Go long!

I’ve commented before about the stunning lack of variety in tune selection for top level band MSR contests, and I’m hopping up on a different but related soap box this time. I will again visit the 2009 World Pipe Band Championship, this time the MSR from the grade 1 final round.

Just to recap the rules, the MSR set must consist of a 2/4 march, strathspey, and reel played as a set. Each tune must be at least four parts, and the performance must start with a three pace drum roll, not contain harmonies or reprises, and end promptly on the last note of the reel. In a grade 1 band contest each band must submit two sets, and a draw at the line determines which they are to play. It’s really a pretty esoteric competition and a non-piper will probably find it difficult to sit through more than just a few bands at a time.

In listening to the CD from this year, the majority of bands played tunes longer than the required four parts, which perhaps contributes to the limited repertoire. Here’s a listing of the bands in order of final placing in the MSR event and their selected tunes. I’ve marked tunes with six parts in red and tunes with eight parts in green.

1. Simon Fraser University: The Highland Wedding / Blair Drummond / John Morrison of Assynt House
2. Field Marshal Montgomery: The Highland Wedding / Blair Drummond / Pretty Marion
3. St Laurence O’Toole: The Highland Wedding / Atholl Cummers / McAllister’s Dirk
4. Strathclyde Police: Donald Cameron / Cameronian Rant / Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
5. The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead: Balmoral Highlanders / Susan MacLeod / McAllister’s Dirk
6. Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia: Pipe Major Tom McAllister / Susan MacLeod / John Morrison of Assynt House
7. Scottish Power: Angus Campbell’s Farewell to Stirling / Tulloch Castle / John Morrison of Assynt House
8. Fife Constabulary: The Highland Wedding / Susan MacLeod / Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
9. Robert Wiseman Dairies Vale of Atholl: Colin Thomson / Atholl Cummers / Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
10. Cullybackey: The Clan Macrae Society / Susan MacLeod / John MacKechnie
11. Manawatu Scottish: The Clan Macrae Society / Atholl Cummers / McAllister’s Dirk
12. Ballycoan: The Clan Macrae Society / Susan MacLeod / John MacKechnie
13. Dowco Triumph Street: The Highland Wedding / Maggie Cameron / Pretty Marion
14. Australia Highlanders: Colin Thomson / Blair Drummond / John Morrison of Assynt House

As you can see, there’s not much black text in there. Here’s the breakdown:

• Three bands played four part marches, and only two different tunes: Colin Thomson and Angus Campbell’s Farewell to Stirling.
• Seven bands played four part strathspeys, but only three different tunes: Maggie Cameron, Susan MacLeod, Tulloch Castle.
• No band played a four part reel.
• Five bands (including those who placed first through fourth) played no tune shorter than six parts.

I don’t know if it’s a trend, a fad, or a trendy fad, but I really don’t like it. There are a ton of great tunes out there, and bands rule out so many of them by limiting themselves only to longer tunes. Solo competitions, even at the top level, feature a much higher percentage of four parted tunes, although the six parted reels are very prevalent.

I’d like to see a grade 1 band be gutsy enough to buck the trend and play some shorter, but not necessarily smaller, tunes.