On 5 Apr 2010, Matt Seattle wrote: > Yes, first weekend in July, with comps for NSP and BP, recently not > well supported by either piping community, in contrast to many other > flourishing comps there. It will run this year but I doubt if it'll > keep going much longer if no-one enters.
It was supported financially and with publicity by the NPS for two years (2007 & 8, IIRC). The judges expenses on at least one of those years was paid by the NPS. There were promises of attendance and support from various people and organisations when the problem first was aired, but promised attendees then did not materialise on the day. I attended those two years and tried to encourage others, but to no avail. It's a long way from anywhere and petrol is even more expensive this year. As far as nsp players are concerned, there is nothing with which they can join in unless they have other instruments or G sets. Attempts to run an F pitch nsp workshop also lacked sufficient support. Communication with the organisers was difficult (I am aware that the committee is now different). The lack of venues for sessions in the village - partly due to a reduced number of such spaces in recent years and partly due to the available areas being swamped by people playing inappropriate music badly (the latter my jaundiced and personal view only) - is a further disincentive. Definite commitment is required: saying yes someone should run & support it is not sufficient. I can't travel that far any more unless I know there is something worthwhile at the end of it (nice drive though it is). Nor do I have time to do much in the organising line. Having been thoroughly negative, if someone else can get a program going (the use of modes in Border music, Matt? <grin>), I'll attend if at all possible. Cheers Julia To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
