August 22, 2011
We do an annual gig for the War Museum next to the Johannesburg Zoo and this year’s was great. A lot bigger than previous years in terms of attendance and we played with the Transvaal Scottish and the Wits Rifles as a mini ‘massed-bands’. Great fun and an amazing setting for a picnic on a clear, dry almost-spring Sunday afternoon. The above pic is of us tuning up – I’m far left.
January 20, 2010
I went to my first practice (and gig!) of the year last night after two months of diligent sober-dom. I was dreading it. Our first parade is on Saturday (23rd Jan) and we all had to get onto the pipes to make sure that we have no nasty surprises when we arrive at the UJ Rag march. Surprisingly, the tone was quite ok. My instrument felt as if I’d played it yesterday.
To top the evening off, we played in the mess for the General commanding the SA Reserve forces,who was visiting the base. Apart from my forgetting how to march, it went down pretty well. Hopefully he will be helping us financially for the Edinburgh Tattoo tour later this year (or rather helping the Transvaal Scottish go to Edinburgh since the Tattoo organisers seem to think, according to their media publications, that they are the ones visiting this year).
All in all a good start to the year… we’ve got yet another new Matt in the band (I’m really thinking of changing my name… Bob sounds good) and another new member, Riaan, … we’re going to have new competition music coming soon (more coding, etc. for me), and we had roughly 22 people at practice. I’m really looking foward to what’s ahead this year. Also…. band party on the 30th Jan!!
January 12, 2010
Just an update on what the band’s up to in 2010… (just select the “Season Schedule” at the bottom of the page)
http://www.sairish.co.za/index1.html
Keep piping!
May 6, 2009
Just came across this and smiled, so I thought I’d share… read all about it at Sarah Watson’s Invisible Car! at SuperForest.org…
March 5, 2009
I’ve added a video widget to the side bar and will periodically add my favorites or any interesting ones I find. If anyone has any that they would like to suggest, just drop me a line or comment on this post.
Matt
March 2, 2009
February 26, 2009
I’ve been using Bagpipe Player (by Doug Wickstrom) for the last year or so to update and format the band’s repertoire. Initially I tried to format the tunes using the notation software itself, but found it better to export the tune as an object into MS Word or Powerpoint and worry about the fonts and stuff there.
To export into Word or Powerpoint, make sure that the tune in Bagpipe Player has no Title or Composer, etc. You can put the tune name and the rest into the code and have it not appear on the tune by using double inverted commas (” “) anywhere in the code.
… if coded as above, the tune should look like this… with no ‘Title’ (scroll all the way up to the top of the viewing window):
Next, open up Powerpoint or Word and select ‘Insert Object’ (or just ‘Object’) from the “Insert” menu at the top left of the screen.
A box will open up and you should select the ‘Create from File’ option.
Then select your tune file (it will have a .bww or a .BMW extension) and click ok. Reposition and Format as you like – the tune will now be treated as an image.
I’m learning of new ways to do things every day with this program… it really is an excellent bagpipe music notational tool. Just remember… when all else fails, it helps to read the ‘Help’ file.
February 11, 2009
Hi all…
Apologies for the absence. So much has happened in the past few months that I need to post about… more tunes, links, equipment and experiences. I’ll get to it asap!
Keep piping…
September 10, 2008
Hey there…
Just a few more links you might find interesting. I’ve added all of these to the side bar so that they’re permanently on the page for y’all to peruse… 😛
More will be on the way…
September 8, 2008
The first day of rehearsals for the South African Tattoo began yesterday and I must say that it had never quite hit me how big and popular a production this is until I walked onto the performance ground! I arrived at Monte Casino amidst the distant hum of bands tuning up that usually greets me when arriving at Gatherings. The sound was louder due to the walls and grand stands surrounding the arena, giving it the feel of a big athletics stadium. There were over 200 bandsmen scattered throughout the stadium in addition to about the same number of brass band members and over 50 highland dancers… there was even a camera crew running around filming the rehearsal (a camera man snuck up on me at one point, giving me such a frigh that I forgot which tune we were playing!).
We spent the whole day going through the various formations and tunes that would make up the 90min show, and I found myself having an absolute blast despite the sunburn and stiffness. It was a 
new and enjoyable experience playing with the brass and percussion bands of Springs Boys High and the SAPS (South African Police Service), and the African drums.
One of the reasons I enjoyed it so much was that my pipes worked perfectly! I was worried (really worried!) that I’d have a hard time playing with the drones since I haven’t really found an air-efficient setting for them yet, but after deciding only to use one tenor and a bass they felt and sounded amazing. I managed to play from 9am to 5pm with a reed that I consider quite ‘challenging’, so I’m ecstatic about how yesterday went. I honestly can’t wait for the first show on Thursday. I’ve got all my kit from the band (borrowed mostly from those who aren’t doing the Tattoo) and after a few major repairs to the kilt I was given, I should be ready for anything!
Rehearsals continue this evening and tomorrow evening with the dress rehearsal on Wednesday. I’m going to love every minute!
If you want to read more about the show, click here or here…
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Matt
The Rusty Piper 