Friday 6 July 2012

City of Rome Pipe Band

It is fitting that one of Montelago's inaugural performers in 2003 makes an appearance at the festival's 10th edition. In 2012 The City of Rome Pipe Band (CRPB) makes its third appearance at the festival - having performed in 2004 as well - and its nothing short of the genuine article as far as Scottish pipe and drum bands go, with 12 pipers, 8 drummers, and its own officially registered "City of Rome" tartan.

The band was founded in 2000 on the shared passion for the bagpipes of three pipers, one of whom was Simon Emslie, who was not only a Rome resident at the time, but also a member of the internationally renowned grade one Vale of Atholl Pipe Band. Their first concert was performed in May, 2001, in front of the Colosseum, heralding the arrival of Italy's first ever Scottish pipe and drum band.

Since then, CRPB has grown in number and stature, featuring musicians from four continents, and performances in Switzerland, France, and naturally Scotland, where they have participated in the World Pipe Band Championships three times. Among the highlights of their performances was the rendition of the Scottish national anthem for the Six Nations rugby match played between Italy and Scotland in Rome in February, 2002, an event that has since become a fixture on the band's calendar every two years.

It's not often you'll have the opportunity to be foot tapping and emotionally transported by the stirring sound of a full pipe band - made up of Italians - in the surrounds of the Apennine peaks of central Italy, so don't miss it - August 4th at a quarter to midnight.

Sample tracks can be found on the Montelago Celtic festival web site at http://www.montelagocelticfestival.it/artisti/artist1/, with more info on the band's own site at www.cityofromepipeband.it.

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