Updated for a friend's request: Gracie and I attended the Robert Burns Dinner last night in Houston. It is the 5th largest event of its kind in the world, and great time of tippling single malts, celebrating the Haggis and baudy poetry in honor of the Bard.
The world famous St. Thomas Pipe Band performed for the kilted crowd. Here's a little sample I shot with my iPhone:
Ellisland, near Dumfries, 18th May, 1789
Aye, Rabbie Burns...Happy 251st birthday! (one month late)
Update: Here's the St. Thomas Pipe Band playing Dawning of the Day in 2007:
The world famous St. Thomas Pipe Band performed for the kilted crowd. Here's a little sample I shot with my iPhone:
Ellisland, near Dumfries, 18th May, 1789
Fair the face of orient day,
Fair the tints of op'ning rose;
But fairer still my Delia dawns,
More l...ovely far her beauty shows.
Sweet the lark's wild warbled lay,
Sweet the tinkling rill to hear;
But, Delia, more delightful still,
Steal thine accents on mine ear.
The flower-enamour'd busy bee
The rosy banquet loves to sip;
Sweet the streamlet's limpid lapse
To the sun-brown'd Arab's lip.
But, Delia, on thy balmy lips
Let me, no vagrant insect, rove;
O let me steal one liquid kiss,
For Oh! my soul is parch'd with love.
Aye, Rabbie Burns...Happy 251st birthday! (one month late)Update: Here's the St. Thomas Pipe Band playing Dawning of the Day in 2007:
Thanks I will keep that in mind. I found drambuie to be the foulest of the foul --- not only is it a liqueur that very ably distills and concentrates the taste of Scotch - it also amps up the anise to an over powering and disgusting experience. I am sitting here gagging at the memory of it - almost 15 years after the fact. Come to think of it, I believe I threatened the bartender and his entire family after serving it to me.
The ONLY thing that is more despicable than Scotch is that Dutch drink. It's called "Jenever". It's in the gin family. It tastes a little like "white lightnin'" but it's more like "Gumout" carburetor cleaner. I strongly recommend you decline if ever offered this stuff. Took me three days to get the taste out of my mouth. But I started to get much better mileage.
LOL. You just reminded me of a summer, long ago, spent sitting at the piano bar at Rudy's, drinking Scotch OTR, trying desperately to acquire the sophisticated taste for it. Abject failure. I thought it tasted like vomit, with a hint of anise.
I like the Scots. Been there. Nice people. But Kilts, Bagpipes and Haggus.......ALL really bad ideas. And there is NOTHING in the world nastier than Scotch Whisky. I don't mind a shot of Bourbon or good ol' Tennessee sippin' whiskey. But Scotch, tastes like turpentine.
forgot to mention the games in May
Carol, my fav 2 Scots are John Muir, and the elegant, sophisticated and super nice guy -- David Niven....
Stexcat, I'm assuming they will have a DVD for this year -- but I don't think it'll be for about 6 weeks after, if memory serves me right. My gs will be performing for the 1st time this year. You can get DVDs from prior years here, but, of course, they will be lacking the all important performance of my gs ;o)
I understand. I am what they call the black Irish...I have black hair and brown eyes...but my cousins are all blondes..damn the luck!!! lol!
I wish I could get up there for the show, but thats not in the cards. Do they do a DVD(s) of the show ? Please let me know.
I do love the pipes. They seem to arouse something in me that is somewhat primal.
Remember, in WW II the Germans called the Scots the "Ladies from Hell". While that has been applied to both British and Canadian kilted soldiers in that war. It was more commonly given to the Black Watch whose regimental motto was Nemo me impune lacessit (no man provokes me with impunity). The pipes went with them into battle. The British have historically considered the Scotsmen barbarians, whether rightly or wrong is not mine to judge. But in WW II they carried the tradition of Robert the Bruce into the war with them and fought bravely.
Hi Carol,
Though you'd never guess my biological mother is/was German/Irish, biological father was Italian and consequently most people have no idea what my nationality is but around here most people guess Hispanic. I guess it's a matter of nature vs. nurture because I was raised by Hispanic parents. I had a 'significant other' for about 10 years that was what she called Scotch-Irish. I've always been a sucker for red hair and apparently the fiery relationships that go with it. She really liked Irish ale and the occasional Scotch whiskey. :o)
I am quite prideful of the STE Pipe (and Drums!). My daughter attended STE and now, 2 of my grandsons are students there. The elder, while still in the lower school, is already drumming.
If ya'll really enjoy them, please mark your calendar for Thursday, March 11, 2010: 7:30 p.m. at the Toyota Center when the 46th Annual Scottish Festival Spectacular honoring the 25th Anniversary of STE's first Juvenile World Champion Pipe Band (Yeah Michael Cusack!).
Tickets: $25 reserved, $15 general admission.
Call 713 666 3111 to reserve your seats or download an order form!
fyi, STE has won Juv World Champs in 1985, 1995, 1998, 2004, & 2006! Oh -- and -- they won the North American Champ (grade 3) 2008!
If you like the Scottish, you will get plenty of pipers, drummers and highland dancers at the Festival.
It is a great school with high expectations of its students - who pursue a very classical education.
Bob, thank you - it still brings a chill up my spine and a tear to my eye.
Alien, my great grandmother was a Walker (quite Scottish) and my grandmother was a Moriarity (quite Irish)....
another wow...very nice! Makes me want to go join William Wallace's fighting force, if I wasn't a pacifist, of course...really cool!
ok, thanks. :O)
Bob, I do wish that you would post the St. Thomas Pipe Band competition video from a year (or so) ago. They were quite amazing!
AlienHunter, you are ok....
I totally LOVE them!
wow,
Despite my Irish blood or maybe because of it, I think that would drive me crazy in a hurry. :O)
I'm sure it was cool, though...really!
That must've been very entertaining. Thanks for the vid.