Welcome to the Dunoon Argyll Pipeband blog. We hope you find the DAPB blog interesting and enjoy your visit .Please feel free to comment on any of the posts…Although the blog is dedicated to DAPB we will also add posts relating to the pipe band world…
Someone has decided that the Historical, 12 time World Champion’s, Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, doesn’t need to be around anymore as we know them.
Find out more @ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56309171956
http://blogpipe-pipesdrums.com/2009/02/21/the-peoples-band/
Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band Worlds 2008 Grade 4B Map Heat 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qln4o-dnCO4
Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band Worlds 2008 Grade 4B Final
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsIecdjgrhc&feature=related
Find more video’s @
http://www.youtube.com/user/DunoonArgyllPipeband
The Results..
http://www.theworlds.co.uk/Bands.pdf
Pipeband drums up £1m record deal
Sunday, October 28, 2007
An army pipe band has signed a £1 million deal with one of the world’s biggest record companies, it has been announced. The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Scotland’s only tank regiment, have signed with Universal Music, home of artists from Eminem to Pavarotti. The album features traditional military tunes, classical numbers as well as modern pop songs and film themes. Pipe Major Derek Potter said: “The pipes are an integral part of our regiment, and we take huge pride in our music. “We’ve even had to impose a curfew on pipes practice, as the rehearsals disturb the non-pipers among us. “We’re very excited to be able to share our music with the world.” Currently based in Northern Germany, the regiment recorded the album between tours of duty in Iraq. It was produced by Jon Cohen, who has previously worked with the Back Street Boys, Vanessa Mae and the Sugababes Dickon Stainer, managing director of Universal Classics and Jazz, said: “This is a once in a lifetime album. “It’s an honour to work with our nation’s soldiers – they’re a credit to their country, and to the musical world, too.”
78th Fraser Highlanders
In August Stornoway is set to play host to some of the world’s greatest pipers who will be travelling to the Western Isles to take part in ‘Tattoo Hebrides’, comprising of at least eight pipe bands, including the 78th Fraser Highlanders from Ontario; the Mauchline and District Caledonia Pipe Band led by Pipe Major Gordon Walker and the Strathaven and District Pipe Band led by Pipe Major Chris Mackenzie who is originally from Point in Lewis.
The Homecoming event, organised by Stornoway Amenity Trust, will also include Lewis Pipe Band, Eilean an Fhroaich, Uist and Skye Pipe Bands, Liniclate Junior Band.
The Tattoo will be the first such event to be held in Lewis since 1966 and will take place on Lews Castle Green on
For further information about the event see: www.stornowayamenitytrust.co.uk
Cowal Games will go down as a highlight of the 2008 season for Dunoon Argyll Pipeband for lots of reasons. Again, we had an early qualifier, playing at 9.12am, but had a good performance and qualified for the Final, which didn’t begin until 2.50pm! What to do to stay fresh for the next 5 hours! Several of the band had reasoned that they had time to go back to bed and get up again, so, being the good, considerate band that we are, we accommodated their request. Do you know of any other band who goes to these lengths to keep their players happy? I would think not.
Dunoon Argyll Pipeband
After another very good performance in the Final, it was fun time! The last bit of business was the March past. Can you “spot the differences” in this picture? Pipe Majors be warned; if you have a lot of girlies in your band, don’t turn your back on them! Is this a take-over bid for the P/M and P/S positions? Funny things happen to bands at Cowal Games, so don’t say I didn’t tell you!!
Dunoon Argyll Pipeband
Well, the band finished the season with a 4th place at Cowal. Actually, we tied for 3rd, but lost our to Ensemble Preference. Also, the pipers were 2nd overall, which was hugely pleasing. As in previous years, Corona supplied the band with sponsorship for the day, and in return, we wore their t-shirts in the street parade after the march past. Many thanks to all the friends from other bands and previous players who joined us for the Parade. Also, thanks to the dancers and friends with the flags – nafirdileas – http://www.nafirdileas.org/who contributed to making our contribution to the Parade very memorable! As we came down last, we were allowed to take our time and entertain the crowds, which we thoroughly enjoyed, in our own town!
Congratulations to Carly McIntyre, dancer, who won the Argyll Championship 13 years. I think your teacher, Katrina Martin, had a few tears in her eyes over this, she being one of the few Dunoon dancers ever to have won this herself too! Well done Carly and Katrina!! Bet the new kilt and socks helped!
This huddle of drummers was gathered together during a slow bit in the parade by one of our guest players, Gus, who wanted to try something a bit tricky! Don’t know if the playing worked, but the snare drummers took their life in their hands a bit further down the road when they unexpectedly turned and walked backwards without missing a single beat. You crowd pleasers you!
Dunoon-Argyll-Pipeband
Not to be out done, the pipers take a moment to practice Dunoon Argyll Pipeband’s party piece – Glasgow City Police Pipers, with attitude! Do you like our t-shirts? While we were willing to share them with our guest players, the ten crates of free Corona beer is quite another matter! Anyone want to join our band??
Dunoon Argyll Pipeband
Dunoon Argyll Pipeband was out in action again in the town of Dunoon at Easter, for their Annual fundraiser round town and round the hotels at night. This was a very successful day on several fronts. It was the first time we have had a couple of the dancers who join us from Katrina Martin’s School of Dancing go and dance in Anselmo’s chip shop in Hillfoot Street! They were well rewarded financially for their efforts, and set the day off to a good start. The sun was shining, although it was a bit cold, but this did not spoil what turned out to be a very enjoyable day for players, dancers, collectors and the many spectators throughout the day and evening. Many thanks to everyone who supported us on the day, in particular Glenmorag, Selbourne, West End, Esplanade and Mccoll’s hotels, and the Hunter’s Quay Holiday Village, where we always enjoy performing. A very big welcome from everyone at Dunoon Argyll Pipeband to the new members for this season – Ashley, Lianne and Jennifer McVicar, and Caitlin Cudihy, who turned out and performed very well once the nerves settled down!
Dunoon Argyll Pipeband was delighted to accept an invitation to play in concert in New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland on Saturday 25th October 2008. The Celtic Weave Concert has been performed by New Ross and District Pipe Band and guests in London, New York and Lithuania, so we were particularly honoured to be invited to join them for their performance in their home town. Although our drummers were unable to attend, the Pipers gave an excellent performance, accompanied by kit drumming and guitar, to great effect.
They then joined in with the New Ross Pipe Band, who performed with several singers, including John Aspel, previously of the well known Irish folk band, The Emeralds. The audience really enjoyed the combination of traditional singing and Irish dancing, but the Finale saved the best to last, when everyone joined in for a re-run of the set performed by the Irish contingent each year at the Interceltique Festival in Lorient, Brittany. The encore was a rousing rendition of The Galway Girl, which is a HUGE hit presently in Ireland, and has been released by Sharon Shannon and a whole host of people.
This trip was a huge success for Dunoon Argyll Pipeband, and a lot was learnt about how to take a pipe band to a new level of performance. This is something the current Pipe Major Colin Prentice is very keen to develop, so with the experience from this trip, and his experience from his years in the National Youth Pipe Band, there are lots of exciting things going on within the Pipe Band. We also had time for some sightseeing, by day and by night, and enjoyed some fantastic Irish hospitality both in New Ross and Dublin. All in all, this was a fantastic trip, and one we hope to have the opportunity to do again. Here’s a flavour of the ‘sightseeing!’
Pipeband Drumming
