I am one of the 1% of membership that did not come from a GHB background.
While I am certainly interested in the historic reconstruction of repertoire and style, my
primary interest is in the instrument itself, a border bagpipe that crosses
borders. As a musician I am interested in the sound, the dronal foundation, and
the musical possibilities, in all genres. Surely this is part of the mission of
the lbps as well?

I certainly wouldn't have an argument with that Craig. Didn't realise that the whole article was in common stock though. Looks like I'm going to have to suffer the sorting of that ruddy paypal account and subscribe again. Oh that this site took cards for payment as well.

Tunni, you can pay with a card via paypal - no need for a paypal account. Directly accepting card payments is a step beyond any voluntary organization, IMHO.

As another member of the 1%, who has no GHB background, I wholly agree, and so, i suspect, do most of the committee. Having said that, I personally am 100% committed to restoring and playing the old music of Scotland, both pipes and fiddle...

Thanks Pete I will see about trying to work that out

A thought from another of the 1% about the last points of the talk shown here on the website---- the idea of imposing a style can be seen with the NSP group -- it started early in the 20th century and led to a division, on one side were those who thought the style of the Clough's ought to be imposed and others who disagreed.
This division has followed the group up to and including the present day, more venom went into print than should have and the presence of "closed groups of the accepted" developed. The energy was siphoned away from the objectives of the group and its' regional music.

What is proposed as next? A repetition of maker's who refuse to sell outside the UK?
and boycott if they do -- a maker is in it because he loves the instrument and it bring him income and pleasure to see and hear his cultural memories being resuscitated and passed on through diverse players and groups

They are at present just ideas but such ideology can split open a really large can of worms, the worms then start appearing on the music and in the end the very thing one is trying to preserve gets lost in the befuddle. After that the loudest and most expressive voice always wins

A bouyant status quo allows such mullings and they are a necessary part of a live society, let us keep it live and out of Bedlam.

Dave