N.Z. pipers top with display

Press, 18 February 1977, Page 1

N.Z. pipers top with display

New Zealand pipe bands would outclass Scottish bands with their displays of marching, according to a world drumming champion, Mr Alex Duthart. Mr Duthart, who is in Christchurch as a judge in the New Zealand pipe band contest which will begin today, said that he had seen two New Zealand pipe bands overseas and had been very impressed with their display. He said the playing had been of a good quality, too. In the age of television the sooner Scottish bands learned this type of display the better, Mr Duthart said. This was what would attract the public. Mr Duthart said he

thought the reason that there was less emphasis on display work in Scotland was the time needed to practise the marching. “You could not get someone to give up his Saturday and Sunday overtime to go and march around a field,” said Mr Duthart.

Mr Duthart, who is 51, has been playing the drum all his life. “I started at about five years of age and played with two forks before 1 played with two drumsticks.” His father was a drummer also and Mr Duthart learned from him. Although he has won many championships he has always been an amateur. He worked as an engineer near Glasgow.