Louisville Pipe Band
Encyclopedia
The Louisville Pipe Band is a Scottish bagpipe and drum band (commonly referred to as a pipe band
) based in Louisville, Kentucky
. The band is "dedicated to furthering Celtic arts and traditions of piping and drumming by performances, competition, instruction, and education." The group is organized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
) and drummers (who play the snare
, tenor
, or bass drum
).
with Alasdair Gillies (a world-renowned solo piper) and at the Ryder Cup
closing ceremonies.
Recognized by the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association
(EUSPBA), the group typically fields both a grade 4 and grade 5 band. The band usually competes at regional highland games
, including the Kentucky Scottish Weekend
, Glasgow Highland Games
, and Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Games.
Specific competition accomplishments include:
tartan
, in honor of Richard Henderson
. Richard Henderson employed Daniel Boone
, a prominent figure in Kentucky's
history.
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
) based in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. The band is "dedicated to furthering Celtic arts and traditions of piping and drumming by performances, competition, instruction, and education." The group is organized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Composition
The band is composed of pipers (who play the Great Highland BagpipeGreat Highland Bagpipe
The Great Highland Bagpipe is a type of bagpipe native to Scotland. It has achieved widespread recognition through its usage in the British military and in pipe bands throughout the world. It is closely related to the Great Irish Warpipes....
) and drummers (who play the snare
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
, tenor
Tenor drum
A tenor drum is a cylindrical drum that is higher pitched than a bass drum.In a symphony orchestra's percussion section, a tenor drum is a low-pitched drum, similar in size to a field snare, but without snares and played with soft mallets or hard sticks. Under various names, the drum has been used...
, or bass drum
Bass drum
Bass drums are percussion instruments that can vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished. The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum . It is the largest drum of...
).
Performances
The band and individual members perform at a wide variety of public and private events throughout the year. Annual public appearances include Louisville's St. Patrick's Day parade, Louisville Irish Fest, and the Louisville WorldFest. In addition, the band holds occasional stage performances. In 2008, the band performed at The Kentucky CenterThe Kentucky Center
The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, located in Louisville, is a major performing arts center in Kentucky.The Kentucky Center also hosts artworks by Alexander Calder, Joan Miró, John Chamberlain, Jean Dubuffet and others....
with Alasdair Gillies (a world-renowned solo piper) and at the Ryder Cup
2008 Ryder Cup
The 37th Ryder Cup Matches were held September 19–21, 2008, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Team USA won 16½ - 11½ to end the streak of three successive victories for Team Europe. This was Team USA's largest margin of victory since 1981, and the first time since 1979 the...
closing ceremonies.
Competition
Eastern United States Pipe Band Association
The Eastern United States Pipe Band Association is an association of pipe bands in the Eastern United States. Its function is to sanction band and solo piping, drumming, and drum major competitions in the East Coast...
(EUSPBA), the group typically fields both a grade 4 and grade 5 band. The band usually competes at regional highland games
Highland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
, including the Kentucky Scottish Weekend
Kentucky Scottish Weekend
The Kentucky Scottish Weekend is a regional highland game held annually at General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton, Kentucky. The weekend's mission is to celebrate the customs and traditions of Scotland. It is held each year on the second full weekend in May...
, Glasgow Highland Games
Glasgow Highland Games
The Glasgow Highland Games are a regional highland games and Scottish heritage celebration held annually in and near Glasgow, Kentucky. The main festival grounds are located at Barren River Lake State Resort Park, about from Glasgow, while most other events are held in the city proper.Glasgow is...
, and Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Games.
Specific competition accomplishments include:
- In 2000, the grade 4 band tied for 9th place in the EUSPBA final season championship standings.
- In 2000, the band competed in the World Pipe Band ChampionshipsWorld Pipe Band ChampionshipsThe World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition currently held in Glasgow, Scotland every August. The event has been operating regularly since 1930, when the Scottish Pipe Band Association was formed...
in Glasgow, Scotland. - In 2000, the band was named the official pipe band of the Commonwealth of KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. - In 2007, three members of the drum section earned high EUSPBA final season championship standings, including: 2nd place grade 4 snare; 1st place professional tenor; and 3rd place amateur bass.
Tartan
The band's uniform kilt is the ancient HendersonClan Henderson
The Clan Henderson is a Scottish clan with members living throughout the world. The clan rose to prominence in Glen Coe with branches in Fife, the Borders, Caithness and the Shetland Islands...
tartan
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
, in honor of Richard Henderson
Richard Henderson (American pioneer)
Richard Henderson was an American pioneer and merchant who attempted to create a colony called Transylvania just as the American Revolutionary War was starting.-Early life:Henderson was born in Hanover County, Virginia...
. Richard Henderson employed Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
, a prominent figure in Kentucky's
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
history.