The New Age Medley!
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The New Age Medley!
There has been a lot of talk about the style of medley that Toronto Police p/b are playing. I think most people agree that there should be change in this format but not necessarily in the direction the TPPB is trying to take it. What would you like to see? What would you change if you could? (ie longer time limit, eliminate 3 beat rolls, turn out in the circle dance to a polka in the circle..)
Reid- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-24
Number of posts : 177
Age : 47
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Alberta Caledonia
Re: The New Age Medley!
Excellent question mate,
I am not a lover of change for the sake of change, but am all for it IF is for a good reason, that will benefit the whole musical unit .
The first question is a Pipe band an Audio or visual experience, or both, and if so, in what ratio?
Personally, I get as much enjoyment from a good CD as I do from hearing a band live, and its often better, as anyone who has tried to hear a grade 1 band in the ring at the Worlds will tell you, distance, background noise etc, all interfere with the sound.
Playing in a band in a competition also doesn't give a true reflection of the whole band, i have heard recordings of bands that I have played in on U tube etc, and they have not been a true reflection of what I heard in the ring.
Professionally recorded Worlds CD's are perhaps the best and most realistic.
All of that, lends itself to the 'audio' side of things
Other people prefer the 'visual' Swinging tenors, brash uniforms, capes. Odd hats etc,
That is their choice, and they are fully entitled to it, but generally, IMO, they are people who do not fully understand the musical side, they want entertainment, not musical excellence.
In a grade 1 medley, you have up to 7 minutes to do what you want, what you want, and what you get away with, will differ, try something too radical, and you are likely to get slated, either through a judge not liking it, or through pure spite.
However, it does depend on the band, no disrespect to Shotts, but if Drumlough had done the same thing, they would have been hammered.
With the greatest of respect to out North American friends, a lot of these ideas arer coming from their shores, I have seen posts on other forums where people are wanting and extra note on the chanter etc, really silly stuff.
Fine, but perhaps they should master the ones we have got first! It must be nice to have the ability to grow an extra finger when you need one!
If you want all this jumping up and down, and people walking through each other, join a marching band, they are called that because they MARCH, we are in pipe bands, and we PIPE!
The music should come first, always, no point flourishing your tenor sticks perfectly, if the drum beats are crap.
Any band wanting to change their medley should go ahead, SLOT have introduced a bit of Waltz time to theirs, and it works well, but remember, you enter competitions to win, and being too radical, of trying to be a smartarse will make that more unlikely
A good post and question mate, and one that should have some healthy views
I am not a lover of change for the sake of change, but am all for it IF is for a good reason, that will benefit the whole musical unit .
The first question is a Pipe band an Audio or visual experience, or both, and if so, in what ratio?
Personally, I get as much enjoyment from a good CD as I do from hearing a band live, and its often better, as anyone who has tried to hear a grade 1 band in the ring at the Worlds will tell you, distance, background noise etc, all interfere with the sound.
Playing in a band in a competition also doesn't give a true reflection of the whole band, i have heard recordings of bands that I have played in on U tube etc, and they have not been a true reflection of what I heard in the ring.
Professionally recorded Worlds CD's are perhaps the best and most realistic.
All of that, lends itself to the 'audio' side of things
Other people prefer the 'visual' Swinging tenors, brash uniforms, capes. Odd hats etc,
That is their choice, and they are fully entitled to it, but generally, IMO, they are people who do not fully understand the musical side, they want entertainment, not musical excellence.
In a grade 1 medley, you have up to 7 minutes to do what you want, what you want, and what you get away with, will differ, try something too radical, and you are likely to get slated, either through a judge not liking it, or through pure spite.
However, it does depend on the band, no disrespect to Shotts, but if Drumlough had done the same thing, they would have been hammered.
With the greatest of respect to out North American friends, a lot of these ideas arer coming from their shores, I have seen posts on other forums where people are wanting and extra note on the chanter etc, really silly stuff.
Fine, but perhaps they should master the ones we have got first! It must be nice to have the ability to grow an extra finger when you need one!
If you want all this jumping up and down, and people walking through each other, join a marching band, they are called that because they MARCH, we are in pipe bands, and we PIPE!
The music should come first, always, no point flourishing your tenor sticks perfectly, if the drum beats are crap.
Any band wanting to change their medley should go ahead, SLOT have introduced a bit of Waltz time to theirs, and it works well, but remember, you enter competitions to win, and being too radical, of trying to be a smartarse will make that more unlikely
A good post and question mate, and one that should have some healthy views
Gordy88- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-18
Number of posts : 1142
Age : 58
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Geoghegan Memorial
Re: The New Age Medley!
Nice post Gordy!
Reid- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-24
Number of posts : 177
Age : 47
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Alberta Caledonia
Re: The New Age Medley!
a second that with the twirlly stuff less is more and a few really nice drum beatings is far nicer than
a show off trying to do the fancy stuff folk that put loads of florishing in really canny be that good drummers or they would play beatings more
a show off trying to do the fancy stuff folk that put loads of florishing in really canny be that good drummers or they would play beatings more
tennoress- Member
- Registration date : 2009-05-19
Number of posts : 14
Age : 62
Re: The New Age Medley!
not the first time this idea has been floated about. It was tried in the seventies in grade 1 and fell flat on its face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont think it would work any better now - stick to playing music not dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(P.S. shortstuff did not write this...i aint that intelligent!!!)))))
Someone with a heck of a lot more intelligence than me did!!!
(my other half wrote it)
Dont think it would work any better now - stick to playing music not dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(P.S. shortstuff did not write this...i aint that intelligent!!!)))))
Someone with a heck of a lot more intelligence than me did!!!
(my other half wrote it)
shortstuff- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-15
Number of posts : 218
Age : 58
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Dunfermline Pipe Band
Re: The New Age Medley!
I agree with much of what Gordy has said. If anything could be changed in the circle then I would at least give a semi-circle idea a try out. The stands for G1 at the worlds could already accomodate this.
The bands are there in the first place to compete in a competition and all of the bands should be concentrating on that and not on any form of visual entertainment for the crowds. That is what a concert is for.
The bands are there in the first place to compete in a competition and all of the bands should be concentrating on that and not on any form of visual entertainment for the crowds. That is what a concert is for.
stormy- Member
- Registration date : 2007-10-13
Number of posts : 496
Pipe Band I belong to
Band Name: Enter Band Name Here!!!!
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