A rare day out, but...

This year's LBPS competition in Glasgow had good playing and good humour, but there were concerns at audience numbers and the lack of new blood among the players

FOR THE second year running, the LBPS annual competition was held in the excellent lecture theatre at the College of Piping in Glasgow There was a generally high standard of playing and a good atmosphere, and the venue facilities can't be bettered.

However, audience numbers were markedly down on previous years, and there has been discussion since at committee level as to whether the event should return to Edinburgh, where it would benefit in publicity terms from coming under the umbrella of the Ceilidh Culture season.

Many of the competitors were very familiar faces, and there was a feeling that the event - and the society in general - could do with some fresh blood. There was one solitary (and mature) entry for the Novice Class.

We print here some comments from competitors and others who attended. The society is interested in feedback from members about how they would like to see the competition organised in future years.

Sam Allen: I enjoyed the day very much - shame there weren't more in the audience.

Ian K Murray: An enjoyable day The standard of piping was generally good and seemed to be an improvement on previous years.

Murdo Macleod: I found it a very relaxed and enjoyable event both times (apart from my own “turn”), although I suppose the attendance might be a bit on the small side. It would be good to see some younger entries in the Novice section. I like the facilities in Glasgow better than Edinburgh, but it's a shame we don't get the passing trade that we did in Edinburgh [the competition used to be advertised as part of Ceilidh Culture]; the publicity was much better.

I'm sure you'll have thought about this before, but can anything be done to attract younger people? I was a 60-year-old novice last year and Henry (this year's novice) is 64. What about some sort of youth-related competition category - the opposite end of the spectrum from the “Seasoned Pipers”? I go to the singers' nights at Penicuik Folk Club and see the same problem (here and at other clubs). We all know there are many factors. There must be plenty of “kids” in the Great Highland Bagpipe world but I suppose it would be difficult for a lot of them to split themselves between GHB and cauld wind pipes. They would also need rich backers to buy one set of each.

David Hannay: I think the competitions are great, but it's a shame there aren't more people here. In Edinburgh it was part of Ceilidh Culture, in Glasgow it doesn't seem to be part of anything.

Helen Ross: I thought the competition was dragging a bit in the afternoon and going on too long. This was because a lot of people were entering several sections. This resulted in a feeling of deja vu. I think we should try to avoid having a large number of entries in any section.

I suggest we ask everyone to pre-register three weeks before the competition, and to restrict each performer to only four sections at this stage. Late entrants, and entrance to additional sections, would be allowed later if there is space in the programme. To my mind five or six entrants per section is the ideal number

Judy Barker (LBPS secretary): I thought the day went very well, and despite being disappointed with the turn out, I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Hamish Moore: I still feel strongly that the society needs an injection of young people and I would be willing to at least encourage as many of the RSAMD students on the piping degree course to enter the competition as well as all the other great young pipers in Glasgow if the competition were in Glasgow next year.

Jock Agnew: The competitors outnumbered the audience almost to extinction. But there was a healthy number of entries, and Border pipes were well represented. The new class for piper and singer was well represented, and produced some music that delighted the audience. The pipe and song encouraged the use of the pipes playing a harmony line against the voice, at which Judy Barker is so adept.

A truly good musician can play a familiar tune and make it sound fresh — almost as if it were being performed for the first time. We were treated to this at the Collogue, a few years back, when Richard Butler played some perfectly ordinary tunes with such timing and expression that, although they were very familiar, they were delightful. Hamish Moore did just that (not the same tunes of course!) in the competition for smallpipes. It was worth attending the event for that alone (see Jock Agnew's observations on competition bellows technique on P 35).

Competition results

Intermediate -Julian Goodacre Trophy (4 entries, judged by Lee Moore):

1. (joint first). John Bushby - Felton Lonnin, Bagpipe Tune, My Love's O'er Bonny for the Coal Trade', 1. Jeannie Campbell - The Shelling, Paddy on the Railroad, The Banks of the Allan',

3. Stephen Hannay

Seasoned Pipers - Nigel Richard Trophy (4 entries, judged by Hamish Moore):

• Jim Buchanan - Rangers Frolic,
• David Hannay;
• Helen

Pipe and Song-Jimmy Wilson Memorial Cup (3 entries, judged by Hamish Moore):

l. Judy Barker - Summer Time,

• Jock Agnew;
• Martin

Duet for Pipes and Other Instrument - Dunfermline Tassies (4 entries, judged by Lee

Moore):

• Jock Agnew & Sam Allen Mrs Sutherland, Ruffian's Rant, High Over Bunachton,
• Martin Lowe & Jim Buchanan,
• John & Malcolm Bushby

Duet for Pipes and Voice (5 entries, judged by Hamish Moore):

• Judy Barker & Martin Lowe - Leezie Lindsay
• Caroline & John Bushby;
• Sam Allen & Jock Agnew

Novice - Heriot & Allan Quaich (1 entry, judged by Lee Moore):

1. Henry Aitchison - Bonny Galloway

New Composition - London Trophy (10 entries, judged by Iain MacInnes):

• Lee Moore - Mrs Joan Cross
• Hamish Moore;
• Chris

Open Solo for Scottish Smallpipes - Colin Ross Trophy (7 entries, judged by lain MacInnes): 1. (joint first). Lee Moore - PM Angus MacDonald, Over to Uist, Whatever Moreover PM John MacDonald Exercise; 1. Hamish Moore Ye Banks and Braes, A Man's a Man, Drink the Warts, Tail Toddle;

3. Chris Cooke.

Duet for Pipes - Mains Castle Medals (5 entries, judged by Iain MacInnes):

• Tom Dingwall & Jeannie Campbell - Morag of Dunvegan, Major Alisdair Richie, Steamboat, Keel Row, Rakes of Mallow;
• Judy Barker & John Bushby;
• (joint third). Jim Buchanan & Jock Agnew and Martin Lowe & George

Open Solo Lowland/Border Pipes - Hamish Moore Cup (5 entries, judged by Hamish Moore):

• Richard Fernandez - The Rose is Braw, Devil in the Kitchen, Clip of Tea, Dick Gossip's, Nameless Reel;
• Martin Lowe, Pete