2016 World Pipe Band Championships

Home for the day to over 8,000 pipers and drummers,

as they battle it out in one of the biggest musical

events of the year - the World Pipe Band Championships.

PLAY This seems to Burns and supporters who have made a

pilgrimage here to Glasgow green. And over the next hour we'll have

fantastic performances from some of the finest pipe bands,

as they go head to head to get It's the one they all want,

the coveted title - Coming up - music from the all

the qualifying bands We'll be taking a look

at one of the Scottish bands who have a real chance

in the competition this year. We'll find out how piping

communities are inspiring the next generation,

with the Govan Schools Pipes We will bring you some action from

the juvenile final. And finally, we'll be

revealing this year's winner. and competitiveness in the air,

which I'm sure will guarantee some brilliant performances

across the board, but before we get into the music, a quick

breakdown of the competition. There are hundreds of bands

here today all competing The top class contenders compete

in the Grade One Arena, where 12 bands made it

through qualifying To help guide us through

the competition, I'm delighted to welcome back our old friend

and legendary expert, Bob Worrall. Bob, can you give us a quick

reminder of the rules? What happens is the 12 bands that

qualify from yesterday will play twice today. They will play a march

Strathspey and real and that will be followed by a medley event this

afternoon. --Reel. They are judged by four adjudicators and the results

from all of those adjudicators in those two events will be entered and

won overall result. To the untrained ear that is not much dividing the

top bands so what the judges look for? They are listing for basic

tonal issues and tiny tunnel discrepancies in balance enchanters

and Sean 's. Dash-mac tiny tonal discrepancies. They will be

listening to overall musical impact involving dynamics and things that

contribute to a great musical performance. The pipe band world is

waiting for infinitely and district. --Inverary And District. They have

won two championships and they have been doing very well. Then Field

Marshal Montgomery have won the World Championship ten times. St

Laurence O'Toole Are playing very well. Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia

What third and the prize list and have been rising steadily and could

claim the title. It would be a very close context.

Inveraray and District have won two of the championships in the lead up

to this Worlds, making them strong contenders to place

St Laurence O'Toole are already in winning form for 2016,

taking first place at the European Championship in June.

Field Marshall Montgomery took home the top prize at the UK

Defending champions Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia

are in a strong position to hold on to their title.

It's definitely going to be a close contest.

Now without further ado, here's the first instalment

First into the arena are Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia.

A pretty solid overall introduction. PIPES PLAY. One thing that is

impressing me at this point is the quality of the drone sound.

We have worked very hard. We are but a few changes at the back end of the

band but think we play much atrazine are together. We are all working

very hard and enjoying it. Dash-mac I think we play much better

together. There are some lovely tenor work in

that part. Sustaining the temporal nicely and

also defining the ends of the phrase extremely well. Dash-mac the temple.

--Tempo. We managed to qualify so it has been good.

The piping live festival has been running a full swing and a lot of

the guys been involved lots of things to do with the festival so we

have been squeezing in practices whenever we can at odd times of the

day and we're just trying to make the best use of the time. It has

been a busy week. We have not had a particularly good

season so it was trying to qualify and put in a couple of creditable

performances today. Great start to the competition

and we'll have more from the main Remember you can also

see all the Grade One performances in full

on our website - bbc.co.uk/worlds. Here's more of the March,

Strathspey and Reel. Next up is Alan Bevan

with Simon Fraser University. That was one of the most precise

introductions we have heard so far today.

Just the touch after that first pipe. It was a good solid run. Two

good runs yesterday and is keeping the ball rolling today. The band has

been on an upward trajectory all season. It looks like we're peaking

at the right time. PIPES PLAY. An excellent temporal in

the Strathspey. -- tempo. Very enjoyable and that is the first

grade one final for me as a pipe Major. We have worked really hard

for this and we have a very strong team of people. I think it was solid

enough. Lovely harmonics between the chanter and that drones. It was

lovely. We have had two great weeks in

Scotland. We have not seen a lot of sun but we had a good week in

Edinburgh and a good week here and we have enjoyed it and the bands

growing hugely and we have new young members of the band who have

developed hugely as the trip has gone on. Very very musical playing.

I am loving the energy coming from the sneers to support this June.

Dash-mac from the snare drums. To support this June. --Tune. That was

our relatively steady performance and the temperature could offer

little but as he went on with a little bit of pushing here and there

are but overall pretty happy with it.

Four bands left to play the MSR, but first a look back at a band

which have the Worlds in their sights.

Let's take a closer look at Inveraray and District.

Like many bands, Inveraray and District have come down

to Glasgow a few days early to prepare for this year's Worlds.

Formed in 2004, the band caught the public's imagination

We caught up with them as Pipe Major Stuart Liddell puts

It is a great venue to play and and that is an aura about the place

which is almost like Christmas. That exciting feeling, you still have

butterflies in the tummy right now because we are looking forward to

going on the Green. The band has been doing well this year and won

the first championship and second in the next and third in the next one

and we won the Scottish and Dumbarton so we're doing is

generally well this year, probably the best season we have ever had.

We're looking at areas that they developed and that changes every

year so one shoe master one thing you're onto the next so we're that

attitude since the beginning of the band. PIPES PLAY. Watch these grace

notes. One, two, three. We have been working was unsound because the

bagpipe itself is a very temperamental instrument that all

requires attention so sound is a big thing. Our strength would be playing

together well as a unit. We have 25 pipers who do well at listing

together locking and as a single unit.

The band came third at last year's World Championships and this

year they are among the favourites to take first place.

We're drawn quite early on so early morning might be cooler than the

afternoon so you really have to gauge the best it can and get the

best out of the instruments so you have to gauge how long you have to

play without going over the top. Some members come

from as far afield as I was on the banned from the

juvenile days up to grade one and I moved away from Inveraray and Levin

is tell you now. Dash-mac I live in Australia now. They are the most

outstanding band in the world and it has been a big goal for a couple of

years and I was finally able to make it work logistically and financially

this year to be a fly in a player from home. I keep in touch with them

with the Internet and watch videos online. Every year I come back they

are a new level and keep going up and up so it is very exciting. Look

out for a wee smile at the end of the performance. If it is going well

I will be smiling. With all the practising done here are

with March, Strathspey and Reel there. It's a lovely sound.

They are sustaining the energy in this march really very well. Very

subtle question and answer phrasing adding to the overall ensemble

effect. In my opinion one of the most talented bass drummers out

there in the field. It felt as if we play from here

which is good, that is what we wanted. Nothing that stood out

majorly so there would always be tiny things in every band hazard. It

is just what they can minimise the damage in Hawaii can do that. I

think we did a pretty good job today. Dash-mac and how you can do

that. The pipe is just a little behind the

snare a line in the Strathspey and is losing a little bit of energy.

And very demanding Strathspey to play as a band. We have had a really

good season so we very confident in today and we're pleased to get that

out of the way. And very strong bottom hand

articulation and the Strathspey. That is one of the demands.

Certainly we have made the prize list at all the majors this year so

far so I just want to play well. If we can put into really good solid

performances today I will be happy and whatever happens with that after

that is beyond our control. PIPES PLAY.

The band is playing as a total unified whole throughout this reel.

Amazing stability to the sound throughout this performance.

First-rate, absolutely first-rate. The competition at the top end of

great one is really tight and the margins are so fine that we've been

doing well but the other bands are doing well as well so it is a very

high standard competition. Up next, the all-important

Medley round. But first a look at some

of the youngest and newest We caught up with the Govan Schools

Pipes Drums Association to find out what it takes to prepare

for the World Pipe Band They bring champion players shoulder

to shoulder with novices ensuring that the bat and is passed on from

one generation to the next. One example of this

is the Govan Schools Pipes and Drums Association's

Junior Novice pipe band. It was a project to try to bring

kids together from different schools. All the kids live in Govan.

I love music. It is a great instrument and many people who

player. I'm looking forward to playing the drums for the first time

in front of lots of people. Quick, March. PIPES PLAY.

With their first Worlds only a few days away,

is putting the budding pipers and drummers through their paces.

That was brilliant. Do that on Saturday and I will be more than

happy. To take up and it's not like the pipes, which is a very difficult

and there to play properly, takes a lot of time and effort. It's

sometimes hard work. I am never given it up. I have only just

started and am practising every day. It is much better today so from

nothing to the World Championships in three years. Power to their

elbow, absolutely fantastic. The band is completely funded

through donations including children and need -- children in need and the

big lottery fund. It is camaraderie and learning an instrument and

discipline which is very important the pipe bands and the enjoyment of

travelling. Ever since I was a weak header I always used to watch the

Govan fair and I always liked the bagpipes and the drums and when the

advertised a skill I thought I would like to play the pipes. I would like

to do well? Yes. ALL: Yes! Have a good nights sleep and I will see you

in the morning. It's the day of the Worlds

and the band are getting in a last-minute practice before

their big performance. I am really excited and I hope we

went. -- When. --Win. With all the hard work done,

it's time to take to the arena. Sadly no silverware this

year but it's looking how

pipe music can have such a positive effect on communities,

and they certainly looked Now it's time to take a look

at the how the juveniles got from the juvenile grade,

and let's take a look at who picked up the winner's trophy

at the end of the day. it is close at the top. Going

straight into the medley. It's an excellent introduction by

the band. How does feel in your bones? Can do

it again? I think so. It is down to what the other bands play and what

the judges think but I think it is going well. There is a chance. Maybe

an outside chance, we are definitely not the favourites but we weren't

favourites last year either so who knows?

You just heard something very, very special.

You are the fairy tale, the young band moving up the rankings. Is this

the year of the happy ending? We are in the best position this year than

we have ever been, no doubt. It is out of our control so we do not

know. We would love it to be but it is out of our control, can't do

anything except play our very best and see what happens. The worlds is

the pinnacle of competition and you want to be at your best at the best

time and I think we've achieved that and I think that is why we are so

excited and maybe a little emotional.

You know, there is a stage when I step out and I could really hear how

the band is sounding and it was sounding good. What happens now? Do

you go back and talk over every bar? You go back and analyse things a

little bit but the thing is it has been a long, hard week and weekend

and the guys are pretty exhausted so they will have two relax and reflect

on everything we have done. This is such a prestigious

competition and there are plenty of spectators travelling

near and far to get a taste of the wonderful atmosphere

here on Glasgow Green. What is it about pipe bands that

draws you hear? It is just great. It is for all ages, further children as

well, it is fantastic to be involved and part of something as big as

this, it is fantastic, really. Who are you and where are you from? We

are a pipe band from Zimbabwe. What brings you here? It is an amazing

combination of all the work that brings people here. What about the

march past? It gets us pumped up to play with all those bands, 248

think. We are from Canada so our favourite band is Simon Fraser

University. Our local favourite is Inveraray. Inveraray! The

atmosphere, we love coming here. I am going to go for a New Zealand

band, Manawatu or New Zealand Police. I will go for Inveraray. Who

are you going for? Field Marshal Montgomery. They're just so good.

Who is going to win? Field Marshal Montgomery. Spirit Of Scotland. This

is the winner of Pipe Idol. They pick one person from everyday and

their is a final. And you won. Yes. Are you enjoying yourself? It is

great. We are going for Field Marshal Montgomery. Them or

Inveraray. A lot of people think it could be Inveraray. They have been

doing well. Enjoy your day. Lovely to see everyone

enjoying the spectacle. Now let's get back to

what we all here for. Here is St Laurence O'Toole with

their medley. From my angle it was tough but it

seemed there was a double drone. Just listen to this superb

percussion accompaniment. To be honest, when I took over the

band, we had a three-year plan, an ambitious plan, and after the first

year, we knew we were on track and the second year we were closer to

being on track. But pipe bands can change like the weather. Was year

three to win? Yes, but it was an ambitious plan so let's see how it

goes today. Another superbly orchestrated

movement. Its a really musical play,

everything was well integrated and the sound was really good in the

circle, hopefully as good outside. It felt like a really special round.

I don't think I've ever seen a band finish a performance with so much

emotion. Well, it is a special day with Jim retiring. So many tears. I

don't think people would think of piping having that much emotion. To

try and get to the level we got to in such a short space of time has

demanded a lot of effort and work, so it is the culmination of that,

and also sadness to see Jim retiring. And your post performance

analysis? I am delighted with it, I think it was our best performance of

the entire year and it was great just to put that out for that last

occasion. You will have us all bubbling. You are all supposed to be

big, brave men! You know what they say about big, brave men! And

emotional time for you. Yes but we were doing it for each other so we

did hold on and once we stopped it started to hit everybody. We have

been friends for years and they came back to playing with me for my last

year. And some of these guys are retiring as well so it is their

swansong as well. It has been a great time. Over 400 competitions in

my career, 50 years. I've met some fantastic able. This is a great

game. It is a mix of young and old and the old get the experience and

their energy from the young and the Young also get the experience from

the old. It is a perfect mix. We're well into the final stages

of the competition now, which means in a short while we'll

find out who is going to claim the title World Pipe

Band Champions 2016. But before that, I'm joined

by former Pipe Major Ian MacLellan, who helped

Strathclyde Police Pipe Band set a record 12 Grade One World

Championship wins over an 11-year You actually first won in 1976. How

has this changed over 40 years? Immensely. One of the biggest things

is the size of the bands. In my day, there were probably only about 12

pipers and now there are double that amount, and the same with the drums.

It is a far bigger sound. What about the music itself? The march,

Strathspey and Reel has not really changed. They are traditional tunes

which have been played for years and years but the medleys have changed a

great deal over the years. They are a far more adventurous with the

songs and the harmonies and the ensemble with the drum corps has

moved on. Who do you have your expert eye on this year? That would

be committing myself! Four in mind. St Laurence O'Toole, fuelled much

Montgomerie, Inveraray, and Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia.

Here is Greater Glasgow police. Callum Campbell of Benbecula.

This is real playing that will put a smile on your face. Lovely.

I don't think people at home realise just how much even nuanced changes

to the weather affects their instruments. A couple of degrees,

the sun comes out, the cloud cover, it gets flatter, you have to go with

it. What do you say to the rest of the band just before you hit the

arena for the medley? Relax, enjoy it. And can you achieve that?

Sometimes, because of icy anything else it might just disturb them. --

if I say anything else. Strathspey, that makes our music so

unique, listen to this. Beautifully presented. My desire is to play as

well as we can. That is the goal when I take the band to the line.

Anything after that is out with our control. If we can put in the

performance I know we are capable of, I will be happy, and I'm pretty

happy. The feeling of release must be spectacular. There was a lot of

preparation and planning and thought, practice and rehearsal,

goes into something like that. For every band. To get to this point in

this season is a pretty big release, as you say.

Lovely lift in these Strathspeys. Subtle contrast.

The snares totally on the same page as the pipe core. Here it comes.

Frances Morton's. Listen to the crowd.

CHEERING It says it all. Is it's difficult,

when you are going out, especially for the medley, the last chance, to

rein in the enthusiasm so you don't end up overdoing it? You have to be

controlled in there. Control with a bit of passion so you can feel the

passion coming out in the music, and that's what we tried to do. It is a

fine line. Yes, but they're all great musicians as well and all

great musicians can do that. That's all the music

from the competition complete. The long hours of rehearsing have

led the bands to this moment. of these lot will be crowned

this year's champion. Great won first place, winning the

RSPB Jubilee Trophy and world champions for 2016... Field Marshal

Montgomery. CHEERING

In second place, Inveraray And District. In third place, St

Laurence O'Toole. Richard Parkes, many congratulations. When you left

the arena, did it feel like a world leading performance? Yes, both times

we played we felt we played as good as we could so that is all we can do

and it was up to the judges after that. It was a close fought

competition at the top. Margins are so small at the minute. The top

bands are all very good and there are very slight things that make a

lot of difference. We did all we could today and we are absolutely

over the moon with the result. This is Field Marshal Montgomery's 11th

title. It doesn't get any easier? Harder every year, especially the

older you get! I'm sure you will have a night to remember. Let's hear

it for the world pipe band champions 2016, Field Marshal Montgomery!

CHEERING A return to winning ways

for Field Marshall Montgomery. And the final positions

of the top six. In third place are

St Laurence O'Toole. Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia

finishing this year in fourth. And completing the final six

is Police Scotland Fife. So an emotional end

to a fantastic day. Eight or effect result. They played

as well as any band could play in the medley today. 11 championship

wins for them. Don't forget to go to our website

for lots more coverage of But for now, from Bob

and I and an ecstatic Field Marshal Montgomery

pipe band, goodbye. You're coming across as, frankly,

ridiculous. I'm flabbergasted by that.

Will they get burnt...