World Pipe Band Championships – Scotland’s Battle of the Bands
The World Pipe Band Championships is one of the biggest and most coveted music championships throughout the world, to many it is the biggest. After the championships were first won in 1906, the competition has strengthened and improved year after year, culminating in over 200 bands playing in 2018, as well as an estimated 8,00
0 pipers and drummers taking part. Countries represented include places such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Ireland, USA, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. With bands coming from places as far away as New Zealand (a mere 11,395 miles away from Glasgow Green), why do people travel so far?
Scotland is the spiritual home of pipe bands with several different retailers selling all equipment needed. And not only is it the home of the instruments used, but it is the home of the outfit that people wear (Kilts!) So maybe this is one element for people travelling so far, but why travel to Glasgow when they can do it where they live?
According to John Hughes (the chairman for the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association), the championships is seen as a “Pinnacle Event”. (BBC, 2018). As piping has mainly come from people who have emigrated and organised a St Andrews / Caledonia society, it feels natural for foreign competitors to travel to Scotland and compete in these championships.
We can’t forget that every year, the competitions bring an estimated £14 million pounds to Glasgow. This money doesn’t only come from competitors, but from people who eagerly travel to Scotland from all over the world to spectate at the championships, and watch the biggest battle of the bands take place
Hope you enjoyed reading this blog, let me know if you have any feedback!
Keith
Brings £14 million each year to Glasgow (Creative Scotland 2013 PDF)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-45205542 – John Hughes quote
Music Review Scotland 