Today, I learned that Alasdair Gilles has died. He was a young man, and though his troubles were not exactly a secret, the shock of his death is still reverberating throughout our small community.
I will let other far more capable people eulogize him. I only met him once, and that was even a passing handshake at last year’s Winterstorm. Even then it was clear he was a tremendous teacher and talent but it was also clear that his struggles were far from over.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to get his recordings and listen to them. Do a quick search of his name on www.youtube.com, and watch him play. I know it is a preciously small consolation, but we are truly blessed to have so much of his playing recorded both on commercially available albums, and countless amateur videos of his effortless, technical and most of all, beautifully musical playing.
It truly is a sad day, and we have all lost so much.
The open level community lost a great competitor, in all the piping disciplines, maybe even the best ever.
The lower grades lost an amazing teacher and ambassador for our music.
And of course, his family and friends lost the most of all.
For all of us at The Beer Tent, I want to extend our condolences to his friends and his family, and to all those countless people whose lives he touched, either through his playing, or his teaching.
He will be missed.
Finally, our world's wrap up show. We discuss the qualifiers, the final, and have a lovely little pilsner. Enjoy responsibly.
