"Cookie Cutter" Pipe Band Dress

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Richard,

I believe the intended purpose of this thread to be the discussion of civilian Highland attire in the post-Victorian/Edwardian period. In other words the type of everyday Highland attire worn either shortly before or immediately after the 1914-1918 War, and how that mode of dress has become "traditional" within the Scottish community, and how it has evolved into those classic styles which have changed very little in the past 100 years or so.

I beg to differ, as on these very forums there have been quite a large number of people posting photos of men in kilts attending weddings and other functions wearing black argyll jackets, white hose, ghillies, and the sorts of sporrans popular amongst pipe bands today (evening, day, and hunting).

I don't disagree with your comment about photos, but I do think it needs to be looked at in some sort of context when you bring band uniforms into the discussion.

By and large (at least these days) pipe bands the world over tend to be private clubs of like-minded individuals who enjoy piping and marching. With the scant exception of those bands who enjoy the privilege of "the sky is the limit" funding, costs are-- and always have been-- a major concern for bands. I am sure you will agree that the single greatest cost (other than the pipes) facing a band is the cost of the band uniform. And since this cost is quite often, if not usually, borne in its entirety by the individual band member, the least expensive option is usually the one ticked off by the band.

Since it is hard, cold economics that dictate how a band will be uniformed and since not all bands have pockets as deep as the Saint Andrew's Society of Washington DC pipes, drums, and colour guard (www.saintandrewsociety.org), it is not surprising that they would elect to dress in the least expensive, most readily accessible outfit. Hence Argyll jackets and the other accouterments of civilian attire worn by bandsmen.

The question of what makes something "historical" as opposed to "traditional" is a difficult one to answer, but to me the difference between the two terms is continuity of use.

So, the Great Kilt strikes me as historical, as it fell out of favour for nearly two centuries before undergoing a revival in recent times. Ghillie brogues, kilt jackets, Glengarries, and the rest of modern pipe band kit are traditional because there has been an unbroken lineage of use from their first appearance down to the present.

I will admit that one can semantically "blur the line" between historical and traditional, but the distinction really isn't that hard to make, unless one wishes to engage in parsing arguments. It is easy to see that the great kilt falls into the historical category; however, in regard to your assertion that the Argyll is traditionally worn by pipe bands, one could as easily-- and in my mind more validly-- make the argument that historically and traditionally pipe bands have worn military style uniforms, and have only recently adopted inexpensive civilian attire as their costume when performing.

But even if defining the difference between traditional and historical attire was much more difficult, the difference between what is worn by a band, and what constitutes "ordinary" Highland attire, is clearly discernible. Bands may wear civilian attire as their costume when performing (at which point it becomes their uniform), but that fact doesn't really make the topic of band uniforms something that fits into the definition of ordinary civilian Highland attire.

Likewise, lengthy lists of what tartans are popular in the world of pipe bands seems merely to underscore that this thread really does belong somewhere else: Historical (because of the constant references to The Highlanders of Scotland); Celtic Music (because it is about bands); or maybe Tartans (because of the lists of tartans worn by bands). None of this places the discussion in a civilian context, which, I believe, the "Traditional" forum is all about.

Now, having said all of that-- I personally find your posts on the subject of pipe bands to be very interesting. It is, in my opinion, unfortunate that they are scattered all over the site, rather than pulled together in one forum. Perhaps Steve and the Mods should consider a dedicated Pipe Band forum, similar to the Heraldry forum, so that these postings can attract a wider audience?

MoR