Pipe Major
Encyclopedia
The Pipe Major is the director of bagpipe music in a Scottish
or Irish
pipe band
. Like Drum Major
, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army
traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term Sergeant Piper was used for the role in place of "Pipe Major".
Civillian and military pipe bands usually assign a Pipe Major. Apart from being an outstanding musician, a Pipe Major should by tradition be an educated person well-versed in the history of bagpipe music as well as the history of their clan or regiment. The Pipe Major of a pipe band is usually assisted by a Pipe Sergeant
.
Whether it is a civilian or military pipe band, the Pipe Major is usually responsible for:
. As such, they are required to attain a senior non-commissioned officer
rank (Sergeant
, Staff Sergeant
, Colour Sergeant
, or Warrant Officer
) and have successfully completed the Pipe Major's Course at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
before they would be appointed the regiment's Pipe Major. Since the pipes and drums of an infantry regiment are normally required to take on a secondary role as a machine gun
platoon
, the Pipe Major is responsible for the following additional tasks:
The Pipe Major is usually referred to and addressed as "Pipe Major" and not by his rank. The insignia of appointment is four point-up chevrons worn on the lower sleeve, usually surmounted by a bagpipes
badge and frequently by a crown or other badge dependent on rank and regiment
.
Most Pipe Majors in the Canadian Forces are responsible for regular force volunteer strength bands or primary reserve bands.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
or Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
pipe band
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....
. Like Drum Major
Drum Major
A drum major is the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band, usually positioned at the head of the band or corps. The drum major, who is often dressed in more ornate clothing than the rest of the band or corps, is responsible for providing commands to the ensemble regarding...
, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term Sergeant Piper was used for the role in place of "Pipe Major".
Civillian and military pipe bands usually assign a Pipe Major. Apart from being an outstanding musician, a Pipe Major should by tradition be an educated person well-versed in the history of bagpipe music as well as the history of their clan or regiment. The Pipe Major of a pipe band is usually assisted by a Pipe Sergeant
Pipe Sergeant
The Pipe Sergeant, commonly abbreviated as "P/Sgt", is the number two person in charge of the pipers in a Scottish pipe band or pipes and drums. In terms of seniority, the Pipe Sergeant is secondary only to the Pipe Major, who is the director of bagpipe music in a pipe band. A Pipe Sergeant...
.
Whether it is a civilian or military pipe band, the Pipe Major is usually responsible for:
- Band administrative work
- Selection, compilation and arrangement of tunes for the band's repertoire
- Acting as a musical director and leading band rehearsals
- Coordination of the band's performance schedule
- Conducting and arranging for solo performance at weddings, funerals, dinners, and other functions
- Training learning and beginning pipers
British Army
A Pipe Major position is an appointment and not a military rankMilitary rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
. As such, they are required to attain a senior non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
rank (Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
, Colour Sergeant
Colour Sergeant
Colour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
, or Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
) and have successfully completed the Pipe Major's Course at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming is a British Army training establishment that provides instructions of Scottish bagpipe music to military pipers, drummers and pipe bands.-History:...
before they would be appointed the regiment's Pipe Major. Since the pipes and drums of an infantry regiment are normally required to take on a secondary role as a machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
, the Pipe Major is responsible for the following additional tasks:
- Be the platoon's operational commander or second-in-charge during military exerciseMilitary exerciseA military exercise is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat...
s or war - Ensure military discipline among members of the Pipes & Drums
- Be a transmitter of regimental history and customs
The Pipe Major is usually referred to and addressed as "Pipe Major" and not by his rank. The insignia of appointment is four point-up chevrons worn on the lower sleeve, usually surmounted by a bagpipes
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
badge and frequently by a crown or other badge dependent on rank and regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
.
Canadian Forces
"Pipe Major" in the Canadian military is also an appointment not a rank. Pipe Majors are appointed by the unit Commanding Officer after consulting with the Supervisor of Music (Directorate of History and Heritage - 7). The Pipe Major's insignia (a four-bar chevron with bagpipe badge) is usually surmounted with the appropriate rank badge.Most Pipe Majors in the Canadian Forces are responsible for regular force volunteer strength bands or primary reserve bands.