This week’s anonymous contributor should be thanked for raising the matter of wandering ensemble judges. Personally I felt that he wrote well but was guilty of pipe band overthink.
Get up close to the tenor drummers to see if they are integrating with those around them. Really? What is ensemble if it is not an assessment of the entire package, pipes and drums, and how well they work together?
I did agree with him on his point on consistency. The RSPBA’s Adjudicator’s Panel should tell all their ensemble judges that if they are going to go walkabout then they need to follow the same pattern for every band. Read the article ‘The Ensemble Walkabout’ here. Readers views below.
James Houston McMillan: ‘Some very valuable and valid thoughts there. I often wonder that if adjudicators were undercover the results would still play out the same? Perhaps our assessments should lean more to ensemble and the overall package and less toward the separate disciplines. After all it’s a band performance.’
Ian Forbes: ‘Personally, I would like to see ensemble judges abolished. Far too often the ensemble judge’s score merely tracks the score and comments of the respective piping/drumming judge(s). Since piping and drumming judges are able to comment and evaluate any part of a band’s performance, they already have the remit to include ensemble effects and issues.’
Scottish Pipers
The SPA’s monthly club nights resume tonight (Sept. 5) in the Piping Centre, McPhater Street, 7 for 7.30pm. The evenings are open to all, members and non-members alike. Take your pipes and have a tune in good company. President Logan Tannock will be on hand to welcome you.
Inveraray Pipe Band
The new World Champions put on a show for locals and tourists in their home village last weekend, and as the picture at the head of this Notebook shows, they drew a large crowd to the shores of Loch Fyne.
Pleasing to see them form up in the semi circle concert formation the better to please the listeners. I would have a gap between the pipers for the drummers mind you. One day this might be the format for competition!
MacLean Request
Jim Barne: ‘I work as a music supervisor for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This year we performed a tune by P/M Donald MacLean. I’ve been looking to contact his family about this and found an article on PP in which you credit his niece Fiona Johnston.
‘I understand that you might not want to give out her contact details, but would you be able to give her my email address and ask her to contact me? Many thanks for your help.’ Contact Jim here.
P/M Peter Bain
John Gillies: ‘I am the great-grandson of P/M Peter Bain (Scots Guards). I am currently researching my family history and would be very grateful for your help in finding out the whereabouts of my great-grandfather’s pipes.
‘Pipe Major Bain (1910–1975) was Pipe Major of the Scots Guards during the Second World War and a double Gold Medallist (Northern Meeting 1934, Argyllshire Gathering 1946). After the war he became a respected teacher and adjudicator in Glasgow.
‘From my late grandfather, John Bain, I understand that following my great-grandfather’s death in 1975, his widow, May Bain, sold his bagpipes. I understand that with my late great aunt’s permission, the late Angus MacPhee wrote an article on my grandfather in 1975, I assume after his death, that was reproduced in Piping Press.
‘I know this is a long shot, but if you have any information about the whereabouts of his pipes or would be able to point me in the direction of someone who may be able to help I would be very grateful. With sincere thanks.’ If you can help John contact him on: johnangusgillies@gmail.com
Pibroch by the Sea
The annual Pibroch by the Sea festival will be held at Cancale, Brittany, 14 -15th September. This will be the 20th year of the festival. The workshop will be conducted by Silver Medallist Hervé le Floc’h and Jakez Pincet the festival founder.
The masterclass costs 30 euros. To register for it and to play during the festival contact Catherine Thomas on catherine.armandine@gmail.com. Alternative contact: Pibroc’h en Bord de Mer – Rémy LE CASTREC, 7, rue Georges HALNA 35400 SAINT-MALO.
