Remembering Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies
Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies was one of the greatest pipers the world has ever heard. Born in Scotland, in 1963, Alasdair would later become the last Pipe Major of the Queen’s Own Highlanders, which means he was the last head-bagpiper of that unit in the British Army. He won nearly all of the highest prizes in bagpiping, so in terms of non-bagpipers, he was one of piping’s Yo Yo Ma’s.
I had the fortune to be able to meet Alasdair in 2010 at the in Kansas City. I didn’t know who Alasdair Gillies was at the time, but I knew that he was great at piping. I know much more about him now, and I can’t help but spare some time to remember him each year on August 27. Though he never taught me, or even heard me play, I have a lot to thank him for.
Alasdair Gillies inspired me a lot in the year after I met him. As childish as it may sound, I felt like I had met a superstar of the piping world. Now, I know that I had. For 14-year-old me, he was very inspiring. He had meaty hands, like me. When I was learning the practice chanter, my teacher actually poked fun at me for having short, chubby fingers. That was until someone reminded him that Alasdair Gillies had short, meaty fingers and could play just "fine." The year after I met the Pipe Major would be the year that my playing improved the most.
I applied a sort of sportsy approach to my playing; I watched game footage. I watched near enough every video of Alasdair Gillies that I could get my chubby hands on. I watched, and mimicked, the way his hands moved. I learned how to work around a pipe chanter with short fingers. I learned how to play a musical heavy throw with a light touch. I learned a lot by watching him play.
Unfortunately, the end of the year where my playing improved the most was when the piping world lost a giant. Alasdair Gillies passed away on August 27th, 2011. A man that could play any tune musically and tell you the good yarn behind the tune. A man that won more Silver Stars than anyone else ever had. However, what made the most impact in my life was that a man that would take the time out his day to take a picture with a teenage boy and offer some encouragement.
Alasdair was a great man, a great friend to all who were lucky to call him that, and a fantastic player. He was a master of the instrument, and he still inspires me to practice that little bit harder every day.
A note to you, Pipe Major: thank you.
