Piping Events
The Great Scottish Bagpipe is a powerful and successful wind instrument with unique qualities. In its present familiar form the bagpipe was undoubtedly "made in Scotland", but it is also the descendant of an ancient wind instrument family with worldwide distribution and remote origins. It is thought to have originated in Egypt where a simple chanter and drone were played together. Later, a bag made of skin was used and this fitted with a blowpipe made a primitive form of the modern bagpipe. Almost certainly the bagpipe was played and heard in England before Scotland. Early sources describe kings and nobles paying pipers in Scotland for their music in the 14th century. It seems to have become a home-grown instrument in the 15th century. It flourished as the principle instrument of an assertive, confident and successful Gaelic culture.
Pipe Band Performances
The Games are opened by the Blairgowrie, Rattray & District pipe band who march from Dunkeld, over the Dunkeld Bridge and into the games park. At intervals throughout the day the band will perform in the main arena.
Solo Piping Competitions
Our Piping Competition is split into two categories;
- Light Music - In the light music category the competitors perform Marches, Strathspey's, Reels and Jigs. The tunes played are of the pipers own choice.
- Piobaireachd - The word Piobaireachd or Ceol Mor translated means literally pipe playing or pipe music but for 100 years or more it has been used as the name for a piece of classical music written only for the Great Highland Bagpipe. The Piobaireachd consists of a theme with variations throughout. The performer must make the piece of music, pipers own choice, interesting by playing with great feeling and self-expression whilst being technically correct and producing a sound which is pleasing to the ear.
There are separate Light Music Competitions for junior pipers where the pipers of the future compete and hone their skills, carrying the music and traditions of the Great Highland Bagpipe forwards for future generations.