I was staying after school one day, and I had a couple of students taking tests while I was listening to this. They were just mezmorized and said that it sent chills up and down their spines. They just looked up, wide-eyed, and couldn't believe that bagpipes could sound that great!
99%of music throughout the world is predictible listning but not this its scientific work of art so much technical ability is required to master traditional scottish music iam 15 years on the snare and still learning dont matter if your rudiments are top quality there are countless variations to this music
I heard a similar medley at Maxville and understood that this was a watershed moment in pipe band medleys. Truly innovative and completely misunderstood by the judges. Very special!!!
OK! Well, I stand corrected. I was at the Scottish Championships last month and watched the Vale of Atholl play their heart out in a fantastic "original" medley, get the biggest cheer of the day, and then take 7th only. It's nice to see that there are judges out there prepared to look at something different with an open mind.
That's the first time I've ever heard an audience cheer at the beginning and in the middle of a medley! Great medley and really cool harmonies! Whoever wrote this medley is very inventive. -Uni
I LOVE this! Very creative... takes a lot of balls to do this! I haven't heard a pipe band push the musical envelope in quite a while. I don't know if I totally understand it, but I can certainly admire the musical presentation and its uniqueness.
Great stuff! I am currently trying to get something together like this with my band for Grade IV so will be prepared for the negativity. I can't help but think of the Breton bands when I listen to this. Good work and thanks for trying it. Keep the faith!!
Most innovative and creative medley i've heard to date, and for all you old traditional conservative pipers, go play scotland the brave and other trad. crap ^_^
that as to be the longest roll played in a medley lol I like the new way of playing and for th people who dont like it beause it breaks the traitional way of playing... its not like the traditional way of playing will stop right here, its just someting new, and it actually opens up the competition field to the judges and bands because now the judges cant just go "i think it should have been reel then jig" etc. because some bands might not even have a reel, or a jig ;) this is awesome!
ok, there's a lot of stuff in there that I LOVE and a few things I didn't. But overall, I give props to the Polis for moving the pipe band world in a different direction. Time will only tell if it sticks. Good job!
Cool to see new things being done. It is definitely interesting....the more i hear it the more i dig it. Still would have given the drumming to the 78th frasers over TPPB though. Also was looking forward to a new medley from 78ths.
One of the things I like most about pipe band competitions is having limitations. How about those kilts. Why don't we get innovative and wear tartan shorts. Or if we're going to be inspired by DCI why don't we start doing formations in the competition arena. I doubt I'll be playing in pipe bands much longer if this style of arranging becomes popular. But the truth is that music was never meant to be a "who's the best" sort of thing. It should be about appreciation, and I DO appreciate the piece.
For ages everyone's been talking about how bands can break the same tired old medley format, now it's finally here. Whether people like it or not (I'm not sure that I do, it;s certainly an acquired taste), people will be talking about this medley for years. One question - Toronto couldn't play this at the Worlds, could they? As I understand it the RSPBA rules are a medley must open with a quick march, brought in after the Frasers marched on to a waulking song in the '90s.
Love the added dog bark at 7:54!! Nice change of pace for a change. In fact, it's just nice to change! Next part... How 'bout a key change? Need to come up with a switchable drone key. Any brave takers? Small snares are much more practical for high pitch tuning.
Agree with you here - bit too repetitive for my liking, might take a few more listens to try to understand what they are trying to achieve. It certainly is original and got people talking and that, is a very healthy thing. Best of luck to 'em.
From a much lesser piper than yourself, I have to agree. Not a whole lot of music going on here. I've heard exercises more pleasing. I'm amazed a grade 1 band would play this at a competition.
Definitely agree with Andantehead here. It's definitely growing on me and I kinda can't stop watching it:)The stick clicking at 723 makes me giggle. If you're gonna be "innovative", why not break out turntables and birds chirping in cages. I'd prefer we stick to the traditional pipe band forms. Do you really want to see a free pipe band contest were the LA Scots whip out the gliss bass drum and wear spandex? We can go there if you want:)Why don't we save this kinda stuff for shows.
How can you say terrible when people wrote all those different tunes. I don't see you people writing tunes. Were born to the understanding that a medley is a bunch of different tunes and an MSR is the standard stuff. Toronto stepped it up this year by showing that a medley doesn't always have to have a jig, slow air, hornpipe, reel etc. They wanted to prove a point, same thing when shotts turned toward the crowd this year at the worlds, their trying to break the barrier of what a medley is.
just a heads up variations hasn't been played in comp since 2006.....and you still comment? please listen to newer medleys, such as Peal's newest creation. Ontario bands in general are pushing for a new age of pipe bands just as tyler fry revolutionized tenor drumming and the view of a midsection, or like Alex Duthart in his time, if you think that players such as tyler fry (lead tenor of Shotts) and Alex Duthart (Lead drummer for Shotts a while back) are bad then idk what your thinking
VERY interesting. I like the idea behind this piece. My only issue is that it's harmonically static. Sure there's lots of notes going around, but they're really only outlining two chords. I'd love to try my hand at something like this, having had a mostly jazz education. I think the potential for really strong and powerful melody enriched by more complex harmony is there, needs to be explored.
lots of different opinions in here which is cool. this vid from a 3 band G1 contest in Canada has about 10,000 more views then the medley vids from the RSPBA 'majors". kinda funny if you think about it.
you woulding be saying its crap if SFU did this just because its not one of the "top" grade ! bands doesnt mean it shouldnt get props for doing something new now I completly agree that there are things that shouldnt be done and things that are ok to try, and this, in no ways, falls into the category of things to never do.
Steven Wheeler Pointless comment really. Fact of the matter is the SFU didn’t do this. And so what if it’s new? Is it good though? This isn’t a pissing contest of who’s got more new stuff.
Tones of courage and well performed. However, not sure it is new, e.g. Pipe Bands have been doing this sort of stuff for decades in concerts. We all need to be careful when defining what is a new direction as this is new in competition, but certainly not new for Pipe Bands, which is probably important to remember? It has cetainly got folk talking and we all have different views, which is good, otherwise we would all be playing the same Medley year after year! Interesting times ahead it seems!
Well! That certainly is different, and bold in the most extreme sense. Very interesting harmonies -- I'm not sure that I understand the music. For originality I'll say it ranks up there with the Journey to Skye. For melodic content and musicality I'll have to offer a question mark. Very entertaining. Keep it up... it won't win prizes, though, I don't think!
The snare drumming left a little to be desired in the first half and got a bit nuts near the end lol. Was faily effective though, if a touch boring with all that rolling. Good to see them trying something new but still room for improvement musically I think.
Incredible playing...on all sides. But...Imagine how perfect it would look if everyone (sides, bass) quit bouncing around? I guess it helps keep rhythm...or whatever. But it isn't necessary...any thoughts people?
After a few listens it has grown on me, but I still don't enjoy it as much as I do a medley with more standard construction. And I really dislike the runs up to high G.
It looks like people either love it or hate it. It's certainly umm... different. A little long, tho. Gets kinda tedious with all the repetition. So many tempo changes, it's hard to follow. Courageous choice. I don't think I'd have tried it, but it seems to be working for them.
A medley is a handfull of tunes being played one after another. This is just one tune I believe. So it doesn't not count as a medley. Im not saying the tune is bad though.
The drumming was very nice and dynamic and together, but so was Strathclyde Police back in the early 90's and that was incredibly boring. I think Doug Stronach is the man though, don't get me wrong! Second half drumming was cool
Well my friend, opinions do count in the World. I agree the Drum Corps was excellent, the pipes were well tuned and the execution was fine, however, many including myself do Not find the medley at all musical, and rather boring. Oh by the way, I happen to play with a pretty good band myself, happens to be the Worlds Champions, just in case you were wondering
explain why then, im just curious I dont want an explanation of how it SHOULD BE, but why this is bad I still love traditional style and wouldnt want to do anything like this if it sounded bad, and it didnt so.... I mean imagine being in that with the crowd cheering half way into it, now yes if something a little boring then just give it a small change and it would still be great
a new concept for a pipe band .. obviously influenced by mid eastern culture ... think probably ... She ite ! .... well done the dog ... the only good " ruff" .. . Hot Dog !
Doesn't sound like anything to me. How can judges tell anything about unison when it seems everyone in the band is playing something different? Drum scores sound very basic to me; granted I'm not a drummer and don't know such things, but it sounds like they're playing a lot of rudiment exercises and not actual scores.
That sounds like a typical 15 year old response, but intensified with a bit of ego and snobbery. It sounds like you're trying to side with the 'purists' of the piping community for whatever motive. Whereas traditional medleys are good, change in nothing bad. Do the research, and you'll see that Toronto's band is considered world class. Do them some justice, and stay away from the "ummph, they're not the queen's pipes, therefore they're adulterated" atttitude. But it could just be your age.
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I was staying after school one day, and I had a couple of students taking tests while I was listening to this. They were just mezmorized and said that it sent chills up and down their spines. They just looked up, wide-eyed, and couldn't believe that bagpipes could sound that great!
99%of music throughout the world is predictible listning but not this its scientific work of art so much technical ability is required to master traditional scottish music iam 15 years on the snare and still learning dont matter if your rudiments are top quality there are countless variations to this music
Brilliant, simply brilliant!
love this medley. original and refreshing.
I heard a similar medley at Maxville and understood that this was a watershed moment in pipe band medleys. Truly innovative and completely misunderstood by the judges. Very special!!!
i saw this performance live and ill tell you, it blew me away! i stil lget chills when i hear it. SCOTLAND FOR LIFE W0000000000!!!!!!!!
Awesome. Just awesome!
Thanks so much for sharing!
This medley blew my mind when I first heard it. Like it or not, it changed the face of competitive pipe bands forever. Great stuff.
OK! Well, I stand corrected. I was at the Scottish Championships last month and watched the Vale of Atholl play their heart out in a fantastic "original" medley, get the biggest cheer of the day, and then take 7th only. It's nice to see that there are judges out there prepared to look at something different with an open mind.
Got the Album Live at the El Mocambo... the medley is called Variations on a Theme of good intensions :)
That's the first time I've ever heard an audience cheer at the beginning and in the middle of a medley! Great medley and really cool harmonies! Whoever wrote this medley is very inventive. -Uni
Mike Grey composed this masterpiece.
It's a testament to the band when five years later people are still talking about it.
I agree totally, really ballsy, very well executed and extremely entertaining!
I LOVE this! Very creative... takes a lot of balls to do this! I haven't heard a pipe band push the musical envelope in quite a while. I don't know if I totally understand it, but I can certainly admire the musical presentation and its uniqueness.
Saw this band in Glasgow 2012, very impressive
Great stuff! I am currently trying to get something together like this with my band for Grade IV so will be prepared for the negativity. I can't help but think of the Breton bands when I listen to this. Good work and thanks for trying it. Keep the faith!!
Most innovative and creative medley i've heard to date, and for all you old traditional conservative pipers, go play scotland the brave and other trad. crap ^_^
that as to be the longest roll played in a medley lol
I like the new way of playing
and for th people who dont like it beause it breaks the traitional way of playing... its not like the traditional way of playing will stop right here, its just someting new, and it actually opens up the competition field to the judges and bands because now the judges cant just go "i think it should have been reel then jig" etc. because some bands might not even have a reel, or a jig ;)
this is awesome!
ok, there's a lot of stuff in there that I LOVE and a few things I didn't. But overall, I give props to the Polis for moving the pipe band world in a different direction. Time will only tell if it sticks. Good job!
Cool to see new things being done. It is definitely interesting....the more i hear it the more i dig it. Still would have given the drumming to the 78th frasers over TPPB though. Also was looking forward to a new medley from 78ths.
Nice performance...
One of the things I like most about pipe band competitions is having limitations. How about those kilts. Why don't we get innovative and wear tartan shorts. Or if we're going to be inspired by DCI why don't we start doing formations in the competition arena. I doubt I'll be playing in pipe bands much longer if this style of arranging becomes popular. But the truth is that music was never meant to be a "who's the best" sort of thing. It should be about appreciation, and I DO appreciate the piece.
For ages everyone's been talking about how bands can break the same tired old medley format, now it's finally here. Whether people like it or not (I'm not sure that I do, it;s certainly an acquired taste), people will be talking about this medley for years.
One question - Toronto couldn't play this at the Worlds, could they? As I understand it the RSPBA rules are a medley must open with a quick march, brought in after the Frasers marched on to a waulking song in the '90s.
@riccardorodriguez81 You are my new hero. Thanks. :)
FYI, marching up with "Garden of Skye".
That was like energizing before crossing the line...nice and different. Well done.
i know this was a year ago....
but drummers should be playing alot more than they are in this video :S
Love the added dog bark at 7:54!! Nice change of pace for a change. In fact, it's just nice to change! Next part... How 'bout a key change? Need to come up with a switchable drone key. Any brave takers? Small snares are much more practical for high pitch tuning.
Agree with you here - bit too repetitive for my liking, might take a few more listens to try to understand what they are trying to achieve.
It certainly is original and got people talking and that, is a very healthy thing.
Best of luck to 'em.
From a much lesser piper than yourself, I have to agree. Not a whole lot of music going on here. I've heard exercises more pleasing. I'm amazed a grade 1 band would play this at a competition.
@viperpiper1991 Get over it, its a medley. If you hate it so much, don't comment and don't listen to it.. its that easy bud.
Definitely agree with Andantehead here. It's definitely growing on me and I kinda can't stop watching it:)The stick clicking at 723 makes me giggle. If you're gonna be "innovative", why not break out turntables and birds chirping in cages. I'd prefer we stick to the traditional pipe band forms. Do you really want to see a free pipe band contest were the LA Scots whip out the gliss bass drum and wear spandex? We can go there if you want:)Why don't we save this kinda stuff for shows.
How can you say terrible when people wrote all those different tunes. I don't see you people writing tunes. Were born to the understanding that a medley is a bunch of different tunes and an MSR is the standard stuff. Toronto stepped it up this year by showing that a medley doesn't always have to have a jig, slow air, hornpipe, reel etc. They wanted to prove a point, same thing when shotts turned toward the crowd this year at the worlds, their trying to break the barrier of what a medley is.
just a heads up variations hasn't been played in comp since 2006.....and you still comment? please listen to newer medleys, such as Peal's newest creation. Ontario bands in general are pushing for a new age of pipe bands just as tyler fry revolutionized tenor drumming and the view of a midsection, or like Alex Duthart in his time, if you think that players such as tyler fry (lead tenor of Shotts) and Alex Duthart (Lead drummer for Shotts a while back) are bad then idk what your thinking
VERY interesting. I like the idea behind this piece. My only issue is that it's harmonically static. Sure there's lots of notes going around, but they're really only outlining two chords. I'd love to try my hand at something like this, having had a mostly jazz education. I think the potential for really strong and powerful melody enriched by more complex harmony is there, needs to be explored.
The sound is overwelming, eye and ear candy!
lots of different opinions in here which is cool. this vid from a 3 band G1 contest in Canada has about 10,000 more views then the medley vids from the RSPBA 'majors". kinda funny if you think about it.
Ballsey, new and different. Someone was going to front it one day, well done Polis.
Wow! That was insane!!! The best Ive ever heard!!!!!!! 2nd place? What were they thinking?
you woulding be saying its crap if SFU did this
just because its not one of the "top"
grade ! bands doesnt mean it shouldnt get props for doing something new
now I completly agree that there are things that shouldnt be done and things that are ok to try, and this, in no ways, falls into the category of things to never do.
Steven Wheeler Pointless comment really. Fact of the matter is the SFU didn’t do this. And so what if it’s new? Is it good though? This isn’t a pissing contest of who’s got more new stuff.
intarestn...... bits ov it were impressive, but then agen, its stuff for concerts. i stil enjoyed it tho.
Yes, a dog did bark. Don't know if it was registered to play though.
Superb.
Tones of courage and well performed. However, not sure it is new, e.g. Pipe Bands have been doing this sort of stuff for decades in concerts. We all need to be careful when defining what is a new direction as this is new in competition, but certainly not new for Pipe Bands, which is probably important to remember? It has cetainly got folk talking and we all have different views, which is good, otherwise we would all be playing the same Medley year after year! Interesting times ahead it seems!
Well! That certainly is different, and bold in the most extreme sense. Very interesting harmonies -- I'm not sure that I understand the music. For originality I'll say it ranks up there with the Journey to Skye. For melodic content and musicality I'll have to offer a question mark. Very entertaining. Keep it up... it won't win prizes, though, I don't think!
The snare drumming left a little to be desired in the first half and got a bit nuts near the end lol. Was faily effective though, if a touch boring with all that rolling.
Good to see them trying something new but still room for improvement musically I think.
Cool medley! Very new sound...maybe a little too new. lol
@AngryBagpiper what tunes are they playing?
I think you have to start over 60bpm, which it does. Can someone clarify?
Incredible playing...on all sides. But...Imagine how perfect it would look if everyone (sides, bass) quit bouncing around? I guess it helps keep rhythm...or whatever. But it isn't necessary...any thoughts people?
After a few listens it has grown on me, but I still don't enjoy it as much as I do a medley with more standard construction. And I really dislike the runs up to high G.
Tis is one CCCRRRAAAZZZYYYY tune! Anyone know how to get sheet music for this one????????
It looks like people either love it or hate it. It's certainly umm... different. A little long, tho. Gets kinda tedious with all the repetition. So many tempo changes, it's hard to follow. Courageous choice. I don't think I'd have tried it, but it seems to be working for them.
A medley is a handfull of tunes being played one after another. This is just one tune I believe. So it doesn't not count as a medley. Im not saying the tune is bad though.
OMG chunkierowley2 Your so right!!
lol
The drumming was very nice and dynamic and together, but so was Strathclyde Police back in the early 90's and that was incredibly boring.
I think Doug Stronach is the man though, don't get me wrong! Second half drumming was cool
Well my friend, opinions do count in the World. I agree the Drum Corps was excellent, the pipes were well tuned and the execution was fine, however, many including myself do Not find the medley at all musical, and rather boring. Oh by the way, I happen to play with a pretty good band myself, happens to be the Worlds Champions, just in case you were wondering
hmm never heard them play in the worlds...lets put them against bands such as Field Marshall or SFU wonder how the results would turn out
@kungfupanda502 True statement
Ds were a bit off!!!!
Dont you think?
I personally do not like this medley at all, but do appreciate the talent involved.
explain why then, im just curious
I dont want an explanation of how it SHOULD BE, but why this is bad
I still love traditional style and wouldnt want to do anything like this if it sounded bad, and it didnt so....
I mean imagine being in that with the crowd cheering half way into it, now yes if something a little boring then just give it a small change and it would still be great
a new concept for a pipe band .. obviously influenced by mid eastern culture ... think probably ... She ite ! .... well done the dog ... the only good " ruff" .. . Hot Dog !
Doesn't sound like anything to me. How can judges tell anything about unison when it seems everyone in the band is playing something different? Drum scores sound very basic to me; granted I'm not a drummer and don't know such things, but it sounds like they're playing a lot of rudiment exercises and not actual scores.
Music evolution - I do not think so myself. If you want to move pipe bands on I think you can do a lot better than this!
That sounds like a typical 15 year old response, but intensified with a bit of ego and snobbery. It sounds like you're trying to side with the 'purists' of the piping community for whatever motive. Whereas traditional medleys are good, change in nothing bad. Do the research, and you'll see that Toronto's band is considered world class. Do them some justice, and stay away from the "ummph, they're not the queen's pipes, therefore they're adulterated" atttitude. But it could just be your age.
Well, the crowd went wild for this so called 'rubbish'! Sorry, but when it comes to taste, I think you're in the minority,cheif!
God that is crap
giving me a head ache,
sounds crap
eww