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Thursday, 2 May 2013

The University of Western Australia's Riley Oval will be transformed into a scene akin to Braveheart next week when more than a hundred kilted pipers and drummers battle it out in the Pipe Band State Championships.

Hosted in the village-like atmosphere of Riley Oval alongside the UWA Club and Octagon Theatre, the event promises all the majesty and pageantry of the Edinburgh Tattoo.

Pipe Bands from Perth and regional areas will compete in various grades and be judged on musicianship, pitch and tuning, integration between the pipes and drum corps, dress and drill.

At the end of the day, all bands will march onto the field playing together for the massed band finale and trophy presentation.

The free event runs from 1pm-5pm on Saturday, 11 th May.

Bagpipe facts

  • The highland bagpipe is very loud - typically 110 decibels. This is the same volume as standing next to a helicopter idling or a jackhammer drilling cement.
  • Bagpipes were used in war to inspire and signal Scottish troops in battle (and scare foreign enemies). The unusual B flat pitch carries at a frequency that can be heard over yelling and gunshots.
  • The B flat drones on the highland bagpipe are the same frequency of the vuvuzela used by crowds at African sporting functions.
  • Although popularised and refined in Scotland, bagpipes were invented in Ancient Egypt.

The bagpipe has only nine notes without flats or sharps. The combination of blowing and squeezing the bag while taking a breath produces a continuous sound and constant volume. To get expression, emphasis and melody with such a limited scale, pipers have to learn very intricate finger movements called grace notes. It can take three years to learn and master the bagpipes.

Media references

Malcolm MacLean (Vice-Chair Pipe Bands WA)  (+61 4) 19 045 769
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

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