A cool, breezy morning greeted the bands for the first two legs of the Grade 1 Worlds 2024. I listened to the complete contest from edge of the arena with extraneous noise apparent.
I had Inveraray just ahead after two excellent runs. Field Marshal not far away, after, in my book, winning the MSR. Inveraray were out on their own in the Medley, really nailed it.
By Robert Wallace
The day started at 10.30 and the MSR contest did not come to life until Simon Fraser University left the flags. Boghall were a big disappointment with a poor sound and a tired performance, maybe a hangover from the Wednesday night concert.
SFU were up tempo, playing on the edge. Very enjoyable. Next to catch the ear were St Laurence with a big drone tone and a clean run. Field Marshal followed, their Lord Alex just that bit more pointed and phrased than SLOT’s.
Richard Parkes’s team were flawless to my ear, though someone said they heard chirps in Charlie’s Welcome and other technical flaws. I didn’t. The finger work was really electric.
Next contender was Shotts. A big, robust but tuneful tone. Cameronian Rant didn’t always appear in cohesion with the drummers. Overall not quite so tight as SFU or FM.
Thus far my list was 1 FMM 2 SFU 3 SLOT 4 Shotts. I was impressed with the 78th Frasers. Their technique may have been short of the bands already mentioned, but they had a fine tone and their tempi betokened a refreshing attitude: ‘Let’s leave everything out there.’ I hoped the judges would give them credit for it. I added them to the bottom end of my MSR list.
The last of the contenders were Inveraray. Confident, controlled with a clarity of tone that instantly impressed. Were those doublings in Argyllshire Gathering D to low G as united as they ought to be in band with so many brilliant pipers?
My list for Friday’s MSR: 1 FMM 2 Inveraray 3 SFU 4 SLOT 5 Shotts 6 78th.
What was noticeable in the Medley was the improvement in the bands not yet mentioned. Closkelt, Johnstone, Police Federation, Dunedin, Fife Police, St Thomas, were all much, much better. It shows just what a test the March, Strathspey and Reel is, and why it must always be retained in the Worlds format. MSR preference should replace Ensemble preference in the final reckoning as far as I am concerned, much as Piobaireachd does over MSR in the solos.
Inveraray were on near the end. They delivered a stunning tour de force which brought the biggest cheer of the day from the surprisingly large crowd – a cheer courteously acknowledged by P/M Liddell.
More importantly you could tell from the judges’ body language that the band had hit home with the men who mattered. I am writing this on Friday evening [August 16th] only a few hours after leaving the Green. I have no doubt whatsoever that the summaries will show Inveraray winning this Medley contest.
The Balmoral bonnet makes a comeback! Leading the way at the Worlds were adjudicators Cameron Edgar (left) and Peter Snaddon, and the 78th Fraser Highlanders from Ontario
Great stuff from defending champions Boghall with particularly good amalgamation of drum and pipe. A different band from the MSR; the sound was so much better too.
SLOT gave it everything, their powerful drum corps driving them on through rampant jigs and reels and a lovely slow air. FMM’s ending goes on too long and the seconds in the opener are overpowering, but what precision from this pipe corps.
The first half of SFU’s set was right up there, but after the slow air I felt the jigs lacked quality, and the arrangement over complex. Tuneless jigs were an impediment for Shotts too, yet they played very well. Another accomplished pipe corps; bass too loud in places.
What about Fife Police at the end? Simply terrific. You would not have believed this was the same band that played in the morning. Brilliant work from David Wilton. Another young pipe major who deserves all the success that comes his way. They gave it absolutely everything and next to Inveraray drew the best ovation of a chilly afternoon.
My result: 1 Inveraray 2 SLOT 3 Fife Police 4 Boghall 5 FMM 6 SFU
- Postscript: Though an enjoyable day of top class pipe band competition, is the Worlds Friday really necessary? With our expert judges, can’t the World Champions be decided with two runs on the Saturday?
