressive as you’re used to hearing in the Grade 1. March a bit dull and strath now is good but draggy.

9:11

Playing a much flatter pitch, oh my.

9:10

Bob gives a shout out to the early birds in North America. Right with ya’ Bob! Torpichen and Bathgate makes their debut in the 1.

9:06

And done. Very clever turns in the reel for Ballycoan. Tone drifted a bit.

9:01

Nice pull away on the camera. Tone is solid and the presentation of the march very fluid. Strath now is sounding very “top 12.”

8:59

Ballycoan up with Clan MacCrae Society, Susan MacLeod, and John Mackechnie. Up to the line. Let’s hope the sound coming through is a bit better when the bands come into the circle!

8:55 BST

Live stream up and running. Bob Worrall and his camera are live! Ballycoan is ready with final tuning in the spitting rain.<—57a2db1c90c8e2ef55bc4d449962a386—><—dc1cf294e6f7bf1f4407f69c6b4006cd—><—dc1cf294e6f7bf1f4407f69c6b4006cd—><—dc1cf294e6f7bf1f4407f69c6b4006cd—>

The BBC’s 21st century leap will have the Grade 1 qualifier and final streaming from Glasgow Green and the World Pipe Band Championships live, in real time. If the internet cooperates, and the coffee is strong, The Voicelog will be firing up the speakers and live blogging the qualifying round and final as it happens starting nice and early at 4:00 a.m. EST Saturday! For all you other pipe band junkies (and you know who you are), check in with your comments or shoot out emails with your thoughts to voice [at] euspba.org. No reason for everyone to be lonely.

BBC Scotland has finally embraced twenty-first century technology and has announced it will live stream the entirety of the Grade 1 competitions from the World Pipe Band Championships over the internet. The Worlds finally reaches the world in an effort that recognizes at last the scope of and worldwide enthusiasm for piping and pipe bands.

In its release, the BBC’s Ewan Angus said:

“The World Pipe Band Championships have become an important fixture in BBC Scotland’s summer schedule. We are delighted that we will be enhancing our coverage this year with the live web streaming for viewers in and beyond the UK. We know there’s a big interest in piping in many countries abroad, particularly those where traditional music already has a strong following. It is fitting that our offering has gone global in this special year for Scottish culture and heritage.”

Sounds like something that should certainly get eastern U.S. pipers out of bed at 4:00 am.<—478c4132fd87aa02374cfee71c43ab60—><—478c4132fd87aa02374cfee71c43ab60—>

Bre Pettis, host of MAKE magazine’s video blog and maker in residence at MAKE TV has posted the manifesto of the “Cult of Done.” It is worth reading…hell, it’s worth posting in its entirety:

1. There are three states of being. Not knowing, action and completion.
2. Accept that everything is a draft. It helps to get it done.
3. There is no editing stage.
4. Pretending you know what you’re doing is almost the same as knowing what you are doing, so just accept that you know what you’re doing even if you don’t and do it.
5. Banish procrastination. If you wait more than a week to get an idea done, abandon it.
6. The point of being done is not to finish but to get other things done.
7. Once you’re done you can throw it away.
8. Laugh at perfection. It’s boring and keeps you from being done.
9. People without dirty hands are wrong. Doing something makes you right.
10. Failure counts as done. So do mistakes.
11. Destruction is a variant of done.
12. If you have an idea and publish it on the internet, that counts as a ghost of done.
13. Done is the engine of more.

There are several bits here that apply to the modern bagpiper and drummer. Modern times have squeezed just about every drop of time we might have to devote to, well just about anything. Often we are pressed for time to do everything whether it is one’s job (“I’m busy as h***”), one’s hobbies, or managing one’s family activities. The Cult of Done manifesto contains something anyone can take to heart and may force you to think about your piping and drumming in a new way.

Perfection is the enemy of the good. Pipers and drummers are so focussed on perfection it has become a source of mass neurosis. Voltaire’s quote is almost a truism. After all, bagpipe competition is set up to punish imperfection. It is the very nature of the format. I dare say that punishment for imperfection overshadows rewards for the same in a typical pipe band contest. The result? Neurotic attention to detail and oftentimes overanalyzed activity bearing the fruit of paralysis and stagnation.

How many times has your band rubbed raw your 3 to 5 minute performance on the competition field? Does it help reach perfection? How much do you really improve though such obsession? Whatever the answer to that, it is important to realize that “perfection” is a myth. Number 8 in the manifesto above makes that clear.

My favorite is number 4. Take a moment to think about this and how it relates to the way you approach your own music making. In one way, this statement is freeing. It is permission to push aside your own prejudices and preconceived notions and move forward. In a sense, many of these statements can be combined into one: “Just do it.”

Number 9 is something you can use to brush aside the “folding-chair judging” and other negative commentary about your or anyone else’s performance. “Getting your hands dirty” means you are fully engaged in the work to develop your own music making.

It’s important to make the distinction, “perfection” is not the same as “development.” When you work toward improving yourself as a musician and as a competitor, it is not about striving to be perfect. It is realizing your potential, and that work reaps its own rewards. “Done” is merely a term, but as number 13 says: Done is the engine of more.

The 2009 Metro Cup Championship went to Willie McCallum for the second year in a row. McCallum’s third place in the piobaireachd and second in the medley earned him the overall prize, which this year included a solid gold US$50 coin worth approximately $1,000. Gordon Walker took the piobaireachd prize with his rendition of “Scarce of Fishing.” Alasdair Gillies, first in the medley portion of the contest, was in top form on a stage that saw several excellent medleys. Pictures from the event up on Flickr here.

Competitors performed their piobaireachd in the afternoon with the medley performance in the evening. Performers submitted a free-form medley that typically gives players a chance to show off and be creative. This year’s performances only saw a scattering of flashy arrangements with most players giving straightforward and more traditional presentations. While the “flash” is always enjoyed by the crowd, the straight deliveries perhaps give players a better chance to cast a more varied style into the mix while allowing the quality of their pipe to shine through. Personal style was indeed a highlight of the medley event, each player delivering obvious bits of themselves to the judges and audience. To the savvy listener, taking in the subtle differences in musical delivery and the color of the performances was as big a pleasure as the jazzy fingering and arrangements seen in prior years.

This year’s contest saw a healthy slate of local buy viagra buy cialis buy cialis professional buy viagra professional regional players and some first-time invitees. Ken McKeveny from North Carolina by way of New Jersey, Derek Midgely, John Bradley, and Jesse Ofgang all made their Metro Cup debut along with local regular Brian Meagher. Jori Chisolm of Seattle, Washington also made his Metro Cup debut with an excellent bagpipe and smooth delivery.

Some notable performances were heard from Alastair Dunn with a moving rendition of “Isabel MacKay” on a sweet sounding modern Henderson pipe with modern Peter Henderson chanter. Alastair’s medely performance was also full of drive and characteristic flair. First timer Glenn Brown also gave an evocative delivery of “Beloved Scotland,” which earned a fifth placing. A clear and well articulated medley on an extremely refined bagpipe earned a third placing in the medley contest. Metro Cup regular John Patrick earned a fourth place in the medley with a lively and crowd-pleasing performance played with energy and clarity.

Professional Piobaireachd
1. Gordon Walker (“Scarce of Fishing”)
2. Roddy McLeod (“Lament for Donald Dughal MacKay”)
3. WIllie McCallum (“Lament for the Children”)
4. Alasdair Gillies (“The Vaunting”)
5. Glenn Brown (“Beloved Scotland”)

Professional Medley
1. Alasdair Gillies
2. Willie McCallum
3. Glenn Brown
4. John Patrick
5. Roddy McLeod

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Sounds like the makings of several good tunes. New tunes might be all the famed and fabled Strathclyde Police will have left as we move into the future. Despite their well received concert at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow this past January, and their trophy shelf full of cups and awards, the pipe band that can trace its origins back to the 1880s is facing official restrictions on their activities.

It appears that the restrictions limit the band’s outings to two of the five major contests this season and the pipe band world is apoplectic. Histrionics aside, it is easy to see how the restrictions on activities will hurt the band’s recent competitive surge. Pipe bands anywhere in the world have a hard enough time plying their craft without their parent organizations turning a sour eye on them.

The name “Glasgow Police” is itself legendary and can be attached to just about every past influential figure in modern bagpiping and drumming. The modern band, under the name “Strathclyde” Police has had its own share legendary success. Their twelve Worlds victories (with six in a row!) is still unmatched in pipebandom. One might think that having a band of that caliber would be something worth building on in these tough times, not paring down. Especially with the big promo push for this year’s Homecoming Scotland. Their withdrawal from the competition field will leave a big hole as well as give non-police members a reason to play elsewhere.

Still, it is possible that what we are seeing is but the latest news in a trend for institutionally sponsored world-class pipe bands. One thing we don’t need is more boneheaded decisions like those that befell the Victoria Police and Western Australia Police Pipe Bands.

For now, Rab Wallace over at the Piping Times has set up a petition for anyone wishing to express their dismay over these decisions. Sign it here.