My name is Ross Bates and I have been
playing the Bagpipes
as a
soloist and in bands
for
the last 28 years. Among my achievements was being part of the Grade 1
World Championship Pipe Band of 1998. Please see here
to read more about my background.
If
you are looking for a Bagpiper, I
am available 7 days a week to perform at
a variety of functions.
These may include:
Weddings
Birthday Parties
Debutante or Scottish Balls
Burns Nights or Suppers
Christmas Parties
New Years Eve
Corporate Functions
Retirement Functions
Funeral, Memorial & Committal Services
Anywhere you think you could use a piper
I
offer
a fully professional service and
will make sure that all relevant details are planned out well in
advance of
the function.
Short notice is usually not a problem, so don't hesitate
to contact me if you think you might have left it too late.
The
uniform
worn will include a traditional Scottish kilt in the Murray Of Athol
tartan.
Please contact me on 03
9744 4098
or 0427 181164 if I can be of
assistance. My
email is rabates@iprimus.com.au.
PRICES
For the Melbourne
metropolitan
area, my fee is AUD $250 for the first 2
hours and then AUD $30 for every 1/2 hour after or part thereof.
For those outside the
Melbourne
metropolitan area, the fee may be slightly higher due to the distance
travelled.
This fee includes an
optional consultation at our home for music
selection and to
hear tunes demonstrated on the pipes. 30 minutes is normally enough
time for this or you may prefer to organise everything over
the phone
or via email.
Pricing is
negotiable to a
limited extent for special circumstances -
please contact to discuss.
WEDDINGS
Regarding Weddings, I am happy to perform at whatever part of the
ceremony you may wish and can also make suggestions as to what would be
suitable if you are unsure.
The usual format is as follows:
As guests arrive, the piper
plays an assortment of tunes 20 to 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.
The piper then plays the Bride
or Bridal Party down the aisle, known as the Processional. Often the
piper leads or sometimes remains at the rear of the Church or wherever
the ceremony is taking place. The tune played at this point may be
chosen by the Bride and Groom or a recommendation will be given.
During the signing of the register, the piper plays a short
piece
of
incidental music, usually of a reflective nature.
Once the ceremony has concluded, the piper will play for
the
Newlyweds during the Recessional. As with the Processional, the piper
may lead or remain out of the way at the rear of the Church or
facility. The music played here is usually more
upbeat in nature than what is used earlier in the ceremony.
As the guests
congratulate the Newlyweds, the piper plays an assortment of tunes for
another 20 to 30 minutes.
If the reception is at the same location as the ceremony,
the
piper will often lead the Newlyweds to their table. If this is required
but the reception is sometime away or at another location, extra cost
may be involved.
I am also happy to take
part
in any photographs and to fit in with whatever specific requirements
you may have. ABOUT
28 years piping.
I
have performed at hundreds of Weddings and Funerals
and am well versed in all relevant protocols. I have
played numerous
times at Wedding venues such as Rupertswood, Quat Quatta, Rippon Lea
Estate, Overnewton Castle, Emu Bottom Homestead, Werribee Mansion, Glen
Erin Vineyard Retreat, Victoria Police Chapel and most
of Melbourne's CBD Churches.
15 years professional piping
at a Grade One standard with the Victoria Police Pipe Band, who won the
1998 Grade One World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. I
was also a member of the team responsible for the tuning and setting up
of the band.
I am well experienced performing with other musicians and
am able
to
have my Bagpipe accurately tuned to suit Bb 466 or A 440.
I have played as
a soloist
with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and
the Victorian State Orchestra. The performances included traditional
Scottish music as well as "Orkney Wedding With Sunrise".
I have performed on internationally acclaimed Pipe Band
recordings, such as "Uphold The Right", "Live In Ireland", "Live In The
Rockies", and the "1998 Motherwell Concert".
I have also played as a soloist with artists such as Eric
Burden
and Marion Martin and on the mini-series "My Brother Tom".
I have tutored a number of pipe bands to a high degree of
competitive success
relative to their grade.
I am an accredited piping
judge in Australia with both the
Advanced Piping
Certificate (A.P.B.A.) and the Adjudicators Certificate (A.P.B.A.).
The
following represents a small sampling of my repertoire. They
are typical of tunes that should be well known to many of the general
public. Most
of the tunes listed here are Scottish in origin with some also being
Irish. With
enough notice, any tune could be played within reason, however it
should be noted that
not all pieces of music will effectively transfer to the bagpipe.
Marches
Scotland
The Brave / The Badge Of Scotland / The Brown Haired Maiden /
The Barren Rocks Of Aden / Highland Laddie /
The 42nd Highlanders / Will Ye No Come Back Again? / We're No' Awa' Tae
Bide Awa' / High Road To Gairloch / Choirechoiles / The Bonnie
Lass O' Fyvie / Bonnie Dundee / 100 Pipers / Cock Of The North / Hot
Punch / I Love A Lassie / Stop Your Ticklin' Jock / Lochlomond
Retreats
Lochanside
/ Dream Valley Of Glendaruel / Green Hills Of Tyrol / When
The Battle's O'er
Slow
Airs & Laments
Amazing
Grace /
Flowers Of
The Forest / Coming Home / Highland Cathedral / The Mist Covered
Mountains / Thug Mi Gaol / Lord Lovat's Lament / Summertime
/ Mhorag Duncan
Waltzes
The
Flower Of Scotland /
The Skye Boat Song / Mrs Trench Of Garbally / The Old Knife Grinder's
Spring Song / Comin'
Through The Rye / The Northern
Lights Of Aberdeen /
Highland Cradle Song / My Home / Black Velvet Band
Australian
Waltzing
Matilda / South Australia / The Road To Gundagai
Christmas
Jingle
Bells / Deck The Halls / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen /
Good King Wenceslas / Come All Ye Faithful
Miscellaneous
Auld
Lang Syne / Happy
Birthday / Orkney Wedding With Sunrise / Mull Of Kintyre /
Ode To Joy
CONTACT
Ross Bates, 27
Harcombe
Drive, Sunbury,
Victoria, Australia,
3429
