Highland Thistle Pipe Band - Recently Updated Pages

Former Members

martinkember — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:30:23 CDT

Pipers:
Ronnie Smink
Charlie Cattaneo
Alfie Thompson
Andrew McQuillen
Jose Candeias
Jan Hermanns
Andy Duff
Guillermo Santana Mackinlay
Hugh Herscovich
Rodrigo Echagüe
Eddie Hussey
Felix Bachmann
Juan Mendizabal
Sebastian "Mariscal" Graziossi
Alex Moxey
Richard Beller
Calú Ingham
Andrew "Wilbur" Murchison
Diego Laje

Drummers:
Diego Gandolfo
Andrew Kidd
Christian Söding
Charlie Hussey
Ritchie Hussey
Jimmy Arnott
Martin Kember
Stephen Hesse
Maxi Ortner
Gonzalo Aimar
Hernan Mascaros
Alex Lough
Bernd Schmidt-Liermann
Gonzalo Laje
Colin Beasley

License to Kilt!

PiperDrummer — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:54:46 CDT

Highland Thistle... in Concert!

We proudly present our 2nd concert: License to Kilt

Current Roster

PiperDrummer — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:20:04 CDT

Pipers:
P/M Oscar Llobenes
S/P Cirilo Ayling
S/P Javier Olivera Whyte
Fernando Muzzio
Ignacio Pedre
Paolo Pennisi
Lucas Silvestroff

Drummers:
D/M Jorge Gandolfo
S/D Ernesto Ayling (Snare)
C/D Michael Maschwitz (Snare)
Tommy Gargano (Bass)
Patrick Schmidt-Liermann (Bass)
Nicolas Ayling (Tenor)
Jorge Gandolfo Jr. (Tenor)
Francisco Olivera Whyte (Tenor)

Dancers:
Rosario Ferloni (senior dancer)
Fernanda Groglopo (senior dancer)
Paula Martin (senior dancer)
Rose Sappia-Villanueva (senior dancer)
Clara Auguste
Stephanie Ayling
Frances Bain
Martu Barcellandi
Lula Groglopo
Maria Lafage
Luli Marina
Juli Marina
Tania Meyer

Schedule for 2009

PiperDrummer — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:17:18 CDT

March 21st
St. Patricks Day Celebration
Hurling Club (Hurlingham)

Night Show

March 28th

St. Andrew's Scots School Family Day

San Andres Punta Chica

Day Show

April 20th
Northlands School Family Day
Nordelta
Day Show

Highland Thistle Pipe Band Home

PiperDrummer — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:19:44 CST

Welcome to the Highland Thistle Pipe Band's website!

We are proud to be more a bunch of friends who enjoy playing music together, and having a few drinks (now that's an understatement!), than a competing pipe band. We are based in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires (that's in Argentina, in case you were wondering).

We perform in several events during the year in support of the local British community and in events that promote Scottish music and culture. If you want to catch one of our shows check out our schedule. We are available for paying gigs, although we are a bit picky on when and where we play. However, if you need us to liven up a gathering, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The band was formed by what we euphemistically call the seniors in April 1982, right in the midst of the Malvinas War (Falklands if you are such inclined) although that had nothing to do with it. The story goes that they had a few too many drinks in Dicken's Pub (a local pub in Olivos) and decided: what the hell, we'll form our own band and do whatever we want! Our first P/M was Ronnie Smink, who skippered the ship up until 2005, when he sort of decided he'd had enough of us bunch of misfits and retired to his country club house. You can read more about the history of piping in South America here.

Oscar Llobenes took over as P/M and, musician that he is, decided we needed to concentrate on the way we sounded... well what does he know, right?

Drumming Corps

PiperDrummer — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:29:34 CDT

The HTPB Drumming Corps has always distinguished itself for being the most ebullient (read boisterous drunks) fellows of the band. True we always need to explain to people we are not pipers, but we are way more classier and have the most fun. Besides girls are always impressed by our skills, the speed and strength of our hands...

2008 News:
Our Bass drummer is taking a sabatical this year, fortunately we had been training an understudy who could quickly fill this spot. Still he will be sorely missed.

At the moment we have 4 Tenor drummers, whose drums have been tuned as tenor contralto, tenor alto, tenor bajo and tenor contrabajo. This allows the mid section to have a richer and fuller sound, besides making it very fun to play as an ensemble. It´s not an easy task but they are getting there and it promises to look and sound fantastic.

The snare drum count is down to 2 players, but together they have 40 years experience. There are 2 students in the pipe line, so hopefully we should have a full complement later on in the year.
Our Bass section got a little carried away with listening to the Village People.

Our instruments:
All our drums are painted black, which contrast very nicely with our green kilt tartan and white shirts and jackets.
Late in 2006, just in time for our concert, we changed our Bass Drum for a new Premier Projector Bass. The previous one had been in use since the mid 80´s! It really does sound much fuller and with greater character. The tenor drum complement of drums consist of 2 Premier Tenor Drums acquired in 1992 (the Tenor alto and Tenor bajo) plus 2 refurbished drums from the 80´s (the Tenor contrabajo and Tenor contralto). The snare drums are Premier HTS 200 acquired in 1992, yeas that is 16 years ago...) but they still sound extremely well. We´ve been planning on changing them to the new HTS 700 version, but time will tell.

Dancing Music

PiperDrummer — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:03:21 CDT

Strathspeys:

Louden's Bonnie Woods and Braes

Because he was a Bonnie Lad
Captain Horn
Orange and Blue
Stumpie
The Devil in the Kitchen
Lady Madelina Sinclair
Nine Diamonds
Caledonian Society of London

Reels:

The High Road to Linton

The Piper o' Drummond

Jock Wilson's Ball

The Kilt is my delight
Jigs:

Paddy's Leather Breeches
Banjo Breakdown
Cork Hill
Glasgow Police Pipers
Galician Jigs
The Long Island Jig
Taking Decisions (O. Llobenes Band Member)

Hornpipes:

The Hen and the Turkey
Liverpool Hornpipe
Clumsy Lover
The Train Journey North
Euan MacInnes
Duncan Johnston

Tunes for Highland Dancing:

Drops of Brandy (Scottish Lilt)
Whistle O'er the Leave O'ot (Seann Truibhas)
Gillie Calum (Sword Dance)

Symphonies:

Journey to Skye
Braveheart Medley

Michael Maschwitz

PiperDrummer — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:35:52 CDT

I started playing the tenor drum way back in 1990, when I was but a little boy. I then spent 4 intense months learning the rudiments of side drumming with Ernesto Ayling, our Sergeant Drummer and teacher, and started playing the snare drum in 1992. Ernesto convinced me to join him and Eddie Hussey on a trip to Scotland to attend an intensive course in the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) during July 1993. Now that was one hell of a trip!

In 1991 I received my original band nickname: Donk!
You might remember the film Crocodile Dundee? Well one of the drummers saw it the night before a show and decided it was apt for me. There is a huge character on the film that get's punched on the stomach while having a pint of beer on his head and doesn't spill a drop... he was named Donk.

I've been a member for so long I probably remember just half of the drunken moments we've had with the drummers, but I can assure they were all great. I enjoyed the times we were practicing for a new Drum Salute and the Saturday afternoons practicing in my bachelor pad with Maxi Ortner and Jimmy Arnott. On the musical side I must say the moments I most enjoyed were back when it was Ernesto Ayling, Hernan Mascaros and me as snare drummers. We could really play back then!

With the retirement of several of our drummers over the years I now support Ernesto, in his role as Leading Drummer, as Corporal Drummer. Recently I have started working closely with Oscar Llobenes, our Pipe Major, in the event production side of the band. Not the most rewarding job, but someone's got to do it, right?

Pipe Music

PiperDrummer — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:37:21 CDT

Piobaireachd

Piobaireachd (pronounced 'pee brock') is a Gaelic word which means both 'bagpipe music' and 'bagpipe playing'. However, Piobaireachd isn't a collective term for pipe music, it is the ancient form or classical pipe music which is often referred to as Ceol Mor (Gaelic for 'big music').
A Piobaireachd consists of an opening slow theme called Urlar (or Ground) This is followed by several variations of increasing tempo and complexity. Most tunes are of at least 8 minutes duration! Although not appealing to everyone, most would agree that a well played Piobaireachd on a balanced and tuned instrument, while not so immediately as a short tune, is ultimately more satisfying, more sophisticated in content, and in every way a "bigger" piece of music.

The type of music you hear us and other pipe bands play is not Piobaireachd, but instead referred to as Ceol Beag: 'light' or 'small' music. Piobaireachd is left to the more accomplished soloists amongst us.

The sound of the Pipes

The Great Highland Bagpipe has a unique sound instantly recognisable from any other instrument. Been a legato instrument, it is unlike any other woodwind instrument in that it can provide a constant sound; the musician playing other instruments has to stop to draw breath. However, it's the Bag in Bagpipe that makes the difference. The bag acts as a reservoir that pipers uses to maintain a steady airflow to the reeds while they stop blowing to draw breath.

Steady airflow is key to a great sounding Bagpipe, and it takes years for a piper to develop their technique. It's essential because there are four reeds in the Great Highland Bagpipe, all of which are set in tune with each other. There is one reed in the pipe chanter; which is played using the piper's fingers to produce the melody. This is the strongest of the reeds and as such is the loudest, furthermore the chanter is conical which amplifies the sound. The other three reeds are the Drone Reeds. There is a Bass Drone and two Tenor Drones that produce that unique constant hum that tie together with the Chanter sound to create wonderful harmonies that are often most apparent in Slow Airs, Piobaireachds, and Laments.

Embellishments

The Great Highland Bagpipe can only produce nine notes, that's right - just over one octave! Furthermore, the volume is constant; it's just not possible to emphasise a pieces of music using changes in volume. This is why the finger technique is so important - to make the most of those nine notes.

While the tunes are made up of the 9 theme notes; the notes that form the basic melody, there are also grace notes played over them, to place varying amounts of emphasis to make the tune interesting. The single grace notes that are short sharp pips are arranged together to form numerous doublings and embellishments. Playing these embellishments quickly and clearly requires years of practice and a degree of dexterity in the piper's fingers.

The Scale

The nine notes of the Great Highland Bagpipe are an unruly bunch. They fail to conform to western musical standards, and as a result the pipes are rarely accompanied by other instruments, although it can be and is sometimes done quite successfully.

The Scale is not one of the traditional major scale. That is the typical Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Si, Do sense. Instead, the GHB scale has a flattened seventh, that's the Si! It's a semi tone lower, i.e. nearer the La. This is known as the Mixolydian Mode in the music world. But further to this the notes don't fall exactly in the Mixolydian Mode, that's just the nearest 'label' that can be used to pigeon hole the pipes. In reality the notes are just somewhere near those used in western music, and this no accident or poor engineering tolerances when manufacturing pipe chanters. No, this is to improve the harmonies that are developed against the drones. Let's also not forget that the Great Highland Bagpipes evolved more than a few years ago, and the pipe makers of yesteryear where not concerned by standard western music. These were solo instruments, and did not need to conform.

The tradition on non-conformity still continues, different pipe and reed makers produce their own sound, and as a result bands have to use chanters from the same maker to ease the job of tuning. Over the years the Great Highland Bagpipe has become significantly sharper, furthermore the relative differences between some of the notes have changed to suite the style of playing from ceol mor to ceol beag, that is; from the traditional 'heavy' Piobaireachd to modern 'light' music.

Repertoire

PiperDrummer — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:25:18 CDT

There are various different types of pipe music for the various types of bagpipes.

As the Great Highland Bagpipe became a military instrument, so many of the tunes you hear bands play are marches, either Quick Marches or Slow Marches. The other tunes -the strathspeys, reels, hornpipes and jigs- are pipe tunes that have been derived from music for dancing, and to a lesser extent some tunes are versions of folk songs. Lately piping has evolved into scores in which other intruments and different tempos are involved: Symphonies.

The original music that was played on the Great Highland Bagpipe, long before it became a military instrument, is a style known as piobaireachd (pronounced "pee-brock"), which is the "classical form" of music still played by solo pipers today. You can learn more facts on Pipe Music by clicking here.

Our Repertoire

Quick Marches: 2/4´s, 4/4´s, 6/8´s & Retreats

Slow Marches

Dancing Music: Strathspeys, Reels, Jigs & Hornpipes

Symphonies

Symphonies

PiperDrummer — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:16:13 CDT

Journey to Skye
Braveheart Medley

Slow Marches

PiperDrummer — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:59:51 CDT

Amazing Grace
The Mist Covered Mountains
Skye Boat Song
My Home
Highland Cathedral
Highland Cradle Song
The Dark Island
The Road to the Isles
Going Home
Loch Duich
Loch Rannoch
Morag of Dunvegan
The Flower of Scotland
The 25th K.O.S.B.
Awakenings (O. Llobenes Band Member)

Quick Marches

PiperDrummer — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:56:02 CDT

2/4's:

79th Farwell to Gibraltar

Inverness Gathering

The Dundee Military Tattoo

Drunken Piper

The Siege of Delhi

Highland Laddie

The Black Bear

Earl of Mansfield

Coppermill

The Barren Rocks of Aden

The Brown Haired Maiden

Mairi's Wedding

4/4´s:

Scotland the Brave

The Old Rustic Bridge by the Bill

The Rowan Tree

The Meetings of the Waters

Lord Lovat's Lament

Loch Ruan

Bonnie Prince Charlie

Robin Adair

The Minstrel Boy

6/8´s:

Cock o' the North

The Bugle Horn

Bonnie Dundee

Dovecoat Park

Leaving Port Askaig

Colonel Robertson

Piobairechd o' Donhuil Dubh

Dundee City Police

Glendaruel Highlanders

Blue Bonnets Over the Border

Pipe Major Dunnie Ross (C. Cattaneo Band Member)

Pipe Major Ronnie Smink (O. Llobenes Band Member)

Retreats:

Killworth Hills

Lochanside

Battle of the Somme

Sir Collin Campbell

When the Battle is Over

The Green Hills of Tyrol

Ernesto Ayling

PiperDrummer — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:31:07 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Recruiting

PiperDrummer — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:17:48 CDT

The HTPB is open to new players joining us!

It's best if you already know how to play the pipes or the drums... even better if you are any good at it! If you do and you are interested in joining a group of friends who really enjoy doing this, just let us know.

Learning:
Playing the Great Highland Bagpipe is not an easy task! It takes years of practice to get good sound out of it, and a lifetime to master it.
Playing the snare or side drum, is almost as difficult, although it takes a few months less to learn.
Perseverence and a good musical ear are 2 basic things needed to begin this process. Some of HTPB's pipers and drummers do give classes in their own time.

If you are a piper, or wish to learn, contact our P/M Oscar Llobenes.
If you are a drummer, or wish to learn, contact our D/S Ernesto Ayling.

History

PiperDrummer — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:20:08 CDT

How we came into being

A history of Piping in the River Plate

In 1955 the first pipe band in the region was formed (until then there had been several pipers who would occasionally play together for certain community events). This band was the result of the determination and hard work of Mr. Dunsmore Ross, a Scot and piper residing in Argentina. He was the band's Pipe Major for many years and dedicated countless hours to teaching the instrument. He was helped by Mr. Jimmy Lees who organised and taught the drumming corps. With the sole exception of Messrs. Ross and Lees and the occasional wandering piper who would come in contact with the band from time to time, band members were all native Argentines, mostly from Scottish ancestry, although this was not required to join the band. The band reported to the St. Andrew's Society of the River Plate, and for many years was the only one in South America.

In 1967 the South American Piping Association (S.A.P.A) pipe band was founded by Alistair Lean, who had left the St. Andrew's band in 1964.

In 1982 a major group of the St Andrew's Society band decided to leave and form an independent band, since they believed it was the only way they could dedicate their efforts entirely to Scottish music and dancing, and specially to emulate the sound and format of traditional Scottish pipe bands. So, with this in mind, and thanks to the invaluable help and backing from Mr. Ralph Ayling (our true mentor), the Highland Thistle Pipe Band was born. One of our main objectives was to continue with the tradition we had already created: performing excellence in an atmosphere of camaraderie where band members could feel they were part of a group of friends getting together to do what they like best - a hobby, so to speak. So the band, today, is 27 strong: 8 pipers, 3 side drummers, 2 tenor drummers, a bass drummer, a Drum Mayor and 12 dancers, all Argentines (correction, we have one Uruguayan). Tuition in both piping and drumming is given by band members to whoever wishes to join the band.

We wear kilts and plaids of the MacKenzie tartan in the Seaforth Highlanders sett. This was a tartan we had always wanted (even when in the St. Andrew's Society) as it was the one that Mr. Ross used to wear.

Charlie Cattaneo
May 2007

Check out our list of former members, the guys who helped make this band what it is.
Learn the story behind our logo.

(Versión en castellano)
En 1955 se creó la primera banda de gaiteros formal (hasta entonces habían existido gaiteros que se juntaban a tocar para determinados eventos). Esta banda nació de la determinación y el trabajo del Sr. Dunsmore Ross, escocés residente en Argentina, quien la dirigió por varios años y dedicó innumerables horas a la enseñanza del instrumento. Lo asistió Jimmy Lees, otro escocés residente, quien organizó el cuerpo de tambores. Con la sola excepción de los Sres. Ross y Lees y de algún gaitero itinerante que de tanto en tanto se acercaba a la banda, ésta se componía de argentinos, en su mayoría descendientes de escoceses, aunque este no era requisito para ingresar. Esta banda dependía, orgánicamente, de la Sociedad de San Andrés del Río de la Plata y fue durante muchos años la única en Argentina En 1967 Alistair Lean, quien había renunciado a la banda de San Andrés en 1964, creó la banda del South American Piping Association (S.A.P.A.). En 1982 un grupo mayoritario de la banda de la Sociedad de San Andrés decidió separarse y crear una banda independiente, pues consideraban que era la mejor manera de cumplir con su deseo de dedicarse enteramente a la música y los bailes escoceses, y cultivar, en especial, el sonido y forma de las tradicionales bandas de gaiteros escocesas. Así fue como nació, gracias al apoyo y aliento incondicional del Sr. Ralph Ayling (nuestro verdadero mentor), la Highland Thistle Pipe Band. Uno de nuestros objetivos fue continuar con la tradición que se había creado entre sus miembros: la excelencia como conjunto dentro de un ambiente de camaradería donde todos los integrantes se sientan como parte de un grupo de amigos que se juntan para hacer lo que les gusta. Así la banda cuenta hoy con 27 miembros : un tambor mayor, 9 gaiteros, 3 redoblantes, un bombo y dos bombos "tenores" y 12 bailarinas, todos ellos argentinos (perdón, hay un uruguayo). La enseñanza de la gaita y tambor es impartida, por miembros de la banda a quien se interese en acercarse. Nuestro uniforme esta compuesto por kilts (falda) y plaids (manta) en el tartán MacKenzie con el dibujo y armado de las tablas como las del regimiento Seaforth Hihlanders. Siempre quisimos usar este tartán (aún cuando estabamos en la banda de la Sociedad de San Andrés), porque era el que usaba el Sr. Ross cuando creó la banda.

Charlie Cattaneo
Mayo de 2007

Logo

PiperDrummer — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:19:16 CDT

Back in 1982 Diego Gandolfo created the center of the logo painting it on the bass drum: A White cross of Saint Andrew and a stylized thistle. The band members approved it and then the logo inspired the name of the band. I think it was Charlie Cattaneo who gave the final touch adding the new name of the band and the motto.

The legend goes that at the time of the band being formed it was said by non members that sprouts from the big tree would never last. The motto (that's what's written on the bottom scroll) is written in gaelic and it's supposed to say: nacimos de gajo (or so said Guillermo Santana Mackinlay). Time has proven us right...

For our 25th anniversary, in 2007, it was decided to have a new logo created. In keeping with the times it is more modern and easier to use in digital and other formats. Thanks are to be given to Maxi Ortner, for designing it.

Our Pipe Majors

PiperDrummer — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:50:16 CDT

P/M Ronnie Smink (1982-2005)

P/M Oscar Llobenes (2006-current)

Pics and Vids

PiperDrummer — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:46:03 CDT

In this section you will find a number of pics and videos from events and parties.
Enjoy!

Trips & Tours

PiperDrummer — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:49:35 CDT

Over the years the HTPB has travelled countless times to Paraguay and Uruguay to perform in their Caledonian Balls. We remember those trips very fondly!

Recently we have travelled to participate in the South American Pipe Band Gatherings in Uruguay and Chile. It has been really wonderful to get together with other lunatics who enjoy this music! In late 2008 we will be travelling to Brazil to participate in the fourth episode, what has been dubbed the G4.