This important topic continues to engage the pipe band community, writes the Editor. A further range of opinions is printed below.
People are clearly very concerned at a situation which leaves Scotland with only five Grade 1 bands. Surely something must be done to arrest this ongoing decline? Thanks once more to everyone who has contributed.
Andrew Young: I feel a Grade 1A and 1B would work better with a one up, one down each season. This would be based on results at the Worlds thus giving overseas bands a fairer chance of promotion.
Ian Forbes: My humble proposals for Grade 1 re-invigoration are:
1. In the absence of other viable suggestions, a reasonable cap on piper/drummer numbers should be trialled. In the first instance, this should not be too restrictive, and done with consultation/agreement of Grade 1 bands.
2. Grade 1 bands should be required to have a minimum attendance at minor/local branch contests to stimulate a wider participation across the whole pipe band season. The vast majority of minor contests have either abandoned a Grade 1 competition or only have Grade 2 bands ‘playing up’.
3. To avoid a repetition of what happened to Police Scotland & Federation this year (i.e. losing their drum corps at a crucial stage), bands’ playing rosters should be finalised by 1st January, for that year’s competition season.
Iain White: The reports in the feedback of FMM playing at the Worlds with 15 pipers are undoubtedly true. However it is but part of the story. I have it from what I believe to be a very reputable source that FMM ‘dropped’ nine pipers at the Worlds as did Inveraray.
It’s not about how many play really, it’s about the number of players signed up with the band. How big are the FMM/IDPB piping rosters? At least 24 it would seem or, put another way, two pipe bands each when I played back in the day.
I personally know of pipers who have spent a whole season on an elite band roster without ‘getting a game’. What’s the point of that? When they inevitably get disillusioned where do they go? On to another huge roster to be on the sidelines?
At least with 20 Grade 1 bands they would have alternatives to allow them to actually play and compete at the top level.
John MacKenzie’s Collection – digital book
First published in 1973, this outstanding collection is re-issued here in digital format with kind permission of the late Pipe Major’s family. The book runs to more than 50 pages. It is offered at a nominal price to cover overheads. It contains outstanding melodies such as the 6/8s Tug Argan Gap and MacNeills of Ugadale, the Wedding Waltz, Neuve Chappelle, Joe McGann’s Fiddle, the Saffron Kilt,…
