Pipers back live broadcast petition
Mid Argyll Pipe Band’s pipe major hopes to see live piping performances remain staple offerings on BBC Scotland.
A petition, “Why we must retain the full-service Pipeline programme on BBC Radio Scotland” has been launched to help show the appetite within the pipe band community for continued live broadcasts as the future of such programmes comes under review.
MAPB pipe major Stephen Clark is adamant that the BBC’s range of live piping programmes, which includes the flagship Pipeline programme on BBC Radio Scotland, must be retained in full.
The pipe major told the Advertiser: “Pipeline has been a mainstay on BBC Radio Scotland for decades and for many, myself included, an introduction to not only pipe band music, but top level solo playing and folk music.
“This was back before it was as easy to access all of this as now, however, they still bring in both top pipe bands and solo pipers to do recording sessions specifically for the show.
“They also do a more in-depth World Pipe Band Championships review, including full performances and detailed analysis from some of the top experts in pipe bands, compared to the show that is broadcast on television.
“Traditional Scottish-centred arts such as piping and drumming, plus many others, should not be excluded from the mainstream media outlets - if anything they should be encouraged and put out more.
“Removing the programme would put BBC Radio Scotland in a very poor light.”
Simon McKerrell’s petition on the website Change.org, which had amassed more than 9,000 signatures by Wednesday of this week, said: “Today, the future of Pipeline, BBC Radio Scotland’s flagship bagpiping music radio show, and its Gaelic-language sister show, Crunluath, as well as several other niche musical genre-driven radio shows on BBC Radio Scotland, are under threat of elimination or cutbacks that would see them removed or mere disc-jockeying programmes.
“Decisions about the future of these programmes are currently under consideration at the BBC, and it is important to demonstrate the global strength of feeling and audience sentiment for the retention of a full-fat, full-service specialist piping radio show on BBC Radio Scotland, that retains its outside broadcasts, recorded soloist sessions, interviews and coverage of major musical events in the life of the global piping and drumming community.”
Mr McKerrell’s petition continued: “Outside broadcasts on Pipeline are critical to recording the cultural heritage of the piping community because they are the only public record of our national musical traditions and are vital to broadcasting and preserving our musical heritage, including that of pipers and drummers based outside of Scotland who travel every year to compete and perform at our festivals and competitions.
“Any move to a cheaper, recording-driven show would greatly impoverish our musical lives, not least because solo pipers cannot, and do not, make albums any more.”
Inveraray piper Stuart Liddell MBE was also one of those to sign the petition.
It is available online at www. change.org/p/why-we-mustretain-a-full-service-pipelineprogramme-on-bbc-radioscotland.