2013 Las Vegas, Nevada Games Pics

**OC Richard** · 24th April 13, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by sailortats

I noticed in two of the band pictures that the man on the far left in the first row is backwards to the rest of his unit. Why?

That is the Pipe Major's position (first rank, rightmost file) and the Pipe Major is, in effect, a pipe band's conductor. These Pipe Majors have turned around to signal to their band that they will stop playing (the "cut off"). The Pipe Major signals first, then the bass drummer customarily reinforces the command to cut off with a "double beat". I have seen Pipe Majors, when they turn around to face the band to signal the cut off, to let their blowpipe pop out of their mouth, making it absolutely clear that the band is to stop playing.

Pipe Majors, since they're playing just like the other pipers, can't conduct the band like an orchestral conductor would. Instead they conduct by the drummers watching their foot and the pipers watching their fingers, plus various forms of body language. For example when the band is playing "in the circle" the Pipe Major signals the cut off by "stepping into the circle". A Pipe Major might start marching a bit before the start of the next phrase, telling the band that they are to start marching in place at the start of the next phrase. Sometimes a Pipe Major will even take his lower hand off the chanter for a moment and hold out his flat hand, palm facing the ground, to tell the band to slow down.

**OC Richard** · 24th April 13, 07:21 PM

Great photos there Riverkilt!! You must have used a nice camera. I just used my Ipod and the photos are funky, but here they are

Solo piping in the morning. My best shot of the weekend

Yours truly with some piping friends; us gents in Isle of Skye kilts (I'm in the WV cap)

Wasatch & District (Grade 3) warming up, showing the setting of these Games, with gorgeous mountains all round

Some well-dressed gents getting ready for the march of the clans. The fellow on the right is wearing a fantastic Harris Tweed kilt jacket

**sailortats** · 25th April 13, 06:25 AM

Thanks for answering my question OC. I had hoped you would respond as I figured you would certainly know the correct answer.

**OC Richard** · 25th April 13, 06:52 AM

You're very welcome!

Also the Pipe Major turns around to face the band when the band starts playing. He's making sure that everyone's ready to go, and counts off the tempo. Oftentimes, before the band goes into competition, the Pipe Major will begin marching in place to make sure everyone has the exact tempo, and will often sing the first part of the first tune to the pipers, to make sure that one of them doesn't start on the wrong tune, which happens!

The Pipe Major sets the band in motion by calling out "By the right; quick... march!" in tempo. It's "by the right" because he's standing in the rightmost file. A Drum Major, centred in front of the band, would call out "by the centre, quick... march!" (Or "slow march" if the band is going to play slow marches.)

So here's world champions Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, about to start their "victory lap" at the World Pipe Band Championships. Note the Pipe Major turned around, communicating with the band, and calling off the tempo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGRTqgObnMA