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Well, lads an' lassies, we had a strange mix of weather --- so strange, in fact, that at one point we had a few brief snow flurries! --- but nonetheless, 'twas perfect Scotsman's weather for ScottishPower Tunes of Glory NYC 2002, in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care and Gilda's Clubs Worldwide. Nearly 9500 Pipers and Drummers took part --- a few shy of the 10,000 the event had originally boasted of having, but still the event turned out be a magical affair for all concerned!
As expected, everyone who was anyone wanted to see Sir Sean Connery step out and lead these Pipers and Drummers from all 50 U.S. States and 26 nations --- including practically every major Pipe Band representing the New York area, including (especially) the NYPD and FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums (whose own personnel are even now still doing the hardest honklin' an' bangin' of all, given the aftermaths of September 11th); indeed, one might say that these Pipe Bands earned the tribute more than one might let on.
We had everybody in on the merry march: The Right Honourable Eric Milligan, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh; Mayor Michael Bloomberg; Alan Bain, President of the American-Scottish Foundation; Ian Russell, CEO of ScottishPower; Peter Lederer, Chairman, and Philip Riddle, CEO, both of VisitScotland; Magnus Orr and Thomas Grotrian, the two madmen who conceived this Highlander's answer tae an excellent adventure; the Chief Executives of the two charities benefitting from Tunes of Glory --- Thomas Hughes-Hallet, representing Marie Curie Cancer Care; and Diane Perlmutter, head of Gilda's Clubs.... and, as ye might expect, much, much more!
Even before Sean Connery got to lead them --- and frankly, Sir Sean was there simply for the photo ops! --- the long journey was led by an honest-to-goodness Town Crier: John Smith from Kilwinning, in the heart of Robbie Burns Country --- a city well-known as the headquarters for all Freemasonry in Scotland. Like John himself, everybody who was a part of the proceedings had their own story to tell. For example: Philadelphia's own jazz-loving bagpiper, the legendary Rufus Harley (his arrangement of Moon River for Highland Bagpipe and jazz band is outstandingly recommended); or perhaps Angus MacKenzie, who is half-Cree Indian and half-Scottish, and celebrated both his heritages by struutin' his stuff in a full-dress Drum Major's uniform AND a full-feathered Indian headdress! Among the oldest Pipe Bands there was York, PA's beloved Kiltie Band of York, established in 1928 (and, for some weird reason, not online as yet!); while the youngest established Pipe Band was clearly the Catamount Pipers from Montpelier, Vermont --- founded just three short years ago!
Of course, as their namesake company was footin' the bill for this march, the Scottish Power Pipe Band, with their Pipe Major, Roddy MacLeod, leadin' 'em along, festooned themselves in the official Tunes of Glory tartan. Created by the weaving firm of Lochcarron in the heart of the Scottish Borders, the Tunes of Glory tartan is, like most Scottish Tartans, awash in significant colors, reflecting a special representation: dark blue, the Scottish people; green, the country's rolling hillsides; light blue, New York State's beloved Hudson River; yellow, the daffodil, the official flower of Marie Curie Cancer Care; red, the red door logo of Gilda's Clubs; and black, to honor the memory of those lost on September 11th.
While the majority of the event went on as scheduled, there was, alas, one part of Tunes of Glory that did not go according to plan:
The march was intended to have climaxed with the individual Pipers and Pipe Bands assembling on to the Sheep Meadow of Central Park, where the NYPD and FDNY Emerald Society Pipe Band would have then been the last two to enter. The two bands would then have walked through a 'corridor' formed by the other assembled musicians, at which point all the pipes would have been raised for the playing of 'Amazing Grace,' in tribute, we mention again, to the lost of 9/11. However, someone among the higher-ups in the New York City Parks Department, apparently fearing a repeat of the controversial Pocahontas incident of five years previous, refused to allow the Sheep Meadow's gates to be opened. As a result, all those involved simply congregated at the finish line of the parade, struck up a few tunes for the benefit of various interested passersby, and then simply dispersed and went their separate ways.
Still, ye canna deny that they did manage tae beat the record set in Edinburgh two years before for largest-ever Massed Pipes and Drums display: 9500-plus men, women and children with loads of lungpower and a lot of Highland spirit! And part of the reason the event was so successful was undoubtedly the unstoppable enthusiasm of the following U.S.-based Pipe Bands who took part:
Now, you'll note that we've deliberately left out all the Pipe Bands who took part that came from New York City and State. Our apologies for not recognizin' ye by name, but each of ye all are individual Pipe Band legends as it is, and most of ye are regulars in the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade, anyway (Those of you who do not march in that Parade, you know who you are!). The point is, when 9500 of you good people can take over 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan for one special day in April, well, ye just gotta admit that the sound was awesome! Indeed, by the time night fell, we all went home wishin' that the merry march dinna have tae come tae an end!
Sadly, when Tartan Day 2003 rolls around, the event will once again confine itself to the Naumberg Bandshell at West 72nd Street and Central Park West, and become little again. A few Pipe Bands, dignitairies, etc. -- ye knows the deal. But who's tae say how much magic the thrils of Tartan Day can still wield, even if next year's turns out to be small? There'll always be a Scotland, so be not surprised if New York's celebrations of the Seventh Annual "Tartan Day in America" prove tae be better than ever.......
In the meantime, I hope ye've enjoyed this look back at a memorable moment in piping history. In retrospect, what else can yer auld Uncle Fergus say except: Edinburgh and Nova Scotia Tattoos, and you too, World Pipe Band Championships, learn from Tunes of Glory NYC 2002 --- AND THEN TRY TAE TOP IT!('Nuff said.)
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