(BAGPIPES PLAY)
NARRATOR: The highland bagpipes...
an iconic instrument.
Its distinctive call
has been used in warfare for hundreds of years.
But now modern pipe bands go to battle...
in a different way.
In August,
bands from across the globe gathered in Scotland
for three internationally renowned competitions...
Just keep it calm!
..Piping Live, The North Berwick Highland Games,
and the ultimate clash of the piping clans...
It's getting a bit real now.
..the World Pipe Band Championships.
Come on, (BEEP) sake guys.
Where civilian bands compete against each other...
There's a rivalry between a lot of bands.
..blow by blow.
My one dying wish, I wish...
you all keep that tempo, just for once.
For the ultimate honour...
Listen in! Concentrate!
'..to be crowned...' Let's go!
..the World Pipe Band Champions.
(CROWD CHEERS, WHISTLES)
And this time,
as we reach the end of the season...
Let's go finish it off now. Let's do it, guys.
..the pipers prepare for fireworks.
As the military...
Let's keep the standards high.
..and the marching bands charge their chanters
for the final time...
Final tune area.
..in the ultimate battle of the bagpipes.
Alright. Quick... march.
(DRUM ROLLS)
It's just days before the biggest competition
in the piping calendar -
the World Pipe Band Championships.
Pipe Major Stuart Liddell is putting the pipers
of grade one pipe band Inverary and District
through their paces in preparation
for the fiercest tournament of the year.
My entire life...
is taken up with piping. (CHUCKLES)
Good. Right, semi-circle, please.
I'm a reluctant Pipe Major. I'd say I would be...
firm but fair. (CHUCKLES)
That kind of stuff. You hear that A fluctuating?
that's because one or two people are not...
confident with the instrument.
If you can't find yourself, I'll find you.
And you don't want that. Right, come on.
I think the chemistry of a band is the most important thing.
Rival grade one band, Field Marshal Montgomery,
are recognised as one of the most successful
pipe bands of all time.
Their Pipe Major, Richard Parkes,
has taken the band to victory at the World Pipe Band Championships
a record breaking 13 times.
I have standards which people need to achieve to play in the band.
The D tailed off at the end, guys.
Round here the D tailed off at the end.
It was good and then that just tailed at the end. Don't do that!
We need a solid D right to the end, OK?
I became Pipe Major in 1981.
With regard to pipe band music, I am very much a traditionalist.
Listen guys, come on in a wee second.
It was looking really, really good and then it tailed at the end.
The band have been so successful over the past number of years.
There's always pressure there to perform.
Richard definitely knows what he wants to achieve.
He really does have that focus.
And it might seem that he's very strict,
and that he's very demanding but during our down time,
it's, uh... it's a lot more light-hearted.
On the outskirts of Edinburgh,
grade one underdogs Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate
are limbering up with Pipe Major Ross Harvey.
Fire 'em up guys. (BAGPIPES SQUEAKING)
(IMITATES THE SOUND OF BAGPIPES STARTING)
There is a huge commitment to being a grade one pipe band.
It's just a wee bit slow
when we first go into the jig, guys.
'The band started 51 years ago.'
But the band has never won a world championships.
I like the way we're approaching the first beat.
Just make sure, by the time we get to the second beat,
we release it a bit more.
The band has recently promoted 19-year-old Kerr McQuillan
to the position of leading drummer.
Right, let's get the drums on, guys!
Kerr, he would be the youngest leading drummer
of a grade one band at the top level right now.
It's been great to have someone in that's young
and excited about it all.
Let's go for... John MacFadyen set.
Quick march.
'You know, I'm a perfectionist,'
as much as the guys don't like it at times.
I'm very much on everyone to squeeze the best out of them.
Clock on the tempo, we're far too fast.
Calm it down a little bit. You hear it in the wee runs.
We're far too fast. Try it again.
'I think this year's worlds is very open.
'The belief inside the camp is strong.
'We're going in thinking that we can go and win it.'
Drones only.
Ready? And...
Back over at Inverary and District,
Californian recruit Connor Eckert
has flown in to spend the summer with the band
and join their attempt
to take home the ultimate prize in piping.
I'd say our biggest competition is Field Marshal Montgomery,
and Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate.
They're both tremendous bands and the winner could be either.
It could be any of us, it just depends on the day.
It's that time of year, you know what I mean?
That's the time of year when everything comes together.
If it doesn't...
..thanks for trying.
A lot of things could go wrong on the day. Just, like, some moisture problems,
Sometimes even your chanter can, like,
shoot out of your stock, which would be really bad.
RICHARD: The world championships are the most important
competition of the year.
Things can go wrong with weather.
The weather has a major impact on the sound of the pipes.
The pipes are a reed instrument,
and you've got a lot of moisture going through the pipes.
So you need stable weather conditions to get a stable sound.
Quick... march!
To win the world championships, it would be huge.
I mean, ultimately, that is the absolute pinnacle.
That's what you're working towards.
Good.
Another band sharpening their skills
are student hopefuls Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band,
who are rehearsing with Pipe Major Keith Bowes
in the run up to competing in the novice juvenile B category
at the World Pipe Band Championships.
I was born and raised in Renfrewshire.
I went to a Renfrewshire school,
and I see the benefits of playing music.
Any instrument, but in particular the bagpipes.
It's an opportunity for young people to learn and thrive
and achieve things they wouldn't have otherwise been able to do.
Keith is very strict.
He makes us work,
and he's brutally honest about how we play.
Tone blowing again in the top hand,
and the high As in that last part really, really crucial.
You want the whole thing to sparkle towards the end.
(SINGS THE TUNE)
Sing it. (STUDENT SINGS)
(LAUGHS)
Right, last part. Let's hit it.
Up and after two.
'I'm trying to instil in them that performance is key.'
I'm just trying to push them, trying to get the next level.
We're the underdogs and we always have been,
as Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band.
The bands that we compete against
are mainly private schools, fee paying schools.
We've always been the underdogs but it's...
always nice because we're better than them.
The music is really, really important to me,
and I can't stress enough that that is the goal -
to play good music.
And then whatever comes after that is...
is an added bonus.
We can win the worlds but there's so much
that would have to fall into place at that moment
and throughout that day.
I'm honestly not thinking about that.
(CHUCKLES)
In just one day's time,
thousands of passionate pipers from all over the world
will descend on Glasgow Green
for the World Pipe Band Championships.
Meanwhile, the military is also preparing
for its own annual highlight -
the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
A huge spectacle,
seen by 220,000 spectators
over the month of August.
The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming,
based in Edinburgh, is responsible for coordinating
the Massed Pipes and Drums for the show.
The Tattoo is iconic.
People come to see the pipes and drums
going across the drawbridge at the castle.
One of Major Gordon Rowan's duties
is to select the Lone Piper,
arguably the most revered role within the Tattoo,
with pipers across the military
competing for the top spot.
To be the Lone Piper, it's really...
what every piper wants to do.
If you're confident and you're not scared of heights then everything will go well.
At the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming,
it's the job of Major Rowan and Captain Ross McCrindle
to select the soldier who will step into the spotlight
as the Lone Piper at this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
It's a great privilege, first of all.
I think you know you are...
the face of the British Army,
and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
And I think with that comes responsibility,
as an individual but also with the weight of the reputations
of those two organisations laying on your shoulders.
I'm sure we'll see a few this morning that will be very nervous.
There are four pipers in the running, who will play their version
of the Lone Piper Melody, Guth a'Phiobaire,
a tune specially commissioned for the occasion.
This is not your first time being the Lone Piper.
No it's not, sir. I was lucky enough to get selected last year.
Playing in front of directors is never easy.
I'm nervous, but I'm good to go, so hopefully I get selected.
Once you're happy, let's hear the Lone Piper tune.
'They have to concentrate from the minute they're up there.
'There's 9,000 eyes watching,
'and when that spotlight comes on, you want them all to succeed.'
It's a very prestigious role to hold,
and there's obviously a selection process to get it.
And to be selected last year was just...
my first time was an honour and a privilege to be able to do so.
Well done. Thank you.
I've always wanted to do the Lone Piper.
'I'm imagining it will be an amazing experience.' Sirs.
So you passed the Pipe Major course in April?Sir.
How do you feel about it?
Ah, a bit nervous, sir. I don't like heights.
You don't like heights? No, but...
So we'll need to take that into consideration.
Nah, I'll be fine. I wouldn't worry about that.
Well, the floor's yours. Take your time.
I've played the pipes all over the world,
on operational tours as well, in Afghanistan and Iraq.
When I joined the army, I first enquired about the pipe band.
I liked the sound of them when I was younger,
and I've just kind of always liked the sound of the bagpipes.
How do you think he'll cope with heights?
Operational soldier. I'm sure he'll rise to the challenge.
Being the Lone Piper is just the pinnacle...
of being a piper within the army. The floor's yours.
I picked up piping when I was a cadet back down in Liverpool.
I've been playing pipes for 20 years now.
Most recently taken part
in the state funeral of Her Majesty the Queen,
and also the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
Good. A bit sharp in the high A.
Overall? Yeah.
Contender. OK.
Good morning, Senior Pipe Major.
The floor's yours, take your time. Thank you.
COLIN: I think playing at the Tattoo...
is probably the scariest part. All eyes are on you
for that moment that you're stood at the top of the castle.
Hopefully I get the opportunity to be there this year.
OK, thank you. Thank you.
So, the challenges of selecting... Yeah.
..the individual for the TV recordings.Mm-hm.
I think we've got a straight, easy decision.
You all had good runs this morning, but myself
and the 2IC have made the decision.
For this year's Lone Piper, we've selected...
..WO1 Colin Simpson to be the Lone Piper
for the TV broadcasts. Well done.
Thank you very much.
I'm very pleased with how the audition went today,
and I'm delighted to have been selected to be this year's Lone Piper.
With it being broadcast all over the world,
it just puts that added pressure on you to...
to make sure that you can nail the tune on the night.
NARRATOR: Over the month of August, top military and civilian pipe bands
from all over the world gather to perform every evening
on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle
for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo,
a dazzling mix of music, dance and military ceremony
that has been thrilling nightly audiences since 1950.
Growing from a modest event to today's global spectacle,
it's broadcast to an estimated 100 million people worldwide.
The annual climactic highlight is introduced
by the iconic sight of the Massed Pipes and Drums
marching through the gatehouse of the castle,
and culminates in a performance by the Lone Piper.
At the top of Edinburgh Castle,
the leading civilian and military massed bands
are gathering for their final rehearsal,
affectionately known to the pipers as the 'big blow.'
NORMAN: So this is the mass tune up. All the bands just come together,
and just constantly improving the show night in and night out.
OK, just before we start, make sure your collars are done up.
Regimental, it was your choice to keep the headdress off.
Pipe Majors, no pressure, you make that call.
There's 17 nations covered in my band
and so for a lot of them this is their very first time.
And so the excitement is massive within the team.
Once we're in a straight line, then we can start to move up together.
OK? So we've gotta do it as a team.
ROBERT: This has always been my ambition,
since the day I joined the army 22 years ago,
to become the Senior Drum Major,
Highland drumming for the British Army.
And the time is here for me to march out the drawbridge
with 229 pipers and drummers behind me.
It's an incredible feeling.
PENI: You don't wanna do a mistake out there.
Thousands of people will be watching you and you just don't wanna...
do silly mistakes out there.
GORDON: I get nervous for the performers.
One lapse in concentration,
somebody could be maybe out of step,
the dressing could be out.
And you want them to do very, very well,
not just for themselves but for the Army School
and for all these 9,000 that are here to watch us this evening.
OK, ladies and gentlemen,
let's keep the standards high.
Remember you're not just representing your own pipes and drums,
you're representing the Massed Pipes and Drums.
Remain sharp throughout, no early chanters.
When you strike that bagpipe,
no early notes coming in, please.
The standard's good.
We must keep that standard where we are now and polish it.
So let's have a good one.
Please settle down.
(DRUMS ROLL)
(INSTRUMENTS STOP)
Let's pick that up again, please! You heard it yourselves, OK?
Good! Let's have a good one, folks.
Under your own Pipe Majors and Drum Majors carry on. Thank you.
NARRATOR: As the drones die down for the massed bands,
Senior Pipe Major Colin Simpson
makes the solo climb to the summit of the castle,
where he will perform as the Lone Piper.
COLIN: For me, it's important to get up
and have a look at the platform where we're gonna be strapped in
and actually performing the Lone Piper piece.
When you get up to this kind of stage,
once you're away from the rest
of the Massed Pipes and Drums, up here on your own.
You know, you're getting the final tune of the pipes,
that's when the nerves start kicking in.
You come up here in the evening and, you know,
the castle's completely empty and you're just there yourself.
You've got the tune running through your head, what you're ready to play.
You can hear the rest of the Tattoo, performing down on the esplanade below you.
It just gives you that time to kind of...
focus and prepare for what you're about to do.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(CANONS BLAST) (CROWD CHEERING)
As canons herald the start
of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo,
nerves are racing for Major Gordon Rowan
as he waits for the massed bands to enter the castle's esplanade
through the drawbridge.
(DRUMS, PIPES PLAYING)
Pipes and drums are coming. They'll go to the first block.
Once they're in position then the second block
of the pipes and drums will come across,
so everything's going well so far.
Now the drummers have broken away from the main pipes and drums,
they will go up to the top and they will form
the main head of the thistle.
The side drums will then come down and they will form a circle
around the bass drummer.
And then the remainder of the pipers
will then form the stems of the thistle
with a big, big outer circle.
And then the other pipes and drums form
the stems facing towards the royal gallery.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(CROWD CHEERING, CLAPPING)
The crowd's reaction was fantastic.
You could hear the roar as soon as the pipes struck up.
A good start for the first night. Getting everybody out
onto the esplanade in front of 9,000 people, it's a bit daunting.
They're trying to find their marks, where they're going,
trying to think about the music.
There's still bits we can improve on but that'll come through the month.
Better and better every night and that's what we strive for.
(DRUMS, PIPES PLAYING)
They've done very well.
They've all come on to the arena now.
From The Tiree Bridal Song, it brings me back to my days
when I was learning to play the bagpipes as a young boy.
And now they're playing The High Drive.
(CROWD CHEERING) I always feel proud
of what the pipers and drummers deliver.
I've been on that esplanade for a great number of years,
when I was a young piper within the ranks
all the way to being the unit Pipe Major,
And, as well, being a Senior Pipe Major,
being up on that rampart doing the Lone Piper.
You're preparing yourself,
you're continuously checking your instrument
before you go up onto the platform. You know you know the tune.
And then when you strike in for the first time,
you get that sigh of relief,
and you know it's getting beamed around the world so it has to be good.
(BAGPIPES PLAY)
(CROWD CHEERING, CLAPPING)
(DRUMS ROLL)
(BAGPIPES PLAY)
NARRATOR: With fireworks lighting up the Edinburgh sky,
the pipers head back to their barracks
to rest and conserve their energy
for their month-long residency at the castle.
Back in Glasgow, the World Pipe Band Championships
is reaching its peak.
The annual highlight is a gruelling two-day event,
where top-tier bands compete across four separate,
equally weighted performances
for the title 'World Pipe Band Champions.'
The grade one bands arrive
for the second day of the competition
for final practice and tuning,
before stepping into the arena
to perform in front of the adjudicators...
..where they will be marked on musicality, tone,
rhythm and timing.
STUART: The worlds is the main goal.
You're putting yourself against the very best from the world.
ROSS: It's the pinnacle of the season and everything you've been doing...
is geared up towards it.
Last year, Richard Parkes
steered Field Marshal Montgomery to victory,
taking home the trophy for the 13th time.
RICHARD: Once you win the worlds, you don't want to lose it.
It started off really good and then you slowed down a wee bit,
so keep it pushing on, alright?
Guys, just give us a wee 6/8 just to get them going.
The band's just in a really exciting place.
It's working great with Kerr. We've got someone young
and full of energy that's coming in,
and everyone's bought into his vision.
Now it's all about setting up the drums properly
and making sure everyone's in unison,
making sure everyone's calm and been fed and watered and stuff like that.
We have a bit of a problem,
and we could really do with your help.
Our bus has arrived but the bass drummer's sticks aren't there.
OK. Legend. Thank you very much. Bye.
Blair?
Blair? Be here in ten minutes.
Ten minutes.
Our bass drummer player, Blair, left his sticks in his car.
So we've had to get a couple of people to bring some sticks down.
And it's all sorted now, so no problems. No problems at all.
KERR'S DAD: The effort and commitment
from Kerr and the team has just been phenomenal.
The natural thing you do as a former member,
you're always willing the positivity and the energy.
Alright, big man.
There's an element of me as his dad.
But there's also an element of me as the former member,
so you always have the discerning ear.
Stroke, brush, brush, like...
Christina. No, no, cos you're still leaning in.
As much of the shoulder blade as you can give me.
Brilliant, listen to that.
So hold the stroke.
Lovely Blair, well done.
I'm really super excited for them.
He's young in years but mature in the head.
When he was 16 he sat me down,
and he said something that...
put a lump in my throat and shed some water in my eyes to say,
"Dad, I want to be the leading drummer of Boghall
"to help return this band to greatness."
And that, for me, was profound.
This is a special day, this is when...
all my dreams have came true, ultimately,
of leading the band in grade one.
So it's huge, yeah.
Field Marshal Montgomery
arrive at their competition base,
a superior venue on the edge of the park
that provides shelter
from the unforgiving Scottish elements.
A potential advantage for the reigning world champions.
I never remember it being easy at the worlds.
It will always be difficult, the bands are all good.
I'll be nervous for all the performances so that's just a natural feeling.
Hold on, what is happening there?
(SINGS THE TUNE) It's like you're playing something different there.
Come on, (BEEP) sake guys.
(PLAYS PIPE)
Look.
There's definitely a huge sense of pride to represent Field Marshal.
It's been a dream of mine from whenever I was a boy.
It's definitely something that's...
really exceeded all my expectations.
Last year's runners up, Inverary and District Pipe Band,
unload and set up camp on the green.
Stuart Liddell, their Pipe Major,
is quietly confident in his approach to this year's competition.
The weather being the weather, it's gonna produce
a lot of really good sounds from a lot of the bands.
I had a little solo event last night.
It was a bit of a freestyle, got back in the door about 11:30.
Straight to bed. Maybe a wee dram.
Our chances...
..we're in amongst it, let's put it that way.
You've gotta deliver this first performance.
Yes, I like the relaxed walk-in-the-park attitude,
but there still needs to be focus at the same time.
Right, so... good luck today.
I'll see you on the field.
Whilst the grade one bands continue
to battle it out in the main arena,
Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band is receiving last minute orders
as they prepare to perform in their first
World Pipe Band Championships
in the novice juvenile B category.
All the young people have got up nice and early,
and they've all turned up on time and we've not had any disasters yet.
So good start to the day and long may it continue.
WILLIE: We started about 5 o'clock this morning and it'll be...
probably be 7:00 or 7:30 before we march off here tonight.
So it's a fair...
..it's a fairly long battle. (CHUCKLES)
I'm trying to get through to the young people
that the performance comes first,
and then you can worry about what happens after that.
And anything, genuinely anything, is possible with the young people.
The performance is the crucial part.
The band means a lot to me. I've dedicated a huge chunk
of my life towards this and I don't want to be the one that messes up.
Cos this is a team sport and I do not want to let the team down.
I think sometimes the squeal happens
when you're just a wee bit uptight, instead of just reminding yourself
just to kind of relax your shoulders,
and think that you've been through this a million times, OK?
So it's really important that you get back
to the bus and let your pipes breathe.
You must pull the bag cover back,
stock your chanters, empty your water traps just now
if you all haven't already done so, and rest.
Okey dokey. Right, well done. Let's get back to the bus.
It's the final day of the championships,
and Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band
are preparing to compete.
Ultimately, this is what we put all the hard work in for.
There's always that reason to practice,
always that reason to try and get a wee bit better.
The worlds is the biggest event in the calendar.
I'm nervous about competing. I always get really nervous.
My knees shake, my legs shake.
Sometimes I feel sick.
But you just kind of have to block that out and focus on playing.
I'm terrified but excited.
(CROWD CHEERS, CLAPS)
With their performance in the bag,
on the other side of the park, the grade one bands are preparing
for their penultimate performances.
The members of Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate
will perform their march, strathspey and reel in the main arena.
EMMA: I think the worlds has that tendency to get everybody a bit too excited.
I think we need to work on...
making sure we're just calm.
Listen in, concentrate!
Last part, one, two, three, four.
I think we do have what it takes to win.
We're in a very special place just now.
The vibe in the band and the feeling in the band
is something that I've never experienced before.
(CROWD CHEERS, CLAPS)
As Field Marshal Montgomery stride out onto the stage
to perform their march, strathspey and reel,
things take an unexpected turn for the current world champions.
RICHARD: Quick march.
We had a little problem with the introduction,
where a piper's drone double-toned so we didn't get...
a full E at the start of the performance,
which is a bit disappointing but it happens.
(CROWD CHEERS, CLAPS)
As storm clouds gather over the competition,
Inverary and District Pipe Band
are also experiencing challenges.
The changeable weather has had unfortunate consequences
for one of their key pipers.
My pipes got a little wet and I got cut.
Right before we went on I was having trouble with my drone,
so I went off and dried them.
But then I had a chat with Stuart and just said,
I think it would be best if I don't play this competition.
So I cut myself for that, just for the band,
just so I don't waste their time.
It kind of sucks but it was a good experience,
and I'll be back next year, better.
The show must go on for Inverary and District,
as they take to the green to perform their march, strathspey and reel.
The weather conditions threw up a little...
unexpected change in the chanter.
With Connor, you know, it kind of came on us all of a sudden.
He performed at some of the championships this year really well,
he was beside me a lot of the time.
And he did excellently, so it's...
I dunno if it's just because of the worlds or what,
but suddenly they were not working.
The worlds has four performances as well.
In the other championships, you just play once.
So you can gear yourself up for one run, it's fairly easy.
For this you have to have a set of pipes
that are gonna last for a lot of playing.
As the unpredictable weather continues,
the grade one bands prepare for their last performances -
their final chance to impress the adjudicators,
this time with a medley that will showcase
each band's unique style and sound.
KERR: The weather is a bit of a factor in what we're doing.
So we're just, right now, coming up with a plan to how we're gonna manage the weather.
We're gonna keep under the trees as much as possible
to preserve the tone of the drums.
And then we'll move out,
and we'll put drum covers on the drums to keep them dry.
At the world championships, the focus is laser sharp.
It's a case of getting the timing right in the build up.
I feel we're in a very good position.
We're gonna be in the mix somewhere.
We just need to go on and keep doing what we're doing,
hold that position and I'm sure we'll be OK.
Very excited. Very, very excited.
Can't wait to hear them in the competition arena.
Drummers, come here! Drummers, drummers, drummers, drummers.
The adrenaline's pumping, of course,
especially when you're walking up to the line.
Alright, we've got it. It's going so well.
Now let's go finish it off now. Let's do it, guys.
(CROWD CHEERS)
Over in Field Marshal Montgomery's camp,
the unstable weather conditions
are also playing havoc with their pipes,
causing further concern.
MATT: It's really bad over here. Is it?Aye.
It's probably the sun shining on them.The high Gs are terrible.
I've been doing this for a long time and I do read the weather a lot.
I watch where the sun is,
try to stay so the sun's gonna be out when we're tuning up.
So it's something that I've learned through the years.
Right, keep the chanters out the sun, keep the chanters out the sun.
Keep chanters out the sun!
A lot of it is luck, complete luck, as far as weather's concerned.
Final tune area.
(CROWD CHEERS)
As Inverary and District psyche themselves up
for their final performance...
..Stuart Liddell is focussed on the task ahead.
What am I looking for? Best performance of the year.
I want to try and really go for it.
In my opinion, you need to have a good start, a good stop,
good unison playing,
good tone and no mistakes.
That's the five sort of boxes to tick.
We're last on, which is also a good thing, I think.
Of the four, I think that was the best one.
You know, save the best for last. Really, really happy.
To get everybody to come together to do all that,
just the time and effort and sacrifices that people give
to be in the band and to make the music.
MATT: That was a tough afternoon but...
really, really enjoyed that performance.
The adrenaline keeps you going. It's just great to...
come off and finish on a high.
Oof. Was that awesome?
Yeah it was good, it was good.
It's all in the hands of the judges now.
We can't change anything now, it's all been done.
Just go away and have a quiet drink now and relax.
WOMAN: Richard, that was amazing. Thank you.
I thought it was really strong. Ensemble-wise, it was good.
Tone was nice start to finish.
We've had four very strong runs,
and, uh... we're pleased.
We've worked so hard, do you know what I mean?
I'm just so proud of us. I'm so, like...
(CHUCKLES)
I think we've done enough to be proud of ourselves.
And I think we've done enough
to do well... I think.
KERR: We've done our job, four excellent runs.
Now we just have to wait and see what the judges think.
What I got from the winning band,
in terms of my choice...
..was that I found them very exciting.
They were very dynamic in the way they played their music.
Their transitions from one idiom to the next was...
it was just breathtakingly smooth at times.
I really felt as if it was truly
a musical journey they took me on.
They led me there.
And the standard of the technique today
was, I thought, was just wonderful.
I was really quite touched by it today.
ANNOUNCER: The 2023...
world champions are...
For our grade one bands,
the hard graft, long hours and dedication
have all come down to this moment.
Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate, Caledonia.(SCREAMING, CHEERING)
After more than half a century of striving for the coveted prize,
crowd favourites, Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate
have won the ultimate battle of the bagpipes.
Very disappointed, as you would expect, but I'm very happy for Boghall.
It's great for them and their history that they managed
to win the world championships for the first time.
And I really congratulate Ross Harvey and the band.
(CROWD CHEERING)
There's a bit of disappointment, of course, aye. But there's also...
if you look at little things that we could improve on,
there's always quite a lot we can go back to and...
..you know, learn from,
and come back hopefully stronger next year, so that's fine.
But, yeah, it's raw at the moment, aye, no doubt about it.
(CROWD CHEERING)
We've just won the worlds and...
honestly I can't describe it, it's the best day of my life.
It's everything I wanted to do...
in my life has just happened.
And... honestly, I can't describe it, it's amazing.
(CRIES) Um... I can't...
(CHUCKLES) I can't put it into words.
(CRIES)
Tonight we will celebrate.
And tomorrow, we will celebrate.
And the next day we will probably celebrate some more.
(LAUGHS)
(ALL CHEERING)
And history continued to be made
in the novice juvenile B category.
Our underdogs, Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band,
emerged victorious as world champions of their class -
their first title at a major championship.
(CROWD CHEERING)
GIRL: I said, so are you!
(PLAYERS CHATTER, LAUGH)
We thought we'd maybe get second or third.
We really didn't expect first, so when it was announced,
I don't think I've ever screamed so much in my entire life.
Years and years of effort gone into this tiny trophy.
The well-deserved celebrations may continue into the night,
but for our pipe bands, tomorrow brings a new dawn...
when all the pipers start to ready themselves
to clash chanters and settle scores...
..as they go once more into the battle of the bagpipes.
(BAGPIPES PLAY "SCOTLAND THE BRAVE")
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