My trip to Rennes - ‘A Day like This' by Christopher Gray
Aux armes, citoyens!
Formez vos battalions!
Marchons! Marchons!
Qu,un song umpur
Abreuve nos sillons!
These would normally be the chants that would be heard in a French football stadium. Today, it was going to be something different. A Celtic Festival in Rennes invited a lot of groups and artists from all over the world and I was going to be part of it.
It was some time in May 2006 and the day before the Festival my brother, dad, bagpipe tutor and a fellow piper flew out to France from Manchester Airport. The group of us had been asked by the Pipe Major of the British Airways Band to play with them because they were short of numbers. My Pipe Tutor Tony MacDonald was familiar with this band because 30 or 40 years ago he was Pipe Major and they won Grade Two Champions of Champions. My Pipe Tutor is very proud of that but he is the kind who guy who doesn't like to brag about it.
I can remember the day of the festival. It was hectic. All the sound technology was being tested, plans for the program were being changed to stay within time limits, all the musicians and organisations were practicing all day so the festival went well and not to mention it was a blazing hot day.
A slight problem for me throughout the day was that my hay fever was really bad. I was sneezing all day and there was nothing I could do about it. I just soldiered on and tried to enjoy the experience.
It came the time when the pipe band was about to perform, everyone was very excited. I was especially thrilled to be playing my bagpipes here because I realised that it was not every day that I would get to do this. I was going to enjoy every minute of the performance.
The opening rolls played by the drummers started. A few seconds later the pipes fired up and started the tune. The band entered the stadium. The roar of 30 000 people in the stadium sent a prickle down my spine. The adrenaline was going now and I was feeling extremely good. I was enjoying myself. Something incredible! Something unbelievable.
The band had marched half way around the stadium now and I just noticed a camera man who was zooming in close to me. I was now on the big screens which were dotted around the stadium. Those seconds of glory still feel good today.
Soon after, the band made an exit from the stadium. That was the performance over. It went very well and to me it didn't seem as if it was finished. I was buzzing with enjoyment so much that I didn't want it to end.
Afterwards I realised that just because our performance was over it didn't mean that our day was to. The band had a big party and I played a few tunes. Everyone had a great time before returning to the hotel later on in the early hours of the next morning.
This day was a great experience for me. I enjoyed it lots and I will remember it for years to come.
