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Battle of the Bagpipes

Battle of the Bagpipes

Sky Arts

July 2024

There is no sound as evocative of the place it represents than the Highland bagpipe.  In this series we delve into the history of Scotland’s musical heritage with the key pipers and players from both the military and the civilian pipe bands, taking the viewer with them on their journey to some of the UK’s most iconic events and competitions and along the way, uncover the history and the impact this unique instrument has and the part it plays in the modern world.

Kicking off with Piping Live! the international festival that celebrates all things pipe related in the civilian world, and culminating at the World Championships, the fiercely contested competition where the world’s best pipe bands all vie to be crowned worthy winners, along the way we also have a front row seat at the King’s coronation, witness the rigour of selecting the Lone Piper, go backstage at the Edinburgh Military tattoo and take in culture at the North Berwick highland games too.

From the Renfrewshire School’s pipe band, made up of school aged children, embarking on their first piping season, and the latest army recruits who compete to bag a place in the Coronation massed band, to the current world champions, Field Marshall Montgomery who are going for their 14th title; throughout the series we follow key characters in both worlds as we delve into the history of the music and the story of people whose pipe playing has shaped not only their lives, but those around them.