10,000 Pipes and Drums

[anteros_lmc]

This weekend we went to the World Pipe Band Championships which are held in Glasgow every year. We've never been before and it was quite a spectacle. There were 235 bands from 12 countries including Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Germany, Canada (of course :), and the USA. The highlight at the end of the day was a march past and muster of all 8000 pipers and 2000 drummers. It was incredible, the noise was deafening! I think my ears are still ringing :} And as partner commented it's probably the closest we'll ever come to seeing massed battle ranks being drawn up.



We also watched some of the Highland Dancing competitions and were delighted to see some boys among the competitors. My father was a good Highland dancer in his time but very few men dance now.

And of course we couldn't miss the heavy events. The pics below are for lady_branwyn's Thor Fic ;)

Link to gallery here.

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Knees!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Yep. Lots and lots and lots of knees. 10,000 pairs of manly (and womanly) knees. You'd have been in seventh heaven!

I am going to have to make a naval knees icon just for you....

[esteven]

it's probably the closest we'll ever come to seeing massed battle ranks being drawn up.
Much better than Braveheart! *g*

Also, Hammer throwing! YAY

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Much better than Braveheart! *g*
Much better! Although, in a nod to Braveheart's Irish locations, the main competition was won by an Irish band, the Field Marshall Montgomery Band from Lisburn, County Antrim. There was also one German band, Odenwald Pipes and Drums :)

Also, Hammer throwing! YAY
Yay? You like hammer throwing? Hmn? *g*

[esteven]

I am certain the Irish band was great!

And? Was the German band any good?

I certainly liked your pics! ;D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Very belated reply to your question.... :}

We heard Odenswald Pipes and Drums rehearsing and they sounded very good. They also happened to be wearing a very fetching tartan!

[esteven]

No screeching, no howling? Good to hear they did not seem to make a hash of it. :)

[katriona-s.livejournal.com]

Wow wow wow!!!! It must be stunning!! The pipes, drums and dancers! I have seen the Highland Game just once, in some small town on my travel to Scotland about...God, 20 years ago? Your photo made me remember that nice summer day. Thank you!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It was stunning! And it was also absolutely deafening! There is a week long festival, Piping Live, associated with the championships, and we have managed to catch bits and pieces of that over the last few years. This was the first time we'd managed to get to the actual championship itself though and we were blown away bu the scale of it. I'm very glad if this brought back some happy memories for you :)

[vespican.livejournal.com]

I think I saw something about this while watching Olympic coverage.
Dave

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

There's been more media coverage of the championships over the last couple of years, but considering it's such a huge event I'm surprised it doesn't get more press.

There's always a great turn out from the US :)

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Pipe music does seem to be popular here. Lot of police and fire departments have pipe bands. Also, daughter's high school was known as the Highlanders and had a pipe band.
Dave

[http://users.livejournal.com/_likimeya/]

Haha, adorable! :D

A friend I have in Edinburgh told me that there's a highland dancing ball held at the university each year (or perhaps it's just the natural sciences departments?), and apparently you get a good look now and then of what the men are (not) wearing underneath their kilts. Not sure if the concept of highland dancing appeals to me… ;)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I think the university ball probably features ceilidh dancing, or its more refined equivalent, Scottish Country dancing, rather than Highland dancing which tends to be only danced for display or competition. Scottish Country dancing, is rather polite and formal, but ceilidh dancing is a complete riot, and yes, you will get a very clear view of who is a real Scotsman! I can highly recommend going to a ceilidh next time you're visiting :D