View the Competition Rules

Children		Judge
Children - in First School Canteen
Solo, duet and group instrument.	9.30 - 12.00	Ken Cross
Solo. duet and group singing.	9.30 - 12.00	Ken Cross
Northumbrian Dialect Poetry.	12.00 - 12.30	Katrina Porteous

Open Competitions (including award for 16 years & under)		Judge
Jubilee Hall
Fiddle	12.30 to 1.45	Rod Matthews
Accordion	1.45 to 2.30	David Oliver
Instrumental Pairs	2.30 to 3.30	Brian Finnegan
Ceilidh Bands (includes award for 14 years and under)	3.30 to 4.30	Rod Matthews
The First School Main Hall
Northumbrian Pipes	1.00 - 2.30	Andy May
Northumbrian Pipes (New Tune)	2.30 - 3.00	Andy May
Lowland Pipes	3.00 - 3.30	Paul Martin
Piping Pairs	3.30 to 4.00	Paul Martin
The First School Canteen
Miscellaneous Instrument	1.00 - 1.45	Joey Oliver
Northumbrian Dialect Poetry and Verse	1.45 - 2.30	Katrina Porteous
Traditional Singing (includes award for 14 years and under)	2.30 - 3.30	Graham Pirt
Original Composition Song	3.30 to 4.30	Graham Pirt
The First School Assembly Hall
Whistle/Recorder	1.00 - 2.00	Calum Stewart
Flute	2.00 - 2.30	Calum Stewart
Original Composition Tune	2.30 - 3.00	Sophie Ball
Market Cross
Highland Pipes	4.00-4.20pm	Ross Martin
Highland Piping Pairs	4.20-4.40pm	Ross Martin
Snare Drumming.	4.40-5.00pm	Robert Walker

COMPETITION RULES (updated June 2007)

Important Information:   
Please complete your entry form at the Festival Office on Saturday morning between 9.30 -11.45. 

Please note:  all times are approximate and depend on number of entries.

CHILDREN'S COMPETITION RULES

Open to children of First and Middle School age (4 – 13 years) who live within a ten mile radius of Rothbury.  Please enter at the venue.

First School Assembly Hall

Singing

• Solo, duet and group  (3-8 pupils)
• Competitors to enter no more than two classes – either solo or duet plus group

Instrument

• Solo,duet and group (3-8 pupils)
• Competitors playing one instrument to enter no more than two classes.
• Competitors playing two instruments to enter all classes if desired but must play different instruments in solo and duet.

OPEN COMPETITIONS

ACCORDION           Jubilee Hall:             1.45 to 2.30pm

• Competitors entering more than one class must play different tunes in each class.
• The Judges will pay particular attention to the following points:-  accuracy, bass changes, rhythm, selection of tunes.
• Award for 16 years and under and Best Local Competitor

Novice & intermediate
Two tunes once through with repeats (AA:BB), one slow tune and one fast tune.

Open
Three tunes, a slow tune twice through (compulsory), and two faster tunes of the competitors choice.

 

CEILIDH BAND       Jubilee Hall:             3.30 to 4.30pm 

• Any band wishing to use electric/amplified instruments must be responsible for providing all necessary equipment and should note they are also responsible for such instruments being used at appropriate volume.  Judges will deduct marks if the balance is inappropriate. Please note no extra time is allowed for setting up/sound checks.
• Individuals may compete in up to 2 bands. Anyone wishing to enter this competition more than twice, must play a different instrument in each additional band.
• Award for 14 years and under.
• Playing time up to 5 minutes.

Open: (One Class)
Selection of tunes (Band’s own choice).

 

NORTHUMBRIAN DIALECT POETRY & VERSE        First School Canteen:       1.45 to 2.30 p.m.

• Award for 16 years and under and Best Local Competitor

Novice and Open

Original poem(s) or recitation(s) in verse, to be read by the author and to last not more than 5 minutes.

 

FIDDLE:                    Jubilee Hall:             12.30 to 1.45pm

• The Committee encourages the inclusion of local tunes, e.g. Northumbria and The Borders.
• Competitors entering more than one class must play different tunes in each class.
• The Judge will pay particular attention to the following points:-  intonation, rhythm, style, appropriate tempo, choice of programme.
• Award for 16 years and under and Best Local Competitor.

Novice and Intermediate
Two tunes, one slow and one faster, each to be played once through with repeats (where applicable).

Open
Three tunes - a slow tune (compulsory) and two faster tunes. Playing time up to 4 minutes.

 

FLUTE                       First School Assembly Hall:        2.00 to 2.30 p.m.

• Award for 16 years and under.

Open:   (One Class)
One slow tune.
One fast tune.

 

HIGHLAND PIPES              Outside Festival Office:    1.00 to 2.00 p.m.

• Award for 16 years and under

Novice:                      A march of your own choice

Intermediate:           Your own selection of pipe tunes to last 4 minutes.

Open:                        Your own selection of pipe tunes to last 6 minutes.

 

HIGHLAND PIPING PAIRS           Outside Festival Office:    3.30 to 4.00 p.m.

• Award for 16 years and under.

 

Open:      (One Class)      A selection of traditional pipe tunes lasting 5 minutes maximum.

 

INSTRUMENTAL PAIRS               Jubilee Hall:             2.30 to 3.30 p.m.

• Competitors wishing to enter this class more than once must play a different instrument each time.
• Award for 16 years and under.

Open:  (One Class)
Duet on any two acoustic instruments.
Selection of tunes to last not more than 4 minutes.

 

LOWLAND PIPES               First School Main Hall:                 3.00 to 3.30 p.m.

• Award for 16 years and under.

Open  (One Class)
Selection of traditional tunes, to last not more than 4 minutes.

 

LOWLAND, NORTHUMBRIAN & SCOTTISH SMALL PIPES  - DUET CLASS    
First School Main Hall:     3.30 to 4.00 p.m.

• Award for 16 years and under.

Open
A duet of any of the following combination: Lowland, Northumbrian & Scottish small pipes.
Selection of traditional tunes or tunes in the traditional style, to last not more than 4 minutes.

MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUMENT         First School Canteen:       1.00 to 1.45 p.m.

• Award for 16 years and under.

Open     (One class)
Open to any acoustic instrument, not represented in other solo competition (other than nstrumental Pairs).
A selection of traditional tunes not exceeding 4 minutes.

NORTHUMBRIAN SMALL PIPES           First School Main Hall:     1.00 to 2.30 p.m.

• Competitors entering more than one class must play different tunes in each class.
• The Judge will pay particular attention to the following points:-  tuning (chanter and drones), rhythm, fluency, accuracy, choice of programme, overall effect.
• Award for 16 years and under and Best Local Competitor

Novice
Two tunes, one slow, one faster, each to be played once through with repeats (where applicable)
           
Intermediate
Three tunes, including one slow air or waltz. Each tune to be played once through with repeats (where applicable).

Open
A tune with variations, plus any other two tunes of the competitor’s choice.  Playing time - of 4-6 minutes.

 

NORTHUMBRIAN PIPES – NEW TUNE                        First School Main Hall:     2.30 to 3.00 p.m.

• Competitors restricted to a maximum of two entries.
• The same tune cannot be entered in the Original Tune Competition.
• Award for 16 years and under

 

Open:   (One Class)
                       
An original composition for Northumbrian Pipes (to be played on the Northumbrian Pipes) by the composer or his nominee.

ORIGINAL COMPOSITION - SONG                     First School Canteen:       3.30 to 4.00 p.m.

• To be performed by the composer or his nominee.
• New lyric to existing tune not allowed.
• Competitors restricted to a maximum of two entries.
• Award for 16 years and under and Best Local Competitor

 

Open   (One Class)

New original song composition (music and lyric) in the traditional style.

 

ORIGINAL COMPOSITION – TUNE                    First School Assembly Hall:        2.30 to 3.00 p.m.

• To be played by the composer or his nominee.
• Competitors restricted to a maximum of two entries.
• The same tune cannot be entered in the New Tune Northumbrian Pipes Competition.
• Award for 16 years and under  

 

Open   (One Class)
                       
An original instrumental piece in the traditional idiom. 

 

PIPE BAND SNARE DRUMMING                       Outside Festival Office:    4.00 to 5.00 p.m.

• Award for 16 years and under.

Novice           March

Open              March, Strathspey, Reel.

 

TRADITIONAL SINGING                           First School Canteen:       2.30 to 3.30 p.m.

• Men and women judged separately.
• To be sung unaccompanied.
• Award for 14 years and under and Best Local Competitor.

Open  (one class)

One traditional song, from the British Isles, to last no more than five minutes.

WHISTLE & RECORDER                         First School Assembly Hall:        1.00 to 2.00 p.m.

• Award for 16 years and under.

Open   (one Class)
                       
One slow tune.
One fast tune.

Amended Committee Jan 2006