THE sound of pipes and drums will be heard in the city on Sunday, 23 February when the Ballarat Highland Gathering returns for another year.<\/p>\n
Thirty-five bands from across the state will head to Victoria Park to compete, playing a variety of music from 10am until late afternoon.<\/p>\n
Federation University Pipe Band\u2019s pipe major, Neil MacDonald said the competition starts with the Novice A section and progresses to the better bands in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re judged in two elements in the main competition. There\u2019s a medley of tunes, which goes for five or six minutes. The medley\u2019s more exciting to the untrained ear,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s also a march, strathspey and reel which is a traditional two-four march. We march in to form a circle and compete playing in a circle.\u201d<\/p>\n
The last event on the program is an impressive one, with all pipe bands teaming up including musicians from Scotch College, Haileybury, Ballarat Grammar, Warrnambool and St Arnaud.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe final mass band is at 4.30pm, with all the bands on the oval together, and that\u2019s always a spectacle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mass band\u2019s a lot of fun for people who love bagpipes. We march towards the crowd playing traditional Scottish music, so a lot of people with Scottish heritage enjoy it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit like the Edinburgh Tattoo. A lot of people like turning up to the mass band, but they can hear a lot of quality piping from 10am.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scottish stalls and food will be on site at the free event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE sound of pipes and drums will be heard in the city on Sunday, 23 February when the Ballarat Highland Gathering returns for another year. Thirty-five bands from across the state will head to Victoria Park to compete, playing a variety of music from 10am until late afternoon. Federation University Pipe Band\u2019s pipe major, Neil […]<\/p>\n