Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Congratulations to the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, from Lisburn, Co. Antrim who were crowned Grade 1 Champions once again, yesterday at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow!
They also won the March, Strathspey & Reel plus the Medley in the process.
Here are the lads in action earlier this year, at Levengrove Park on the shores of the River Clyde, in the Scottish Championships.
The band won this competition to become Grade One Scottish Champions for 2011, for the third time in a row, playing the Balmoral Highlanders, John Roy Stewart and Charlie's Welcome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxBeUw-ESzY
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Great link, thanks! Just amazing to hear them playing as one Piper.
"The band has won over 40 major championship titles and claimed the world title six times, and in 20 years has never been out of the top six at a Grade One major championship, which makes for 99 consecutive major prize-winning performances going into the 2011 Worlds."
Folks here often joke that the Irish gave the Scottish the Great Highland Bagpipe but they haven't got the joke yet, but it looks like the FMMPB have decided to bring it back to Ireland again!
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
In the days before the drums got plastic heads the rain or damp conditions used to play havoc with the skins. I often think it must be so hard to judge the bands that play at such a high standard. when it always seems to be hissing down on the poor buggars
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Slightly off-topic Pipe Band Championship run-off:
Myself and a pal were on a mountain in Glencoe today and on the summit ridge the weather had been intermittent squalls with bouts of sun in between. So kind of okay for the West Highlands. On our way down, not far off the carpark, we came across three American guys dressed in jeans, light jackets, and trainers, carrying their bagpipes. They'd been competing in the Worlds and were now touristing around.
The pipers asked us if the weather was all right for playing the pipes. I don't know why they thought we would know the answer to that, as there was nothing about us suggesting we had any knowledge of music or pipes. We looked like everyone else out there, in Gore-Tex and nylon. Anyway, I said, "Well, I wouldn't play my pipes out here as it's wet and windy, but they're Irish pipes, bellows blown. I have no clue how that would affect your mouthblown pipes." I don't think they expected that answer from random hiker on a trail! Then they asked how far the trail went. We pointed to the summit of the mountain and were like, "There." That may have intimidated them a bit. After one guy announced that he just loved the uilleann pipes, we went on our respective ways, us hoping they wouldn't try to go to the summit, dressed as they were. A few minutes later, we heard the pipes and assumed they made the sensible choice and decided that a romantic Highland glen would do as well as a romantic Highland mountain.
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Great news, St Laurence O'Toole last year, FMPB this year - At the recent British Championships, in which Irish bands can also compete, Irish pipe bands won every catagory and grade. There was not one news story about this at home.
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
I've a soft spot for St Laurence O'Toole, last year was their year at the worlds, really chuffed for them. 5th this year is still in contention though and hopefully they'll pull it back next time.
The Antrim mob however, were simply stunning (as usual IMO) and it was well deserved.
I know many on here don't get it, or make the connection with this sort of thing and the tunes they play in their sessions. For me it's all inextricably linked. Just another of several possible expressions of the traditional music from these islands.
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Just wonderful playing, all these links.
Seeing the youtube video in Dick's first post above, I wonder how the marching and foot-tapping - even by the judge - can be or seem to be at a different speed than the music?
NP
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Trust me NP, there's no way you can win a competition like that if you are not ALL marching in absolutely perfect time to the music ...... you'll even lose points if someone's sock slips down during a performance!
It only appears to be out of sync, like so many YouTube videos.
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Is Jarlath Henderson recording with a banjo player? I heard some mighty Piping on the radio but couldnt catch the names , outstanding piper who ever he was.
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
"there's no way you can win a competition like that if you are not all marching in absolutely perfect time to the music.... you'll even lose points if someone's sock slip down during a performance!"
This is utter rubbish. Marching and dress and deportment are not counted on the judges' scoresheets whatsoever.
The piping judges consider piping only. The drumming judge considers drumming only. The ensemble judge listens to the musical interaction between the pipe corps and the drum corps. There is no place on the scoresheets for marching, dress, or deportment.
Now, it's true at a very few pipe band contests, the Worlds among them, there is an entirely seperate judge, the Dress and Deportment judge. That score is seperate and is used ONLY for a seperate Dress and Deportment trophy. It has no bearing on the band's scores and placing in the musical competition.
Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Congratulations to the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, from Lisburn, Co. Antrim who were crowned Grade 1 Champions once again, yesterday at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow!
They also won the March, Strathspey & Reel plus the Medley in the process.
Here are the lads in action earlier this year, at Levengrove Park on the shores of the River Clyde, in the Scottish Championships.
The band won this competition to become Grade One Scottish Champions for 2011, for the third time in a row, playing the Balmoral Highlanders, John Roy Stewart and Charlie's Welcome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxBeUw-ESzY
The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band:
http://www.fmmpb.com/
Cheers,
Dick
# Posted on August 14th 2011 by Ptarmigan
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Aye, well done!
Have a listen..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/worlds/2011/bands/field_marshal_montgomery/
# Posted on August 14th 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Great link, thanks! Just amazing to hear them playing as one Piper.
"The band has won over 40 major championship titles and claimed the world title six times, and in 20 years has never been out of the top six at a Grade One major championship, which makes for 99 consecutive major prize-winning performances going into the 2011 Worlds."
Folks here often joke that the Irish gave the Scottish the Great Highland Bagpipe but they haven't got the joke yet, but it looks like the FMMPB have decided to bring it back to Ireland again!
Cheers,
Dick
# Posted on August 14th 2011 by Ptarmigan
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
In the days before the drums got plastic heads the rain or damp conditions used to play havoc with the skins. I often think it must be so hard to judge the bands that play at such a high standard. when it always seems to be hissing down on the poor buggars
# Posted on August 14th 2011 by Free Reed
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Slightly off-topic Pipe Band Championship run-off:
Myself and a pal were on a mountain in Glencoe today and on the summit ridge the weather had been intermittent squalls with bouts of sun in between. So kind of okay for the West Highlands. On our way down, not far off the carpark, we came across three American guys dressed in jeans, light jackets, and trainers, carrying their bagpipes. They'd been competing in the Worlds and were now touristing around.
The pipers asked us if the weather was all right for playing the pipes. I don't know why they thought we would know the answer to that, as there was nothing about us suggesting we had any knowledge of music or pipes. We looked like everyone else out there, in Gore-Tex and nylon. Anyway, I said, "Well, I wouldn't play my pipes out here as it's wet and windy, but they're Irish pipes, bellows blown. I have no clue how that would affect your mouthblown pipes." I don't think they expected that answer from random hiker on a trail! Then they asked how far the trail went. We pointed to the summit of the mountain and were like, "There." That may have intimidated them a bit. After one guy announced that he just loved the uilleann pipes, we went on our respective ways, us hoping they wouldn't try to go to the summit, dressed as they were. A few minutes later, we heard the pipes and assumed they made the sensible choice and decided that a romantic Highland glen would do as well as a romantic Highland mountain.
# Posted on August 14th 2011 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Don't forget there were three bands from Ireland in Grade One. Not bad for a wee island.
# Posted on August 14th 2011 by deeor
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Great news, St Laurence O'Toole last year, FMPB this year - At the recent British Championships, in which Irish bands can also compete, Irish pipe bands won every catagory and grade. There was not one news story about this at home.
# Posted on August 15th 2011 by iwerzon
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
I've a soft spot for St Laurence O'Toole, last year was their year at the worlds, really chuffed for them. 5th this year is still in contention though and hopefully they'll pull it back next time.
The Antrim mob however, were simply stunning (as usual IMO) and it was well deserved.
I know many on here don't get it, or make the connection with this sort of thing and the tunes they play in their sessions. For me it's all inextricably linked. Just another of several possible expressions of the traditional music from these islands.
# Posted on August 15th 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Hey Solidmahog, Scottish & Irish Traditional tunes played brilliantly on the GHB .... what's not to get?
I wonder do they get this then?
Jarlath Henderson & Ross Ainslie ~ Uilleann Pipes & Border Pipes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V76fnRcHfm8
or this ... Jarlath Henderson & Andy May ~ Uilleann Pipes & Northumbrian Pipes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x02rpK7uzkg
I can't spell it out any plainer than that, really!
Cheers,
Dick
# Posted on August 15th 2011 by Ptarmigan
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Just wonderful playing, all these links.
Seeing the youtube video in Dick's first post above, I wonder how the marching and foot-tapping - even by the judge - can be or seem to be at a different speed than the music?
NP
# Posted on August 15th 2011 by vlnplyr
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Trust me NP, there's no way you can win a competition like that if you are not ALL marching in absolutely perfect time to the music ...... you'll even lose points if someone's sock slips down during a performance!
It only appears to be out of sync, like so many YouTube videos.
Glad you enjoyed the music.
Cheers,
Dick
# Posted on August 15th 2011 by Ptarmigan
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Is Jarlath Henderson recording with a banjo player? I heard some mighty Piping on the radio but couldnt catch the names , outstanding piper who ever he was.
# Posted on August 15th 2011 by piobagusfidil
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Dick: I looked again, and it is as you say - out of sync.
# Posted on August 15th 2011 by vlnplyr
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
P.S. Hey, did you notice that in these World Championships: "The North also claimed 17 out of a potential 18 titles in the drum major section."!
Fans up there will also be pleased to see that Belfast City Council are considering making a bid to host the World Pipe Band Championships ~ 2013-15.:
http://insideireland.ie/2011/08/16/belfast-to-host-world-pipe-championships-29888/
Cheers,
Dick
# Posted on August 17th 2011 by Ptarmigan
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
"there's no way you can win a competition like that if you are not all marching in absolutely perfect time to the music.... you'll even lose points if someone's sock slip down during a performance!"
This is utter rubbish. Marching and dress and deportment are not counted on the judges' scoresheets whatsoever.
The piping judges consider piping only. The drumming judge considers drumming only. The ensemble judge listens to the musical interaction between the pipe corps and the drum corps. There is no place on the scoresheets for marching, dress, or deportment.
Now, it's true at a very few pipe band contests, the Worlds among them, there is an entirely seperate judge, the Dress and Deportment judge. That score is seperate and is used ONLY for a seperate Dress and Deportment trophy. It has no bearing on the band's scores and placing in the musical competition.
# Posted on August 17th 2011 by Richard D Cook
Re: Co. Antrim Pipe Band are World Champions ... once again!
Like.
# Posted on August 22nd 2011 by geoffwright