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Tunes of Glory
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Sunday, 7 April, 2002, 12:31 GMT 13:31
UK Thousands of bagpipers have taken part in a massive parade through the centre of New York to mark Tartan Day. The record-breaking parade, which attracted up to an estimated 10,000 drummers and pipers, was started by Sir Sean Connery, who was joined by New York mayor Mike Bloomberg. The 007 star was dressed in his best kilt and carried a Scottish flag as he started the march amid a carnival atmosphere on the city's Sixth Avenue. More than 1,200 Britons joined pipers from 26 other countries, including New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and Malaysia.
Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell and leading Scottish National Party politicians also joined the event, which covered 72 city blocks from Sixth Avenue to Central Park. The parade, which it is hoped will raise £1m for cancer charities, is believed to have broken the previous record of 8,500 pipers set in Edinburgh two years ago. It was the culmination of week of events showcasing Scottish life and culture aimed at promoting the country in the US and encouraging tourists to visit. Mr McConnell called it "a magnificent day" for Scots. Difficult year He said: "As the centrepiece of a successful week of events and promotions, this musical extravaganza will not be forgotten." "I believe Tartan Day gives us a tremendous opportunity to raise Scotland's profile throughout the US, allowing us to build on historic links between Scotland and America and rebuild confidence following a difficult year," he added. SNP leader John Swinney MSP said: "I am delighted and proud to be part of a parade that is not only showing off Scotland's culture and traditions but raising money for cancer charities too. "Tartan Day is about selling Scotland abroad to one of the biggest nations in the world and 10,000 pipers marching through New York certainly raises Scotland's profile and helps put us on the world stage."
Euan Page, from tourist board VisitScotland, said: "It's a beautiful sunny day here and I've never seen anything like it in my life. "It's been the most fantastic spectacle. And the friendship extended to us by the people of New York has been truly incredible." Sir Sean Connery said: "I was so proud of my country today. At long last we are starting to make our mark in the world. "And there is nowhere better to begin this process than here in the city of New York, the beating heart of America. Founding fathers "We must learn from America's sense of self-confidence, its healthy patriotism and its sense of 'can-do'." Tartan Day was first formalised by the US Senate in 1998 to mark the Declaration of Arbroath on 6 April 1320, when a group of Scottish nobles swore independence from England. Parts of the document are said to have been used by the Founding Fathers when the American colonies followed suit in 1776. Supporters of Tartan Day hope it could eventually gain the same status and profile for Scotland as St Patrick's Day does for the Irish Republic.
New York resounded to the sound of Scotland at the weekend as 10,000 drummers and pipers took part in a record-breaking parade through the streets of Manhattan.
The following story raised the ire of more than a few pipers. A letter to the editor that was sent to the NYT follows the story 
April 7, 2002 Lads With Hairy Knees Raise
a Din in Midtown Yesterday, under cloudy skies, scores of bagpipe and drum bands marched up the Avenue of the Americas in honor of Tartan Day, the Scottish day of independence. There was more plaid on display than at a seniors' golf tournament, and what with the breeze working mischief on thousands of kilts, there were plenty of hairy knees to be seen as well. The organizers of the march had billed the event as the World's Biggest Bagpipe Parade, and while it was certainly big, it was unclear just how big. Sean Connery, the Scottish actor, led the parade and wore a kilt. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg walked beside him and did not. Starting at noon, the marchers massed on 44th, 45th and 46th Streets between Fifth Avenue and the Avenue of the Americas, and at 2 p.m., they began to make their way north to Central Park in loose clumps of tartan sashes, white boots, bushy beards and floppy feather bonnets. They came by bus from the Midwest, by cab from the Upper East Side, by plane from Vancouver and Edinburgh and by foot from Port Authority Police postings. They played old favorites like "Anchors Aweigh" and "Amazing Grace" and a few lesser known bagpipe ditties like "The Battle of the Creeks" and "The Barren Rocks of Aden." There were Scottish bands and French bands and Irish bands and Canadian bands and a band called the High Plains Pipers Society, whose members had flown in from Amarillo, Texas. Bruce Tiffin, a police officer and member of the High Plains group, said the art of playing bagpipes was flourishing down South. "We have a little Texas twang to our playing," said Mr. Tiffin, 47. "We play some old Bob Wills country swing numbers like `San Antonio Rose' and `Faded Love.' That old cowboy music adapts pretty well to the pipes." Alex Kyle, a 62-year-old bus repairman, showed up from British Columbia with a snare drum at his side and a traditional shawl made from some sort of dead wildcat draped across his back. He said his plan was simple. "I'm going to march up Sixth Avenue, stop for some coffee and keep on going." The marchers — mostly men — were a square-jawed, healthy-looking bunch that included many police officers, firefighters and union laborers. Many had ceremonial daggers tucked in their boots, a tradition that John MacDonald, who had come from Shropshire, England, traced back to the days when the Scots were a warrior people. "In the old days, when you went to a stranger's house, you had to leave your large weapon at the door," said Mr. MacDonald, whose words were drowning in a Scottish accent thicker than porridge. "But you were allowed to a keep a knife in your boot. You never knew who you could trust back then." Tartan Day, which is celebrated on April 6, commemorates the 1320 signing of the Scottish declaration of independence, said Gerald Cosgrove, one of the parade's promoters. Even two or three blocks from the parade, one could hear the high-pitched skirling of the bagpipes cutting through the traffic and ambient noise of the city. Closer in, one heard Scotsmen saying things like, "Ay, get foonky!" and telling bits of conversation, one of which went like this: Old piper: How old are you, lad? Young piper: Eleven, sir. Old piper: Well, your pipes sound grand. The sheer number of pipers and drummers seemed to surprise people who found themselves near Times Square yesterday, particularly guests at the Algonquin Hotel on West 44th Street who were greeted by pipe blasts and drum beats as soon as they set foot outside the door. Then there was the patrolman on crowd-control duty whose badge identified him only as Officer Novello. "I didn't even know Scottish people had a parade," he said. "Then again, what do I know? I'm full Italian, both sides." Letter to the Editor of The New York Times: Dear Sir, The impudent and ignorant article supposedly reporting the Tunes of Glory parade last Saturday was shoddy journalism. The purpose of the Tunes of Glory parade - a fundraiser to provide free care for people living with cancer, and to help provide hospice care - wasn't even mentioned in the article. U.S. beneficiaries are Gilda's Club Worldwide, and, in the U.K., Marie Curie Cancer Care. Pipers and drummers, individuals and pipe bands, reportedly came from China, Colombia, Pakistan, Australia, Canada, Scotland, England, and all over the United States. I believe close to 7,500 participants were registered from at least 21 countries and 48 states. Alan Feuer's attempt at humor, writing of the "racket" of pipers, and "hairy knees" was passe even in the days of vaudeville. His writing is also careless and inaccurate. Feuer writes of "plaid." The correct term is "tartan." He writes of "ceremonial daggers tucked in boots." The sgian dubh ("black dagger") is worn tucked in the sock. He writes of "a traditional shawl made from some sort of dead wildcat." Presumably one wouldn't wear a live wildcat? The other traditional "shawl," the tartan one, is correctly named a "plaidie." He writes of bagpipe tunes, "old favorites like 'Anchors Aweigh' and 'Amazing Grace' and a few lesser-known bagpipe ditties like 'The Battle of the Creeks' and 'The Barren Rocks of Aden.'" Ditties? Old favorities, of whom? Lesser-known, by whom? Not the Scots in the parade. New Yorkers were at last hearing SCOTTISH bagpipe music. Generally, for example at St. Patrick Day parades, Irish pipers, though dressed as Highlanders in Scottish tartan, are playing Irish and American tunes. The Tunes of Glory, which all participants had to learn, are historic tunes which have been played in battles throughout the world, for centuries. And - just in case Scots regiments are ever again needed to fight alongside Americans - I wouldn't be so quick to use the past tense, that the Scots WERE a warrior people. Do a little honest research, Mr. Feuer, The tunes included "Green Hills of Tyrol" (commemorating a Scottish soldier dying in hills which are "not the hills of home"), "Farewell to the Creeks" (also known as "Farewell to Sicily,") "Cock o' the North (for the Gordon Highlanders), "Battle's O'er," "Lochanside," and the more familiar "Scotland the Brave," as well as "Ministrel Boy." These tunes have a noble history and heritage. One questions Mr. Feuer's heritage. His lack of breeding is obvious. But someone at The New York Times sent him to cover this story. And that is irresponsible. Would the Times normally send someone who hates classical music to cover a symphony? Or someone with no sense of pageantry or drama, to cover such a once-in-a-lifetime historical parade? For the sake of taste and political correctness alone, would the Times normally send a reporter to cover, say, a steel-band concert, and accept a put-down article, or a fundraiser, say for AIDS, and not mention the cause? What went wrong at the Times? The banner reads "All the news that's fit to print." This was totally inadequate news coverage; the reporter's article is scurrilous, and ignorant. The parade on Saturday was timed to also celebrate National Tartan Day, April 6, made official in the United States in 1998 so Scots in the U.S. and others can commemorate the signing of the Declration of Arbroath, in Scotland, in 1320. The American Declaration of Independence is based on the Scots Declaration. Senate Resolution 155, which passed April 6 as National Tartan Day in the U.S., notes "this resolution honors the major role that Scottish Americans played in the founding of this Nation, such as the fact that almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, the Governors in 9 of the original 13 States were of Scottish ancestry, Scottish Americans successfully helped shape this country in its formative years and guide this Nation through its most troubled times." My first response to Feuer's article was to wish that a hefty piper would bloody his nose for his disrespectful mouthings. My second was to grimly wish that he or his family never have need of the funding that was raised. But such reactions just show my ancient Scottish sense of vengeance. I've calmed down a bit; now I just recognize that Alan Feuer was inadequate for the job. And whoever sent him to cover the story, and passed it to be published, did a disservice to The New York Times, its readers, the pipers, drummers, marchers, organizers, official sponsors, thousands who raised money, and the spectators of the wonderful, successful and historic Tunes of Glory Parade. Euphemia McLeod ("Scotty") Ross |
NewYork streets filled with sound
of Scotland
First Minister Jack McConnell lent his support to the VisitScotland and Scottish Power-sponsored Tunes of Glory march, as he spearheaded a dual drive to boost Scotland’s tourism industry and raise the country’s international profile. Mr McConnell said: "We are here in America to boost tourism, promote Scottish business and build partnerships. So today is a magnificent day for Scotland. New Yorkers cannot fail to have been impressed by the sight and sound of 10,000 pipers marching though Manhattan’s streets. Tunes of Glory has put Scotland firmly on the map. "Scotland’s rich heritage and cultural connections, combined with magnificent scenery and great hospitality, make us a great holiday destination. Tunes of Glory was a chance to showcase our country’s many attributes and raise Scotland’s profile in the US and further afield. "As the centrepiece of a successful week of events and promotions, this musical extravaganza will not be forgotten. "But this event is about more than raising Scotland’s profile. Thanks to Tunes of Glory, two major cancer charities – Marie Curie Cancer Care in Scotland and Gilda’s Club in the US – will benefit by around $1 million. "I believe Tartan Day gives us a tremendous opportunity to raise Scotland’s profile throughout the United States, allowing us to build on historic links between Scotland and America and rebuild confidence following a difficult year." National Tartan Day is on April 6 in America each year. The date has been designated by the US Senate in recognition of the contribution made by generations of Scots-Americans to the foundation and prosperity of modern America. Scotland's representation in New York has included a showcase of contemporary Scottish culture, including live performances and visual art, and an exhibition currently running on Ellis Island of immigration from the Highlands and Islands. The First Minister was accompanied by Tourism Minister Mike Watson and Minister for the Parliament Patricia Ferguson. A delegation from the Scottish Parliament was led by Presiding Officer Sir David Steel. Enterprise Minister Wendy Alexander who launched the first meeting of the GlobalScot network in California last week will be attending related events in Washington this week.
Pipe bands take Manhattan in Tartan Day New York invasion JAMES HALL - IN NEW YORK NEW YORK went tartan crazy last night as 9,000 pipers from Scotland and around the world took to the streets of the Big Apple. It was probably the noisiest event the world’s loudest city had ever staged. Not a car horn or police siren could be heard amid the skirl of the pipes of the annual Tartan Day celebrations. Thousands of New Yorkers braved the bitterly cold weather to line the streets and lean out of upper floor windows to catch a glimpse of the bekilted throng as it passed through the streets of Manhattan. The number of pipers in yesterday’s parade was so large that three city streets had to be blocked off as the musicians assembled for the 2pm start. Although final counting had not been completed late last night, organisers were confident the world record of 8,500 pipers, set in Edinburgh two years ago, would be broken. Sir Sean Connery, one the guests of honour for the march, couldn’t contain his pride. "I was so proud of my country," he said. "At long last we are starting to make our mark on the world and there is no better place to begin this process than here in the city of New York, the beating heart of America. "Tartan Day and the week of celebrations that goes with it places the ball at Scotland’s feet. It is up to us to make sure we hit the mark."
The Tartan Day celebrations began with a town crier walking down Sixth Avenue from 45th Street announcing the beginning of the parade. At 2pm the parade got under way, led by the ScottishPower Pipe Band. The other 290 bands followed in their wake, taking around half an hour to clear the start line. At least 34 of the bands were Scottish with the vast majority of the rest coming from across the US. But in a sign of how far the love of the pipes has travelled, there were also bands from Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, Ghana, Holland, Pakistan, Denmark and Argentina. There was even a band from Kwai Chung, China, called The Red Tartan Pipe Band. The 72 blocks of pipers, all played the same seven tunes, including ‘Cock of the North’ and ‘Scotland the Brave’. In the process they were raising more than $1m for the two cancer charities behind the march, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Gilda’s Club Worldwide. After hitting 59th Street, the parade wound into Central Park along West Drive in bright sunshine - with thousands more New Yorkers lining the route. At the end of the route, at 72nd Street, the bands formed an honour guard with the bands from the New York fire and police departments and the port authority to mark the tragic toll the emergency services took on September 11. As the bands dispersed and made their way home, the Scots went to the St Andrew’s Bar for a well-earned drink. Last night First Minister Jack McConnell said: "As a centrepiece of a successful week of events and promotions, I am certain this musical extravaganza will not be forgotten. "It was a magnificent day and Scotland and New York can’t fail to be impressed." Sir David Steel, the Scottish parliament’s presiding officer, added: "This event has taken New York by storm. It is raising the profile of Tartan Day to a level it hasn’t reached before. It is getting bigger every year and I hope there will be spin-offs for Scottish tourism." But SNP leader John Swinney MSP said the event should act as a rallying call for independence. He said: "Selling Scotland to the USA would be easier and more productive if the salesmen were the true managers of Scotland. If Scottish ministers - not Westminster ministers - controlled our relations with the EU and rest of the world then we could do the job Scottish business and tourism truly deserve. We could sell Scotland." Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie described the event as "inspirational". "To bring Scotland to the heart of New York with an event of this nature is a tremendous tribute to the organisers and the thousands and thousands of people who turned out to watch," he said. The celebration is held every year on April 6, the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, which Scottish Americans believe played a crucial role of the formation of their own Declaration of Independence. Hugh Young, 57, from Merchiston who had travelled to New York with his friend Jim Tait, from Colinton, Edinburgh to play in the parade said: "It’s been incredible." Tessa Wild, 31, from Dornoch, said: "It’s been absolutely fantastic. Everyone has been really friendly." Alex Calder, 47, originally from Glasgow, now from Buffalo New York where he plays the snare drums for the Caledonia Pipe Band, said: "It means a lot to me personally. Just getting the opportunity to come here to play with this many people, it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up." Thomas Grotrian, who spent 18 months organising the parade with his business partner Magnus Orr, said: "The whole thing has now become a reality and I am absolutely delighted, exhausted but delighted." Ian Russell, chief executive of ScottishPower, which sponsored the event, said: "We are delighted at the massive show of support in New York for the ScottishPower Tunes of Glory Parade." On Friday night McLetchie, Connery, Swinney and Steel all attended a black tie dinner in aid of the two cancer charities behind yesterday’s event. But despite the high profile Scottish contingent, which included Ann Gloag and Sir Tom Farmer, the only recognisable American on the $1,000-dollar-a-head guest list was Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York State |
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Rampant
Scotland covers the event