Live stream of Grade One Qualifiers today

[OC Richard]

Here's the live streaming

http://www.theworlds.co.uk/Pages/LIV...REAM-2017.aspx

They're taking the lunch break now, back at 2pm Glasgow time for, I believe, the Medleys.

As I understand the MSR Qualifiers were this morning, which I missed, it being 5:30am here now.

[OC Richard]

Just saw Ravara from Northern Ireland, very nice.

I think the sound is better than previous years- for once I can hear the bass drones of the pipes, and hear the work of the bass drum and midsection at least somewhat. That's the main thing that's lost when you hear a band on the internet or on a recording, the lush tone of the pipes and the full tonal spectrum of the bass and midsection.

Lovely subtle midsection work there from Ravara, nice to be able to hear it.

[OC Richard]

The live stream of the finals is starting in a few minutes, 10am Glasgow time

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ec6v9r/live/c4fzp6

[EagleJCS]

I think it's gonna be another close one on the MSR contest. Very strong performances throughout. A VERY good one from the newly-minted grade 1 band (promoted from Grade 2) - Pipes and Drums of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I thought Field Marshal Montgomery (FMM), St Laurence O'Toole (SLOT) and Inverary and District gave exceptional rounds.

It's a shame it started to rain right as Simon Fraser University (SFU) went up to the line. That seemed to affect their drone tuning somewhat. Scottish Power's (following SFU) tuning was probably also slightly off as a result of the rain.

Numbers-wise, the bands vary from 18-23 pipers, 5-8 tenor drums (of various sizes/pitches), and 8-13 snares - and of course only 1 bass drum per band.

Now waiting for the medley performance, to be followed by the Grade 2 contest.

[OC Richard]

So wonderful to have Bob Worral's commentary. He hears all the subtle things I can't.

I'm 100% with him in his yearly urging of bands to seek out less-played tunes and 4-part tunes. Makes you sit up and listen when a band plays a tune you've rarely heard... rather than hearing Highland Wedding for the fifth time! Nice tunes heard from Northern Ireland Police, Power, and Vale.

Yes SFU and Power got hit with the rain, bummer. And one band got hit with the sun suddenly coming out.

My awards so far:

Best Beards: SFU, with an epic ginger and an epic salt & pepper.

Best Knees: Inveraray. I hate the super-low pipe band kilt thing.

Interesting to see more bands going with the G1 chanters (Inveraray of course, but also Glasgow Police, Triumph Street, and Vale of Atholl). Still dominated by Shepherds though. Curious is FMM whose chanter looked like Shepherd but their bag-sponsor was RG Hardie. Usually when you get chanters for the band the chanter-maker gives the band bag-covers with the chanter-maker's logo on them.

About bass drums, remember when one of the bands was playing two bass drummers a couple years ago? I can't remember which band. They were at different pitches, a 4th or 5th apart.

[CamelCody]

Shame I missed the live stream, they don't seem to have any of the events on the website anymore. Well done IDPB for taking the title again though.

[OC Richard]

Shame I missed the live stream, they don't seem to have any of the events on the website anymore. Well done IDPB for taking the title again though.

I just went there and you can still see the videos

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ec6v9r/live/c4fzp6

[Jack Daw]

I'm listening/watching to the recording of Shotts & Dykehead's entry. It's one of my favorite bands as I have a few of their recordings. Thanks for posting the link.

[CamelCody]

Correction----I said congrats to IDPB for winning again but I realized shortly after that this is their first win. For some reason I thought they had won before.

[Tim Little]

Correction----I said congrats to IDPB for winning again but I realized shortly after that this is their first win. For some reason I thought they had won before.

Grade 2 in 2009