On the march down to the service, I was trembling. I had never done anything like this before and, for my first time, it would be in front of all the people I know and all their families; a Scout group between the ages of seven and sixteen; as well as many other people. On top of that it was a Remembrance event that the Pipes and Drums only do once a year…no pressure, then! I was dreading the event.
We marched into position and halted. Because of traffic delays getting to the event, we were unable to confirm with the organisers the exact time we needed to play.
Miss Scotson came over about five minutes into the service and said she had spoken with the Chair of The Last Post (even more pressure that he was here and watching!). She was going to give me a nod to indicate when to start playing. Centuries seemed to past until she finally gave me the nod! I couldn’t mess this up. All the practice had led up to this. Strike up went well – no double tones or improper start up and no early notes.
I played for what seemed like hours until I came onto the last line. I had to cut off perfectly in order for the piece to sound proper. I cut off – not perfectly, but well enough to be passable as decent.
On the march back down I remember thinking that it would be just a little longer until I could get rid of the calm and confident façade. There was puddles everywhere from rain the day before. I had to consider walking straight through them or breaking rank to go around them. There was such a lot of thoughts and emotions that I almost forgot that I still had to play. Ben slowed us down and halted us again. My heart was still racing as I looked around; everything that had happened was a blur in my mind.
Taking a band photo is a tradition we do after every event with Miss Scotson. The Chair of The Last Post came over and said: “Thank you so much for doing that and an incredible job, young man.”
It made me realise how much bigger the whole event was than just a catalyst for stress and nerves. He explained what the whole organisation meant to him and that everything has such an important role in the events of each Last Post.
In the future I think I should not only put on a persona of confidence and calmness, but actually be confident and calm in order to enjoy these sort of events. I would like to do another lament, but if there is another budding piper wishing to take the responsibility I will happily let them experience the thrill of performing a solo in front of so many people.
- Cameron