I notice that the Laurence O'Toole pipe band from Dublin have come 3rd in the world PB championship, good going and up a couple of places from last year, results & links copied from footstomping;
Grade 1
1st Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (Canada)
2nd Field Marshal Montgomery (Northern Ireland)
3rd St. Laurence O'Toole (Ireland)
4th Strathclyde Police (Scotland)
5th House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead (Scotland)
6th Boghall and Bathgate (Scotland)
Just wondering if it's had much coverage in the republic? I know it's not everyones cup of tea but the standard of these events is mighty and I though it nice to see a band from the republic doing so well, beating the Scots at their own game lol.
Here's a link to watch the finalists if your interested I don't have the bandwidth to watch until I get home;
Congratulations to all concerned and that winning performance was magical.
The winners of the competition are normally either Simon Fraser, Fieldmarshall Montgomery or Shotts & Dykehead so them finishing second was no surprise. I am slightly surprised at S&D finishing 5th but I am sure they will be back. Congratulations also to Strathclyde Police. 4th is a great finish.
At a recent ceilidh gig I chatted with an officer of our local Caledonian Society, who confided that he (shock! horror!) prefers the uillean pipes and said, "Leave it to the Irish to civilize the pipes." So clearly this is just one more part of that program. ;)
Laurence O'Toole put a hook in me a couple of years back with a stunning medley set, took my breath away (and there were a couple of fine ITM tunes in that set also). That they didn't win that year (5th I think) was a disappointment for me but I think more store is given to the march strathspey & reel by the judges, pity as the medley is where the creativity is to be found, to my taste at least.
Not knocking MS&R sets, some fantastic tunes many of which I hear regularly both at sessions and on the pipes themselves. I live across the road from a top drawer piper of some renown and often all I have to do is open my front door to listen more clearly.
As a youth I dismissed PB music, as only a youth can preferring solo & small pipes, but as I matured I discovered a liking and appreciation for it.
One things for sure, all the bands in the finals are top drawer and next year I may even take a trip to to Glasgow Green.
One of my friends plays in Simon Fraser...used to compete against each other back in the day when we played in rival pipe bands. SF has done Canada proud once again and as far as I'm concerned they were full measure for the win. It was interesting to see that the top three bands were Canadian and Irish, which must not sit too well with some Scots but oh well.
I'm aware of that...but there are always a tiny number of begrudgers in every crowd...no different in that scene than anywhere else. They're certainly not typical by any means...but I had to give them a "shoutout" anyway.
Canadian prowess on the PB scene goes way back to before the 78th Frasers became the first overseas band to win it all in the late 80s. I remember having some of their top players (Bruce Gandy, Michael Grey, J. Reid Maxwell) who were with them at the time come out and hold workshops for members of my own juvenille pb waaay back when...used to often judge competitions all over the country as well...helped our playing to no end.
Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
I notice that the Laurence O'Toole pipe band from Dublin have come 3rd in the world PB championship, good going and up a couple of places from last year, results & links copied from footstomping;
Grade 1
1st Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (Canada)
2nd Field Marshal Montgomery (Northern Ireland)
3rd St. Laurence O'Toole (Ireland)
4th Strathclyde Police (Scotland)
5th House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead (Scotland)
6th Boghall and Bathgate (Scotland)
Just wondering if it's had much coverage in the republic? I know it's not everyones cup of tea but the standard of these events is mighty and I though it nice to see a band from the republic doing so well, beating the Scots at their own game lol.
Here's a link to watch the finalists if your interested I don't have the bandwidth to watch until I get home;
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/music/worlds/2009/>;
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by Solidmahog
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/music/worlds/2009/
Just watched it. Brilliant
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
2 Irish bands in the top 3 and no Scots. Wow! Thats a great result for the Irish bandsmen.
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by iwerzon
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
Congratulations to all concerned and that winning performance was magical.
The winners of the competition are normally either Simon Fraser, Fieldmarshall Montgomery or Shotts & Dykehead so them finishing second was no surprise. I am slightly surprised at S&D finishing 5th but I am sure they will be back. Congratulations also to Strathclyde Police. 4th is a great finish.
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
Cheers to Simon Fraser!
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by Adrian W.
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
What is more, there were two other Irish bands in the finals. Ballycoan and Cullybackey.
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by deeor
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
At a recent ceilidh gig I chatted with an officer of our local Caledonian Society, who confided that he (shock! horror!) prefers the uillean pipes and said, "Leave it to the Irish to civilize the pipes." So clearly this is just one more part of that program. ;)
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by puckishone
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
And the Canadians....don't forget the Canadians....first in class.....maybe uncivilised, but first....
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by Adrian W.
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
Oh those uncivilised Canadians... don't they eat their own babies out there?
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by Craic Addict
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
Wonderful stuff.....great to see th L O T pipe band hanging in there.
# Posted on August 18th 2009 by Free Reed
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
Laurence O'Toole put a hook in me a couple of years back with a stunning medley set, took my breath away (and there were a couple of fine ITM tunes in that set also). That they didn't win that year (5th I think) was a disappointment for me but I think more store is given to the march strathspey & reel by the judges, pity as the medley is where the creativity is to be found, to my taste at least.
Not knocking MS&R sets, some fantastic tunes many of which I hear regularly both at sessions and on the pipes themselves. I live across the road from a top drawer piper of some renown and often all I have to do is open my front door to listen more clearly.
As a youth I dismissed PB music, as only a youth can preferring solo & small pipes, but as I matured I discovered a liking and appreciation for it.
One things for sure, all the bands in the finals are top drawer and next year I may even take a trip to to Glasgow Green.
# Posted on August 19th 2009 by Solidmahog
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
One of my friends plays in Simon Fraser...used to compete against each other back in the day when we played in rival pipe bands. SF has done Canada proud once again and as far as I'm concerned they were full measure for the win. It was interesting to see that the top three bands were Canadian and Irish, which must not sit too well with some Scots but oh well.
Anyway, Simon Fraser rocks!! S.F.U. S.F.U.!!!!
# Posted on August 20th 2009 by dtb
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
What was really cool this year was that the BBC broadcast the World Pipe Band Championship live via the internet.
Out here on the west coast of North America the Qualifying Heat began at 1am.
Oran Mor and the Los Angeles Scottish, the two USA bands, didn't make it through to the Final.
# Posted on August 22nd 2009 by Richard D Cook
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
dtb, Canadian pipe bands are held in very high regard in Scotland and frequently win things here
# Posted on August 22nd 2009 by Bren
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
BBC Scotland are showing a 1 hour programme from the "World's" tomorrow evening 5.35pm.
# Posted on August 22nd 2009 by Kenny
Re: Irish Pipe Band come 3rd in the WPBC
Hey Bren,
I'm aware of that...but there are always a tiny number of begrudgers in every crowd...no different in that scene than anywhere else. They're certainly not typical by any means...but I had to give them a "shoutout" anyway.
Canadian prowess on the PB scene goes way back to before the 78th Frasers became the first overseas band to win it all in the late 80s. I remember having some of their top players (Bruce Gandy, Michael Grey, J. Reid Maxwell) who were with them at the time come out and hold workshops for members of my own juvenille pb waaay back when...used to often judge competitions all over the country as well...helped our playing to no end.
# Posted on August 24th 2009 by dtb