FTLComm - Tisdale - July 29, 2000
"I laddy the pipes, swirlin' triumphant sounds to stir the heart and mind, but mind you, it is an acquired taste but one that will fire your spirit encourage the production of safer ear plugs"

Friday as the the noon hour passed into afternoon with pipes and song these two entertained and enchanted their assembled audiance on the shaded side of Cenotaph park.

Bold melodies from the "heelands," songs of courage and hallowed traditions of the pantless pilgrims of the North country climbed through the trees and filled the air.

The traditions of the Celts live on through out the far reaches of the world, where ever the tight wads known as Scotts have travelled so you will find their legacy of song, dance and honour. Saskatchewan is home to thousands of MacDonalds, MacPhersons, MacDougals and Camerons, McVicars, Stewarts, Blackmores, Duncans, MacGregor and MacPhee. South of Wapella lies the fiercely nationalistic St. Andrew's colony of Catholic Scotts sent to Canada amidst the tragic clearance of the highlands.

But our American cousins, be they aware of it or not
are just as influenced by the musical influences of pipe, fiddle and song. American country music and hoedown music is based on the Scottish folk song tradition and almost every hymn owes its structure to the tunes from the Scotland. Only the black music shares as much influence in what Americans sing and the music to which they dance.

What a treat for this audiance to experience the real stuff in the open with not a microphone in sight.