Newsletter September 1988

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The second king received Jack politely and, as he had given his word, his daughter consented to be married to Jack Ny Hedgehog despite his appearance. After the ceremonies were over they went up stairs to bed. Jack had a big fire made up in the grate and instructed four men to wait till he was about to lie down, when he would creep out of his hedgehog skin and they were to rush in and fling it on the fire. This they did, whereupon Jack became a handsome young man, much to his wife’s surprise and delight.

                                         D.C.

 The illustration above is from the forthcoming Channel 4

series on European Fairy Tales (due later this year). In the series the story is called “Hans My Hedgehog”. Whether he plays the bagpipes or not remains to be seen. Knowing the way these TV people think, he’ll not be given bagpipes unless he comes from Scotland. No hum… Still, y’never know! If anyone knows any other fairy tales or legends that involve pipes or pipers, send them in and we’ll print them. (Ed.)

THE BAGPIPE SOCIETY 11TH NEWSLETTER NOV 1987

MUSINGS

Well, it looks like it’s been a good year again for bagpipes. Things seem to be getting better all the time with pipes in evidence at most, if not all, the major British folk festivals — not to mention those abroad. Especially good to see special piping events beginning to take off: the Edinburgh Bagpipe Festival, Stockton Bagpipe Festival, our own Chestnuts concert, Blowzabella at Aldershot (okay, so it wasn’t exclusively bagpipes - but there were times when you could have been forgiven for thinking otherwise!). And of course the regulars of St Chartier and Lorient. And these are just the ones we get to hear about.

 What we need now is for some to organise an event for next

year that will take pipers out onto the streets. Yes, we know that all you Highland pipers have been doing just that since Bonnie Prince Charlie — and keep it up I say. But what about all you others? How about a piping day at Covent Garden for instance — any takers for organisation?

 And whatever happened to the giant Hurdy-Gurdy/Bagpipe

Marching Band from the summer of last year? I thought it sounded pretty good, even if the bagpipes were a bit short in number - just what we need to take the drones onto the streets. Any carnival organisers out there among you need something a bit different?

 Yah Boo to Folk on Two! Despite an otherwise excellent

coverage of the Blowzabella Aldershot Workshop Weekend, BBC Radio 5 tc didn’t even mention the grand Bagpipe Band organised and coached by our illustrious President. Chicken, that’s what I reckon!

 And now for something completely different: congratulations to

pipers Anne and Bob Cross of Cheshire Waits on the birth of their daughter Emily - 5 lb 12 oz, Saturday 19th September. May her lungs be sound and her elbows always have plenty of squeeze.

We continue to extract members from all around the world — great stuff! But why are you a tiny short letting us know about piping in your countries (tell us honestly, exceptions in this issue’s Letters column)? Please write. Don’t worry if your English isn’t too good; we probably put it right. If you like, write in French or Spanish (for instance). We’re supposed by international organisations on why not give us something to print in your own language? And perhaps we might want to transliterate and print it in English as well. Doesn’t have to be a full scale article — anything would be nice. A signal nowhere will do. Tell us about the state of piping in your country. What’s the revival like? How healthy is the local tradition? What’s known about older forms of bagpipe in your country that haven’t died out? What’s the weather like? The world thirsts for knowledge (well I do anyway) — so write about it.

Roy Sloan of N. Hastings writes to say that on pre-print Geordie languishing in Hastings he would be pleased to hear from other pipers in the area. He would also be happy to teach Northumbrian pipes free of charge. Roy also makes pipes, but due to other pressures and the fact that he has a backlog of pipes he wants to make for himself, he can only undertake repairs at the moment.

Still losing members in the cessation of the Membership List. No time it’s £11 Crofman who has, according to the Post Office, “Being Away”. Any of you Crofmans reading? Where where he’s gone? Ohmigawd! Roy’s bagpiping to all you CAS? And when the Phantom Piper appears, has found with them, what letter will he start on next? Meanwhile, what sort of you remain under C. lost your door and windows next time you get the old pipes out for a practice — even New Zealand’s not too far away to except the cluthes.

Couple of juicy records we hear of: Hamish Moore’s “Open Friday” (Sablet) on 7-CH01 is currently getting airtime on Folk on two and BBC History 1900 - 2030. Hamish features lots of great musicians on this disc such as Nigel Eaton on hurdy-gurdy.

I hear Ian Sloan reported up hear of (via Julian Goodacre) that Italian piper and nifty bracis of Moses playing on it, well he would say that wouldn’t he? There of course is why Ian Sloan has not made it to many pipes, as many think, but one may be interested in news it was because one of their number had an argument with a tree while doing a bit of lumberjacking: the tree won.

Ian Smith would like it to be known that, due still health, he is winding up his just under cases selling business, but please don’t mind if you have an order in the pipeline Ian will be fulfilling all existing orders first.

Couple of important changes for you to note in your File: your Geordie Bagpipe Society position out open — only sixty quid!! Your Hon. Treasurer has grabbed the money and run all the way to Dollar . . . (with Vic and Drolin’s blessing, anyway).

The letter columns is a grave Society Editor who, faced in sultan idea of how to get out of his job, has indeed for every one of the many thousands who have already put the date in your diary with a firm resolve to be there at all costs, please accept our apologies and skip on to the more interesting bits of the Newsletter.

Events start at 11.30 on the morn of Sat. Dec. 5th in the town dives of the country, we are pleased to report that she has at last broken down to her new address.

So if you have any publicity matters you want to discuss, or help to offer, get in touch with her under her new name at her new home (and she might even play you a tune on her new pipes):

Judy would like to hear from any of you interested in attending a French bagpipe workshop which she hopes to get together with Jean-Pierre Rasle. I spoke to Jean-Pierre recently about this myself and he was very keen. Judy says not to worry if you don’t have French pipes. So long as you can more or less achieve the same fingerings and virtuosic things should be okay — after all, there is a very wide variety of pipes played in France as it is.

Now Chi has gone and deserted all us Londoners, is there anyone else who would be willing to host/organise some sort of rural or London meeting? Don’t worry if you haven’t got any ideas — we’re full of ‘em — all we need is a willingness.

Whatever happened to Milton Keynes? It seemed that everyone and his dog I spoke to was going to be there, but, who keeps from the event poor old John Ross had so few takers he had to cancel all but the Cauld Wind course. Where did we go wrong please note: this is not a rhetorical question? Answers — even if they hurt — urgently required.

Flying Camel present a Day of French Dance, from Brittany to Berry on November 29th, noon - midnight at the Chesterfield Arts Centre — dance workshops, music, food and a bar till late. Music will include bagpipes and hurdy-gurdy as well as other traditional French instruments. For tickets, phone (Ian Smith).

For the first time since the Society was formed, by your old fingers have been given something of a rest from the chore of typing this Newsletter. Pete Stewart (of Goodacre Brothers fame) is now sharing the load which is why the eagerly-read among you may detect a subtle difference in type faces throughout this issue. But the cunning devil has taken advantage of his privileged position to write letters, commenting on stuff in this issue (see letter from Uncle Fret) — crafty sod! Seriously, many thanks to you Pete; perhaps I can now get down to some bagpipe practice.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

As announced in the last Newsletter, this will be at Moutlarch on December 5th. By now you should all have had formal notice with your issue of ‘Chanter’ (you did all get ‘Chanter’ this time didn’t you?). But just to remind you, here are the details again (yes, I know I’ve a bore, but we are determined to get you out to this one. If you’re one of the many thousands who have already put the date in your diary with a firm resolve to be there at all costs, please accept our apologies and skip on to the more interesting bits of the Newsletter).

Events start at 11.30 on the morn of Sat. Dec. 5th in the town

square when there will be Morris dancing around the Town with White Rose Morris, Queen Esther, Jenny and Simon Mon — ‘dancing will finish in the Square at 1.30. Don’t worry if you arrive late—just fetch out for the bells and the pipes to find where everyone is. And bring your instruments, for from 12 noon onwards (says there all afternoon) there will be sessions at the Bowling Green and ‘The Talbot’. Also at noon there will be a craft fair at Norwich Civic Hall. From 3 till 5 there will be workshops at the Methodist Church Hall (Folk Cent.) with demonstrations and discussion, on a variety of pipes and styles with Bob White, Anne Cross, Jean Pierre Rasle, Ann Seymore, Masiah Moore, Dave Shaw and Peter Stacey. This is all absolutely FREE to members (quid to non-members).

Don’t forget—Somewhere in the midst of all this festivity we shall be appearing in an (all day—ringing!) But the actual timing you will have little oddity how that we have only allowed an hour for it to shift by time for the service wondering (and we have made more hot air than anyone last year). Having said that, there is a bit of free time between acts in case any pressing urgent items crop up (ho-hum). Food, side stalls and odd (?) Yes, will I suppose we’ve got to make time for it somewhere. But just to ensure you don’t all go sneaking off to Whitehall’s just as the AGM is getting really exciting, we’ve allowed an hour or two (the acting for you to partake of some excellent wholefood grub of sensible prices - also all the Full Centre).

By now, in fonding anticipation, you will all have mentally lost your seats for the last item of the day: Tar-raah — The Grand Concert from 6 till 10, featuring (in order of appearance) Dave Shaw, Ann Seymore, Masiah Moore and Jean-Pierre Rasle & Peter Stacey. Once again, what will be entirely FREE to members (3 quid to non-members).

Bob Criss, to whom we are indebted for organising all this, can arrange a certain amount of accommodation. But you must contact him quickly (unless you want to end up sleeping under the town bridge. You can contact Bob on for accomodation, advice or advance tickets for the concert (how was that? Bob? Do you think that’ll get the buggers along?).

Even if you can’t make it (you mean there are some who won’t go then?) you can still send in nominations for the Committee. All posts are up for grabs (as per our constitution) but in particular we will need a new Treasurer as Chi feels his new home is a bit remote for the job (nearest Post Office is about 5 miles away). You may nominate yourself if you wish — don’t be shy about this as that’s the way most people do it.

DIRECTORY OF MAKERS AND TEACHERS

This list is now being coordinated by DM member Bob Aston (that’s the one from Crosley; we’ve got two you see who is sending out questionnaires to all who have expressed an interest in being included). If you want to be included but think we might not be aware of that fact, please contact Bob at the

Bob is also trying to gather enough information to start producing proper plans for the Society or use by amateur pipe makers. If you have any drawings, measurements etc. for non-copyright

instruments you have encountered or produced that you would like to share with other members, please let Bob know so he has got something he can let his draughting talents loose on.

BIBLIOGRAPHY & DISCOGRAPHY

Another new member raring to go is Ross Campbell (only got two of these at the moment). Ross has a pretty hefty collection of bagpipe related books and articles plus a chunky record collection, he is cataloguing these for the Society and would like to know if the existence of anything you might have that is a bit unusual i.e. anything other than the Baines and Collinson books. Recognise he is hoping to get together with Stefan Hannigan who has already begun work on a bagpipe discography. Perhaps we might see something in the not too distant future chaps?

On the subject of the great SH, Stefan would like everyone to know that he is still alive and pumping art. He’s been very busy lately with Student Union business but can be contacted at his new address (via Membership List update) or the London College of Furniture (Old address).

PIPES FOR HIRE

not just pipes but all sorts of Folk Music instruments. This is Stefan Hannigan’s (yes, him again) aim for early next year. If anyone has any instruments they would like to send out to work to earn their keep, get in touch with Stefan. He will either handle it all on a 10% commission or will put you in touch with the pointer for 5% and you do the rest.

FUNDRAISING OFFICER

It has been suggested that a new post be created of Fundraising Officer. This would involve dreaming up ideas for raising a few bots for the Society (thus keeping subs down). Is there anyone out there who’d like to take it on? You won’t necessarily have to do all of work, just ‘corral’ and get others to do it. Quite a lot of you ticked the ‘willling to help’ boxes on the Membership Form; now’s your chance to help, either at a national (international?) or local level. The ‘sort of things we’re thinking about are organisation concerts, busking, sponsoring piping, things for sale etc. At least, those are the sort of things we have thought of so far. Even if you’re not willing to take on the job perhaps you might have ideas as to how we could raise some money. Get in touch with any Committee member.

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PIPES IN THE PRESS

The following item in the French Folk magazine “Tradition Vivante” was sent in by J. Godalton (Coventry, I’ve forgotten which one?)

“Le premier numero de Chanter, le journal du “Bagpipe Society” d’Angleterre est, pour Octobre (60 pages concues aux cornemuses, c’est un omest> pour les sauveteurs anglais. Au sommaire du No. 1 interview du floboiata, commentaire reparer les cornemuses, Westernshire small pipes, partitions et copies de stripes, 104 cornemuses italiennes et une étude de repertoire possible pour la cornemuse du sud de l’Angleterre, instrument disparu depuis plusieurs siècles, mais qui jouit d’un regain d’interet depuis quelques années.”

No.11 Jan-Mars 1987

Fame at last! The particularly astute among you will notice that the above extract is not in English. This is not because I’m too lazy to translate it (well… partly) but because I’ve seen why we shouldn’t have the old article in another language. You will have noticed in my Musings “what You never read them?” that I have invited articles in languages other than English. The above is to prove my business! We are supposed to be an international organisation after all. The “translations bits are theirs not mine by the way (wouldn’t dream of it!).

The following item was noticed by Judy in the Western Daily Press (so thinks):

“A judge yesterday summoned the leader of a band of Scottish pipers to appear before him when the swelling of bagpipes drowned out proceedings. The band, who had been tuning up outside Cambridge Crown Court in preparation for their concert in the city, were told to move out of earshot”

Oh well, at least it’s something when the press actually admit that pipers so turn up. ‘sbetter than being told to move out of the c, I suppose, which some of us came mighty close to a few weeks back.

For further ramblings from the press, see the Lorient Festival item complete with picture (caption also in French, note). Keep your eyes on the papers and magazines folks for suitable items for us to print, bagpipist or otherwise.

The following article does not strictly speaking fall into the above category if for no other reason than it’s 12 years late! However, we thought it worth reprinting in its entirety, including barely recognisable photos. If you want to get at the original it comes from the Journal of the English Folk Song and Dance Society, Autumn 1975. I don’t know who the author is (R.A. Schofield). If you’re still around and reading this R.A., how about getting in touch with a possible update?

BILLY BOLTON, PIPER OF THE DALES by R. A. Schofield

Not many realise that the people is only recently extinct, if that, as a traditional instrument in Yorkshire and Lancashire. A recently in 1960, Julius Pilling visited and duly laid Barrowford who said he father had played the bagpipe when wickd if he was Scottish, he replied “No, celically not, he played the Union Pipe,” What sort of tunes did he play? “Hinyes,” she replied. The union pipes have often been thought of as solely Irish, but this, and other evidence shows that not to be the case. For instance I look at “Yates Dictionary in the following voluy 4: “Indelible”. A sin who plays the Union Pipes is called a tweedler.” To receive as only in this book shows how popular the pipes have been. Of all pipes, however, none have been as cherished as Billy Bolton, often called the Dales Minstrel. Born in the village of Gilling (about three miles north of Richmond in Yorkshire), he was bound up at Skip, nearby, on the estate of Lord Dundas. He was apprenticed as a wheelsmith to John Alcull of Richmond, but by the age of 26 he had left that trade and became an incident hardened artisan and knife grinder based on Whalcliffe Mill about a mile West of Richmond. His travels took him all over the North and West Riding and it appears he was very poorly paid given his work, but also for the stories he told, the songs he sang, and the conjuring tricks he performed. Country persons appear to have been his principal fans, rather oddly perhaps since he was a musical Catholic, ever eager to put forward his own views.

Billy’s obituary I does not say when he heard to play the pipes but dates other evidence to put forward it is probable that he was taught while living in the Richmond area, since by one of his own family, or by a friend during his youth. The fact mention of his piping comes in 1886 when Dr. J. H. Dixon wrote of a ballad called “The Gerald Gace” that he collected from Billy. “We first heard it sung in Malhamdale, Yorkshire, by Billy Bolton, an old Dales minstrel, who accompanied himself on the Union Pipes.”

An appreciation of Billy was written the year before he died. Two very interesting passages are given here in full. " His favourite resort, when “in-coles” was “ay getting Malhamdale and the fine dale Gordale and another one the clear slipping source of the Aire and there by night the famous glenander ja The Cove, with pips and chanter playing which fell pick, and this in the grand and romantic styles of Craven was spent many of the happiest days of the old Dales Minstrel."

“When press of hours began to tell upon the old grinder, the machine slackened its revolutions, the fingers became less active on the pipes and the song would rarely be continued because when it was about this time that the old minstrel had the misfortune to with the little handle of Hilton East, where, after having done certain work for the collages and farmers and the chief magistrate of that place, he unfortunately felt his pipes with the magicians’ charms who promised he old minstrel that the voice of care alone should be taken off them until his return on the following day. Gebri, however, was the old man’s grief, when, on his return, the pipes, which he valued at three pounds, were smashed, burst, and entirely spoilt. However, after a household or family council, in which the old minstrel had the first time in his life made threats of law, the pound was paid to the old man - a third of the damage done. The poor minstrel tried many ways to “raise the wind” and get through repairs, but failing to do so, ultimately had the pipe fond fair fillings.”

I would put the above event as happening in about 1870, since Billy eventually settled down in retirement in the village of Barnsill, in Whalcliffe, after nearly sixty years of travelling. In some ways he was lucky, since he was due for the workhouse as a destitute when a London merchant whose father, the Rev. W. J. Parkinson, late Rector of Barrowford, near Leyburn, had befriended him, granted Billy a weekly allowance of six shillings.

Billy died on September 1st, 1884, and after his death a subscription was made to raise a headstone over his grave, which can be seen in Barnsill churchyard.

What happened to Billy’s pipes? There are two sets of Union pipes in Yorkshire museums. One set, mentioned by R. D. Cannon in the 1971 edition

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