Virginia Scottish Games and Festivals

Virginia Scottish Games - September 1 - 2, 2012

Pipes & Drums

Pipes & Drums 2010 Results

2011 Piping & Drumming Entry

Pipe Band Grade III - Judges: Piping-Sandy Jones, John L Bottomley; Ensemble-James M. Bell; Drumming-Jonathan P. Quigg

March, Strathspey, & Reel (1 Band);

1. Greater Richmond P & D 1-1-1-1

Pipe Band Grade IV - Judges: Piping-Victor Michael Frank, Paula Glendinning; Ensemble-Duncan Bell; Drumming-Jonathan P. Quigg

Medley (3 Bands)

1. Cameron Washington Memorial United 2-2-1-1

2. MacMillan-Birtles Memorial PB 1-1-3-3

3. City of Alexandria P&D 3-3-2-2

Pipe Band Grade V - Judges: Piping-Sandy Jones, James M. Bell; Ensemble-John L Bottomley; Drumming-Jonathan P. Quigg

Quick March Medley (3 Bands)

1. Greater Richmond P & D V 2-1-1-2*

2. Loch Raven 1-2-3-3

3. UMW Eagle Pipe Band 3-3-2-1*

Piping Professional

Piobaireachd (3 Competitors)

Judge: Paula Glendinning

1. Duncan Bell

2. Dan Lyden

March, Strathspey, & Reel (3 Competitors)

Judge: Victor Michael Frank

1. Duncan Bell

2. Dan Lyden

Hornpipe & Jig (3 Competitors)

Judge: Sandy Jones

1. Duncan Bell

2. Dan Lyden

6/8 March (3 Competitors)

Judge: Sandy Jones

1. Dan Lyden

2. John L Bottomley

Piping Grade I

Piobaireachd (3 Competitors)

Judge: Duncan Bell

1. Elliot Smith

2. Mary B. Wallace

March, Strathspey, & Reel (3 Competitors)

Judge: Victor Michael Frank

1. Elliot Smith

2. John A. Duff

Hornpipe & Jig (3 Competitors)

Judge: Christopher Hamilton

1. Elliot Smith

2. John A. Duff

6/8 March (2 Competitors)

Judge: John L Bottomley

1. Elliot Smith

Piping Grade II

Piobaireachd (5 Competitors)

Judge: John L Bottomley

1. James R. Roberts

2. Paul Burgess

3. Matthew Davis

4. Kevin O'Brien

March, Strathspey, & Reel (4 Competitors)

Judge: Christopher Hamilton

1. Paul Burgess

2. James R. Roberts

3. Matthew Davis

Hornpipe & Jig (4 Competitors)

Judge: James M. Bell

1. Paul Burgess

2. Matthew Davis

3. James R. Roberts

6/8 March (4 Competitors)

Judge: Paula Glendinning

1. Paul Burgess

2. Matthew Davis

3. James R. Roberts

Piping Grade III

Piobaireachd (7 Competitors)

Judge: Sandy Jones

1. Sean Alexander Gearhart *

2. Andrew Chalfoun

3. David Hester

4. Timothy Stakem

5. David Madock

6. Eli Clemens

2/4 March (6 Competitors)

Judge: Victor Michael Frank

1. Sean Alexander Gearhart *

2. Andrew Chalfoun

3. Eli Clemens

4. David Hester

5. Timothy Stakem

Strathspey & Reel (7 Competitors)

Judge: John L Bottomley

1. Sean Alexander Gearhart *

2. Timothy Stakem

3. Andrew Chalfoun

4. Eli Clemens

5. David Hester

6. David Madock

Piping Grade IV Sr

Piobaireachd Ground Only (11 Competitors)

Judge: James M. Bell

1. Christopher Imlay

2. Gordon M. Fraser

3. Harold H. Cummings, Jr

4. Kenneth Flynt

5. Peter Armstrong

6. Dewayne McOsker, Jr

2/4 March (16 Competitors)

Judge: Paula Glendinning

1. Kenneth Flynt

2. Ricardo Uribe

3. Harold H. Cummings, Jr

4. Peter Armstrong

5. Evan Wraga

6. Christopher Imlay

Piping Grade IV Jr

Piobaireachd Ground Only (9 Competitors)

Judge: Duncan Bell

1. Kyle Grasty

2. Ned Fenwick

3. Kathleen Brown

4. Peter Shuck

5. William Shropshire

6. Tom Braudaway

2/4 March (11 Competitors)

Judge: Victor Michael Frank

1. Kathleen Brown *

2. Kyle Grasty

3. Ned Fenwick

4. Peter Shuck

5. William Shropshire

6. Joseph Hurm

Piping Grade V

Practice Chanter (1 Competitor)

Judge:

1. William Hughes

Snare Grade III

2/4 March (1 Competitor)

Judge: Jonathan P. Quigg

1. Sophia McConnell

Snare Grade IV Sr

March (2 Competitors)

Judge: Jonathan P. Quigg

1. Emily Mellgren

Snare Gr 4 (John Murray Juvenile)

March (4 Competitors)

Judge: Jonathan P. Quigg

1. Paul Davis *

2. Alastair Burgess *

3. Alexander Ricci *

Tenor Amateur

March, Strathspey, & Reel (1 Competitor)

Judge: Lisa A. Frazier

1. Jensen McConnell

Tenor Amateur II

Quick March Medley (2 Competitors)

Judge: Lisa A. Frazier

1. Dawn Meade

Tenor Novice

March (1 Competitor)

Judge: Lisa A. Frazier

1. Betsy Hiner

The bagpipes are very ancient instruments and there are references to them in Chinese, Persian, Greek and Roman folklore dating at least as far back as 2,000 years. It is believed that they were used in Scotland as early as 100 Ad and the piper came to be held in higher esteem in Scotland than anywhere else. By the year 1000, the bagpipes were popular throughout Scotland and by 1500, every clan chieftain worthy of the name had a piper who would stay with his family. The pipes were banned along with the tartan and the kilt by the English. The English feared the stirring effect of the pipes on Scottish emotions.

The bagpipe consists of six distinct parts: the bag (made of cloth-covered sheepskin), the Chanter with eight finger holes (9 notes), the blow-pipe with a valve to prevent the air from coming back out of the bag while the piper is taking a breath, and three drones (one bass and two tenor). Each drone has a single reed, while the chanter has a double reed. The piper plays by inflating the bag enough to sound the drones, then placing the bag under his arm and maintaining enough pressure to sound the chanter where the melody is played. Elbow pressure on the bag forces air through the double reed like that of an oboe to make the actual sound.

There are three general categories of music for the highland bagpipe: Ceol Mor (big music), Ceol Meadhonach (middle music) and Ceol Beag (little music). Ceol Mor is the classical and oldest form of pipe music often referred to today as Piobairachd. "Piobaire" means piper and "eached" means pipe playing or music. Marches, strathspeys, reels, hornpipes and jigs are also played on the pipes.

For information about Piping in the United States look here:
Eastern United States Pipe Band Association