A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (SFUPB is a grade one Pipe band affiliated with Simon Fraser University in Burnaby British Columbia, Canada A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and Drummers The term used by military pipe bands Pipes and Drums, is also common Bagpipes are a class of Musical instrument, Aerophones using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag A drummer is a Musician who plays a Drum or drums particularly a Drum kit ("drum set" or "trap set" Marching percussion The term used by military pipe bands, Pipes and Drums, is also common.
The most common form of pipe band, the Scottish pipe band, consists of a section of pipers, a section of snare drummers (often referred to as 'side drummers'), several tenor drummers and a single bass drummer. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The Great Highland Bagpipe ( Gaelic: A' Phìob Mhòr) is probably the best-known variety of Bagpipe. The snare drum is a Drum with strands of snares made of curled metal wire metal cable plastic cable or gut cords stretched across the a drumhead typically A tenor drum is a cylindrical drum which is higher pitched than a Bass drum. A bass drum is a large Drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. The entire drum section is known collectively as the drum corps. The tenor drummers and bass drummer are referred to collectively as the 'bass section' (or in North America as the 'midsection'). The band follows the direction of the pipe major; when on parade the band may be led by a drum major, who directs the band with a mace.
Standard instrumentation for a pipe band involves 6 to 25 pipers, 3 to 10 side drummers, 1 to 4 tenor drummers and 1 bass drummer. Occasionally this instrumentation is augmented to include additional instruments (such as additional percussion instruments or keyboard instruments), but this is typically done only in concert settings.
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History of the Pipe Band
The pipe band began life in the military, but its origins are obscure, and historical records exist mostly in hints gleaned from contemporary regimental records that had no direct interest in pipes. For the military meaning see Armed forces. For the Soviet sports society see Armed Forces (sports society Armed Forces
It is known that pipers served in regiments from the earliest times; the Royal Scots have records referring to pipers dating back to the early seventeenth century. A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel. The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment, once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest and therefore most senior Infantry Regiment of the line As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar Where pipers were employed as pipers (rather than just happening to be a soldier that also was able to play), they were employed by the officers of the regiments as private pipers. This situation continued until the 1840s, when Queen Victoria's enthusiasm for all things Highland was instrumental in the War Office's decision that each battallion of the Highland Regiments be allowed five pipers and a Pipe Major, which continues to be all that the British Army provides funds for to this day. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland The Scottish Highlands ( Scottish Gaelic: A' Ghàidhealtachd, Scots: Hielans) include the rugged and Mountainous The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963 when The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. Any additional pipers in the batallion pipe band were and are equipped today by funds from the Officers' Mess Fund of the battallion.
By this time, pipers were already playing together with drummers, probably modeling themselves on the fife and drum bands which had existed in Switzerland since the fifteenth century. A fife is a small high-pitched transverse Flute that is similar to the Piccolo, but louder and shriller due to its narrower bore Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Drumming is, of course, as ancient as the concept of formed military units, and their original purpose on the battlefield was to signal tactical movements and keep cadence on the march.
By the end of the Crimean War, pipe bands were established in most of the Scottish Regiments. The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought The first civilian organizations to adopt pipe bands were police and fire brigade bands;[1] even today, several forces maintain bands that play to a very high standard. Police are agents or agencies usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimatized use of force A fire station (also called stationhouse) is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus (i
By the time World War I broke out, the pipe band represented a popular image of Scotland, both internally and externally. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All
Military pipers were killed and injured in significant numbers in the Great War, before the War Office banned the practice of playing in the trenches in 1915. The ban was often not observed; Canadian piper James Richardson was awarded the Victoria Cross for playing in action in 1916. James (Jimmy Cleland Richardson VC ( 25 November 1895, Bellshill, Scotland &ndash 8 or 9 October 1916) Although that ban still stands today, pipes have occasionally played into battle, notably at El Alamein, Dieppe, the Normandy beaches, and the crossing of the Rhine. El Alamein (or Al Alamayn) ( العلمين is a town in northern Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea coast in Matruh Governorate. The Dieppe Raid, also known as The Battle of Dieppe or Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the D-Day may also refer to Decimal Day in the United Kingdom. D-Day is a term often used in Military parlance to denote
Military pipers have also served in both Gulf Wars.
WWI also created a huge demand for pipers, and huge numbers had been taught to play by the end of the war. This and the similar effort which went on during WWII ensured that there was a critical mass of people able to play and create a thriving pipe band scene from the 1950s onwards. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
Military Pipes and Drums
In military and para-military organizations the term Pipes and Drums is used when referring to an ensemble of Highland bagpipes and drums, but the majority of modern military bands are quite similar to their civilian counterparts in their instrumentation and music. Many of the same standard tunes are found in both the military and civilian pipe band repertoires, and many similarities exist in terms of musical style, historical and musical influences, and dress and deportment.
Unlike civilian pipers, however, pipers in military bands have additional military responsibilities. Nowadays, musicians in British Army bands are normally required to take on a secondary role in the battlefield as medics. Medic is a general term for a person involved in medicine especially emergency or first-response medicine such as an Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, or However, in most cases the pipes and drums in a Scottish or Irish infantry regiment constitute a machine gun platoon (as the Corps of Drums does in an English or Welsh infantry regiment). The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel. For other uses of the phrase see Machine Gun (disambiguation. A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or Squads and containing about 30 to 50 soldiers As a result, in addition to being musicians, members of the pipes and drums must also be qualified fighting soldiers. Unlike musicians, who belong to the Corps of Army Music, the pipers and drummers belong to the regiment in which they serve and are Soldiers first and foremost. The Corps of Army Music is a corps of the British Army. It was formed in 1994 as an umbrella organisation centred on the Royal Military School of Music
The British Army runs its own pipes and drums training facility, the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming is a British Army training establishment that provides instructions of Scottish Bagpipe music to Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. To be qualified as a Pipe Major or Drum Major in the pipes and drums of a regiment of the British Army, candidates must successfully pass a series of courses at the school. The Pipe Major is the director of Bagpipe music in a Scottish or Irish Pipe band. A Sergeant Major of the Drums or drum major is the leader of a Marching band, Drum and bugle corps, or Pipe band.
Pipe Band Music
The music played by pipe bands generally consists of music from the Scottish tradition, either in the form of traditional folk tunes and dances or music from the Western tradition that has been adapted for pipes. Jack Lee is the pipe sergeant of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, which has won the World Pipe Band Championships several times Examples of typical pipe bands forms include marches, slow airs, up-tempo jigs and reels, and strathspeys. The jig (port is a Folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type popular in Ireland. The reel is a Folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type. A strathspey is a type of Dance tune in 4/4 time It is similar to a Hornpipe but slower and more stately and contains many dot-cut 'snaps' In recent years there has been a great deal of emphasis placed on new forms, especially the suite. In Music, a suite is an ordered set of Instrumental or Orchestral pieces normally performed in a Concert A good example of a suite for pipe band is Don Thompson's composition Journey to Skye (1987).
In conventional pipe band music, each section of instruments has a different role in the music. Generally speaking, the pipers deliver the melodic and harmonic material, while the side drummers provide a rhythmically interactive accompaniment part. The tenor drummers provide the fundamental rhythmic pulse and the bass drummer anchors the rhythms, providing a strong and steady beat. The roles of each section are broken down further below.
The Pipe Section
Since the bagpipe is the only pipe band instrument capable of producing distinct, variable pitches, the pipers are responsible for providing all of the melodic material in the music. Generally speaking, all of the pipers play a unison melody on their chanters, with their drones providing the harmonic support and filling out the sound. This article is on the bagpipe part for the musical office see Cantor. These unison melodies are often quite complex and demanding. It is this complexity that provides much of the musical interest.
When harmony is written within the pipe section, it is usually a two-part harmony, and is usually scored in a 2:1 ratio (with two thirds of the players on the melody and one third of the players on the harmony part). In Western music, harmony is the use of different pitches simultaneously and chords actual or implied in Music. Because of the limited range of the chanter, the harmonic possibilities are somewhat limited, but well-written harmony in a pipe band setting can be quite effective. Pipe band harmony is sometimes referred to as 'seconds', although this simply refers to a second part and not to the interval of a second. In Music theory, the term interval describes the relationship between the pitches of two Notes Intervals may be described as vertical In fact, intervals of a second are rarely found in pipe band harmony parts, except in passing. Instead, it is the consonant intervals which are stressed, such as perfect fourths and fifths, and even more commonly, parallel thirds and sixths.
In contemporary arrangements, a merge between harmony and melody known as 'counter-melody' has been aired. A counter-melody is similar to a harmony part, but is distinguished because it has a melodic line of its own. Counter-melody can take a completely different thematic approach and can dramatically change the flow and atmosphere of the melodic unison. This technique is relatively new in the pipe band circuit, and in most cases require skill and timing to achieve in full unison.
The Drum Corps
The drum corps of a pipe band consists of a section of drummers playing Highland snare drums and the bass section (see below). Marching percussion instruments are specially designed to be played while moving In the early days of pipe bands, rope tension snare drums were common, but as the technology evolved, so did the music. Pipe band drummers now play on drums with very tight, knitted kevlar heads, designed for maximum tension to create a very crisp and strident sound. Kevlar is the registered Trademark for a light strong para-aramid Synthetic fiber, related to other Aramids such as Nomex and Due to technological innovations and changing aesthetics, this crispness has become an integral part of the pipe band sound. Since today's drum is so facile as a result of its design, players are often able to execute extremely complicated and technically demanding rudimentary patterns.
The pipe band drum corps is responsible for both supporting the piping with a solid rhythmic foundation and sense of pulse, often creating an interesting contrapuntal line unto itself. In Music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and Rhythm, and interdependent in Harmony The line played by the drum corps (referred to as the 'drum score') is usually based on rudimentary patterns and can often be quite involved, with solo, unison and contrapuntal passages throughout. A popular pattern in many scores is for the lead drummer to play a phrase, and the section to play in response. This technique is known as seconds.
While standard practice in pipe bands is for the pipe section to perform the traditional or standard arrangements of the melodies, including even the gracenotes, drum scores are very often composed by the lead drummer of the band. A grace note is a kind of Music notation used to denote several kinds of musical ornaments. In competition, one of the adjudicators grades a band on how creative their scores are and how well they fit the piping - this aspect of the judging is known as 'ensemble'.
The Bass Section
The bass section (also referred to as a mid section) usually consists of a section of tenor drummers and a bass drummer. Their role is to provide rhythmic support to the entire ensemble. In this respect, the bass section allows the drum corps to delegate their timekeeping responsibilities and allows more freedom in the drum scores.
Generally, the bass drum provides a steady pulse, playing on the downbeat and on the strong beats of the bar, and the tenors support that pulse, often adding supporting beats, accents and dynamic interest.
Tenor drums in their modern form are a relatively new addition to the pipe band. While pipe bands of yesteryear would often include tenor drummers, they would usually be "swinging tenors", players who would swing their sticks for elaborate visual effect but who would rarely play. Today's tenor drummers play pitched drums, and careful thought is given as to which pitches to use and at which times. In some cases, five or six tenor drummers have been used, providing a palette of individual pitches for use in a variety of musical situations. The swinging also known as flourishing has developed somewhat into an art form, with drummers playing and swinging in unison or sequential flows.
Competition & The World Pipe Band Championships
Competition is a primary focus for many pipe bands throughout the world. The World Pipe Band Championships is a Pipe band competition currently held in Glasgow, Scotland every August Since 1930, when the Scottish band association (today known as the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association) was formed, there has been an event known as the World Pipe Band Championships held in Glasgow every August. The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA was founded in 1930 as a governing body to oversee Pipe band Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom For competitive bands, the title of World Champion is highly coveted, and this event is seen as the culmination of a year's worth of preparation, rehearsal and practice.
The entirety of the World Championships takes place on one day in August, on Glasgow Green. Glasgow Green is a Park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. Typically, several hundred bands attend, traveling from all over the world. Bands arrive early and are required to perform in a qualifying round which takes place in the morning. The top bands at the end of the qualifying round play in a second event in the afternoon to determine an aggregate winner. To win, Grade One bands must perform in two events, a March, Strathspey & Reel event (known as a "set" or "MSR") which consists of three pre-arranged tunes, and a Medley event, which consists of a short selection of music chosen and arranged by the band. The rules for the medley contest are very open, requiring only a minimum and maximum time frame (between 5:30 and 7 minutes) and a minimum of different time signatures that must be played as well as two 3 pace rolls played at the beginning of the tune (also known as an attack).
In addition to performing at the World's, most internationally competitive bands participate in a season of events that are generally held during Scotland's summer months. While events of this type are usually held at Highland Games, band competitions in Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland are often large enough to be held as events unto themselves. Highland games are events held throughout the year in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage especially The grading and organization of these events is generally consistent with the World Championships and the events are typically administered by the governing Pipe Band Association.
Pipe band grading system
Prizes at the World's are awarded in the following eight categories:
- Grade One
- Grade Two
- Grade Three "A"
- Grade Three "B"
- Juvenile
- Grade Four "A"
- Grade Four "B"
- Novice Juvenile
In the United States, there is also a fifth grade.
In the Novice Juvenile and Juvenile categories, band members must be under the age of eighteen, with the exception of one "adult" player, often an instructor, who may serve as the Pipe Major or Pipe Sergeant. The remaining categories have no age restriction, but are based on proficiency. Grade One is the highest of these categories, and Novice is the lowest. Grading and eligibility are overseen by the RSPBA, and bands must apply for downgrading or upgrading. The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA was founded in 1930 as a governing body to oversee Pipe band
Because of time constraints, the RSPBA uses "A" and "B" designations in Grade 3 and 4, for major competitions. By doing this, bands are grouped based on prior-years' performances, and can receive promotions within their respective grade. It is also important to note that these vary slightly throughout the world. For example, in the Republic of Ireland Grade 4 "B" is known as Grade 5, in North America, many regional associations have implemented Grade Five, an entry-level Grade, intended to help bands familiarize themselves with competition and in Australia and New Zealand there is no Novice grade at all.
Progressive Pipe Bands?
The future for pipe bands is unclear. Currently, there are many pipe bands which perform in parades and other public events as a primary activity. These bands are sometimes referred to as "street bands". Some military bands fall into this category as well, playing for regimental functions in lieu of, or supplemented by, competitions and/or concerts.
In the competitive pipe band community, some bands are starting to find the competitive system musically stifling, although it does demand high standards. Some advocate making the transition to a Breton model, where competitions are more flexible and with fewer restrictions. Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into
Instead of giving up on the competitive model, a number of bands have instead turned to the concert stage to supplement their competitive activities. Performing in this setting allows a greater degree of musical flexibility and creativity, and encourages the inclusion of additional instruments and performers, to expand the musical possibilities. Notable examples of these endeavors by competitive pipe bands include the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band's Carnegie Hall concert of 1998 and the recent recordings by the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band. The Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band, is a Pipe band from Toronto Ontario, Canada. Their albums The Immigrant's Suite (1989), Live in Canada - The Megantic Outlaw Concert (1991), Flame of Wrath (1998), and most recently, Cascade (2003), showcase their attachment to traditional pipe band music and their desire to break out of the compositional mold and venture into undiscovered territory.
The Bagad
A lesser-known type of pipe band that has already expanded the pipe band genre is the bagad, a Breton cultural phenomenon. A bagad is a Breton band composed of Bagpipes ( Breton: biniou, French: Cornemuse Bombardes and Percussion (made A bagad is a Breton band composed of Bagpipes ( Breton: biniou, French: Cornemuse Bombardes and Percussion (made Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into Bagads began in the thirties to counter the widespread decay of the living Breton folk tradition. In 2001, a popular bagad, Bagad Brieg, recorded a CD with the House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band entitled La Boum Ecosse (it was released in 2002). In this CD the traditional pipe band and the bagad perform together.
A modern-day bagad consists of a biniou braz (bagpipe), a bombarde section, a drum corps, perhaps more accurately described nowadays as a 'large and varied percussion section' (one band's percussionists lug around a huge metal model elephant), and any additional musical instruments the band wishes to add. Binioù means Bagpipe in the Breton language. There are two kinds of Binioù found in Brittany: the binioù kozh ( kozh The bombarde, or bombard (in Breton is a folk Musical instrument from Brittany and Cornwall that is a cross between an Oboe Elephants ( family: Elephantidae) are large land Mammals of the order Proboscidea. Common additions are small jazz orchestras, guitars, and other forms of binious. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string brass woodwind sections and possibly a percussion section as well The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Binioù means Bagpipe in the Breton language. There are two kinds of Binioù found in Brittany: the binioù kozh ( kozh
References
- ^ Cannon, R. 1988: The Highland Bagpipe and its Music; p. 153
See also
- Great Highland Bagpipe
- Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
- List of bagpipers
- List of pipe bands
- Types of bagpipes
- Canntaireachd
- List of pipe band associations
External links
- Pipefest - The Home of Massed Pipe Bands.
- pipes|drums online magazine.
- A video of a pipe band.
- www.militarytattoo.org - Information Website
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