June 2, 2005

Young bagpiper takes the high road

An interest in Scotland led Elias Alexander to the pipes

By Cindy Blankenship

For the Daily Tidings

Jokes about bagpipers abound, like this one floating around on the Internet: “The Irish gave the Scots the bagpipe, and they still haven’t got the joke.” It is said that one either loves bagpipe music or one hates it.

Elias Alexander plays the bagpipes, sings, acts and tap dances. Submitted photo

Elias Alexander loves it. He does admit that if the pipes aren’t played right, they will send people running. Alexander is one who plays the pipes right. His bagpipe teacher and bagpipe maker, Murray Huggins, calls him “a phenomenal bagpipe player.”

“I love the sound, the power, the feeling; it really does take me right back to Scotland,” says Alexander.

The 16-year-old has a good ear for music, has always loved music, and has played the recorder, violin and drums. His mother plays acoustic guitar and his maternal grandmother was also musically inclined.

Alexander plays the Great Highland bagpipes, a Scottish and probably most familiar variety to Americans.

It was Scotland that sparked Alexander’s interest in the pipes. He had first learned about Scotland while preparing for a trip there with his mother, Shoshana Alexander, who homeschools him.

“I had to do this whole Scotland studies thing and I found the history fascinating. When I went there I completely fell in love with the country — the land, traditions, customs …” says, Elias who accompanied his mother there for her reunion in the Highlands near Loch Ness with a spiritual group of friends she’d lived and farmed with in the 70s.

After returning from Scotland, Elias, then about 14 years old, heard Huggins play at the annual Robert Burns Night in Ashland, went to see him play at a recital and signed up as a student.

“It’s a wonderful instrument, one of the few in the world that can evoke real emotion,” says Elias. “It’s powerful, especially the old ancient music — that really takes me back to Scotland.”

The ancient bagpipe music salutes or laments, commemorating a person, place or event. Often tragic and haunting, it is also played in upbeat marches and cheerful jig and reels.

Elias’ bagpipes, crafted from blocks of African ebony and tropical rosewoods, finished with Spanish cane reeds and tartan fabric, were built by Huggins. “These [Huggins’ pipes] are wonderful. Murray’s ahead of everyone,” says Elias.

Many bagpipes are factory made, but quite a few players have sets that are handmade. However, Elias’ bagpipes have the distinction of being crafted by a builder whom the Smithsonian asked a few years ago to contribute one of his creations to their exhibit, “Instrument Builders of America.”

While studying with Huggins, Elias began performing locally, at funerals, parades, Ashland Trick-or-Treat, private parties. He played in the Peace Parade in Medford held on Inauguration Day.

Elias also sings and acts. He debuted as Oliver in the musical hit produced by the Camelot Theatre and then in 2003 he played the artful dodger for Camelot. He connected with the theater through Ashland choreographer Audrey Flint who was teaching at Willow Wind, the homeschool learning center that Elias has attended since 7th grade.

Most recently Elias played Lindsay Wool in Ashland High School’s production of the Broadway hit “Mame.” He’s a member of the school’s Thespian Troupe and drama department.

“I love singing and acting, especially working with the high school students in “Mame” and building friendships. That was really fun,” Elias adds.

Asked about his plans for the future, Elias says he wants to continue in bagpiping, acting and singing, and that he also would like to live in or have a second home in Scotland.

Elias Alexander can be reached at 201-0353.