Interviews

In Part 2, Troy makes some pointed comments about Canadian piping and drumming, and goes into detail on piobaireachd, pipe chanters and the pipe band scene at a time when innovations such as synthetic reeds, bags and instruments were poised to change things forever.

Today’s pipers and drummers might not fully appreciate his positive impact on what they do today. So, it’s important that all can learn from the late Jamie Troy in his own words.

In this final installment, John Elliott discusses changes he’s experienced while judging pipe bands, the importance of having walked the talk as a judge, Ontario’s need to attract and retain more young pipers and drummers, and even his dreams for his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.

In the penultimate installment, the Ontario piping and drumming scene is changing rapidly. As the pressure to grow increases, more pipe bands look to mergers in order to prosper or even survive, including Elliott’s Grade 1 Toronto & District and Tom Anderson’s Peel Regional Police, and a short time after, Clan MacFarlane and the Toronto Police.

The third of five instalments, Elliott’s talks about his return to Ontario and becoming pipe-major of the Grade 1 Toronto & District, chasing and then finally beating the then-dominant 78th Fraser Highlanders, the rise of even more home-grown talent leading top Ontario bands, and bass drumming innovator Jimmy Stewart.

John Elliott had an essential role in that explosion in the 1970s and ’80s and was one of the first North American players to move to Scotland for more than a year just to play in a top Grade 1 band. Joining seven-time World Champions Muirhead & Sons under Pipe-Major Bob Hardie proved to be an immersive experience that would pay dividends for the Canadian pipe band scene and inspire others to follow his lead.

Every bit as much as luminaries like Eller and Livingstone, John Elliott is a crucial link to Ontario piping and drumming’s most formative years. His story is important, and we were pleased to work with him to let him tell it in a full-length pipes|drums Interview, which we will publish in five parts.

He was a leader who set an example. Much could be learned in 1993 from simply watching him work and listening carefully to his words, and much can still be learned today and in years to come from our interview.

We revisit our exclusive conversation conducted with the legendary piper and pipe-major in his first year after retiring from competition.

In this final installment, he discusses the expanding world of Highland bagpipe music and performance, moving from a strict competition-oriented tradition to increasingly diverse perspectives on both composition and accessibility to a wider audience.

“I still don’t understand why somebody hadn’t written something like that already. Because it just seemed like a perfectly natural thing to do.”

The famous jazz composer who made one of the most influential pieces of music for pipe bands in history discusses how his suite evolved from humble beginnings.

Eric Rigler’s influence on how normal people think …

We continue our exclusive five-part pipes|drums In …

In Part 1 of the pipes|drums Interview with Los An …