The Piping Encyclopaedia
A FREE PIPING RESOURCE FOR THE GLOBAL PIPING COMMUNITY
Published on line by www.pipingworld.co.uk
Published on line by www.pipingworld.co.uk
pipingworld@hotmail.co.uk 0151 652 9426
A pipe band is simply a musical combination of pipes and drums. It originated in the Scottish Regiments of the British Army in the mid 1800s and shortly after the Crimean War had cemented itself as a popular part of ceremonial life. By the 1880s civilian bands had started to form - although not all had drummers.
One of the early bands, the Edinburgh City Police, at first consisted of only a pipe section although drummers were added at a later date. Other early formed Scottish bands included;
Colinton & Currie (reputed to be the oldest Scottish band in continuous existence)
Inveraray (defunct, although there is now a new Grade 1 band in the town)
Govan Burgh Police (now part of Strathclyde Police)
The governing body for competitive pipe bands is the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, which was formed in 1930. It organises a series of outdoor contests from May until September throughout Britain (Scotland, England and Northern Ireland) and also has in recent years held championships in Belgium.
The RSPBA organises 5 Major Championships (British, European, Cowal, Worlds and Scottish) which make up the Champion of Champions League. Although in theory they are all equal in status since the 1980s the World Pipe Band Championships has been gaining every year in reputation and is easily the most popular of them all - attracting well in excess of 200 pipe bands to Glasgow on the second Saturday of August.
All pipe bands are, however, not members of the RSPBA and in recent years there has been a growing awareness of non-competitive bands which exist only to provide a playing platform for their members.
The RSPBA grades it’s bands in four adult grades and two juvenile grades, with movement upwards and downwards at the end of every competition season, rather like a football league.
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World Pipe Band Championships - results
Grade 1 (under construction)
One of the early bands, the Edinburgh City Police, at first consisted of only a pipe section although drummers were added at a later date. Other early formed Scottish bands included;
Colinton & Currie (reputed to be the oldest Scottish band in continuous existence)
Inveraray (defunct, although there is now a new Grade 1 band in the town)
Govan Burgh Police (now part of Strathclyde Police)
The governing body for competitive pipe bands is the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, which was formed in 1930. It organises a series of outdoor contests from May until September throughout Britain (Scotland, England and Northern Ireland) and also has in recent years held championships in Belgium.
The RSPBA organises 5 Major Championships (British, European, Cowal, Worlds and Scottish) which make up the Champion of Champions League. Although in theory they are all equal in status since the 1980s the World Pipe Band Championships has been gaining every year in reputation and is easily the most popular of them all -
All pipe bands are, however, not members of the RSPBA and in recent years there has been a growing awareness of non-
The RSPBA grades it’s bands in four adult grades and two juvenile grades, with movement upwards and downwards at the end of every competition season, rather like a football league.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
World Pipe Band Championships -
PIPE BANDS IN SCOTLAND