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Featured Band
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The MacGillivray Pipe Band of Thunder
Bay
The MacGillivray Pipe Band, founded in 1917 by Dr. T.
D. MacGillivray and Peter Fraser Sr., is said to be one
of the oldest private Pipe Bands with continuous
service in North America and has just celebrated its
90th birthday.
Originally formed to provide music for troops on their
way to World War I, the MacGillivray Pipe Band has
provided entertainment throughout the United States
and Canada. They have played for Queen Elizabeth
and other members of the Royal Family, Prime
Ministers and Premiers, and took part in the Rose
Bowl Parade in 1972.
They have competed and won trophies at various
highland games, in Thunder Bay, Manitoba, St. Paul,
Minnesota, and the Scottish World Festival in Toronto.
To date, close to 500 members have moved through
the ranks of the Band and they currently have 28
playing members.
The Band proudly commits itself to the service of their
community by offering many public concerts in local
venues throughout the year, and represents their city
by traveling to Little Canada, Minn., one of our "sister"
cities every year in August. This year will be their 32nd
visit. They also play for a large number of Charity
organizations free of charge. They participated as a
band in 29 various events last year.
The MacGillivray Pipe Band is a "teaching" band and
offers free tutoring to piping and drumming students.
-submitted by Bill Ross, Pipe Major.
If you would like to see your band featured in our
newsletter, please email us a short description of your
band and a band photo.
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Events
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Don't forget to sign up for the 6th Annual Lake
Diefenbaker Piping School.
July 13-18, 2008, Birsay, SK.
May 2008
May 3 Vancouver Island Spring Tattoo
7 pm, Archie Browning Sports centre, Victoria
(Esquimalt)
May 17 Comox Valley Highland Games
www.cvhg.org/
May 17 - Moose Jaw Highland Games
www.reginahighlandgames.org/moosejaw.htm
May 18 - Regina Highland Games
www.reginahighlandgames.org
May 17 & 18 Victoria Highland Games
www.victoriahighlandgames.com/
May 30-31 Tattoo Regina
www.sasktattoo.com
May 30 evening Show
May 31 2 pm show
May 31 evening Show.
June 2008
June 5-7 Regina Mosaic
www.reginamulticulturalcouncil.ca
June 21 Red Deer Highland Games
www.reddeerhighlandgames.ca
June 22 Ellerslie Highland Games
www.edmontonscottish.com
June 29- Bands on the Boardwalk Scottish
Festival,
Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park
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More Upcoming Events
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Feature Article
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Bagpipe Maintenance- The Wood
The wood is the heart of the instrument, and it needs
to be in good condition.
Check the bores of each section and the stocks. They
should be smooth, clean, and without any
obstructions. Well made instruments will have
smooth bores. If the bores are rough, you can smooth
them out with steel wool on a cleaning rod, or have a
pipe maker/repairer do this for you. If the bores are
dirty, a few good oilings with quality bore oil will
remove most of the built up dirt.
Also check each section for cracks. A crack that leaks
air can cause all sorts of problems. Pay particular
attention to the wood underneath the ferrules, the
stocks, and the tuning chambers of the drones. These
are the most common areas where cracks will start. If
you have a crack, have it repaired as soon a possible
by a competent bagpipe maker/repairer. The crack will
only get worse, not better.
The drone bushings in the top of each drone can
become loose as the wood and glue age. Leaks
around the bushes are quite common and can cause
some serious drone instability. To check for leaks,
remove the top section of each drone and plug the
bush with a rubber stopper, or your finger. Blow in
through the other end and check for leaks. If there is a
leak, the bush will have to be removed and re-glued
into the drone top. If you are not comfortable doing
this, have a competent bagpipe maker/repaired do
this for you.
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Bore Oil
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