AAJ » Music » Concerts and Events » Competitions » World Pipe Band Championships » Category Description
In 1930 the RSPBA (Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association) was founded. This association oversees the grading pipe bands and organises several major pipe band competitions, known as "The Majors". These major competitions include the World Pipe Band Championships (A.K.A. "The Worlds"), the Scottish Championships, the British Championships, the European Championships, and the Cowal Championships.
A competing pipe band performs two musical pieces, the MSR (March, Strathspey, and Reel) and the Medley (sometimes called the Selection). The MSR competition demonstrates the ability of the pipe band to master the basics of the Ceol Beag (Light Music) and the Medley competion is a 5 to 7 minute selection of all of the different styles of Ceol Beag (March, Strathspey, Reel, Jig, Hornpipe, and Air) put together by the pipe band.
