Scottish Ceilidh Bands & Pipers
From Arcadia Music Agency
Scottish ceilidh bands, Scottish dance bands, pipers, Highland dancers, etc. Arcadia is run by a Scottish ceilidh musician, so we have personal experience of ceilidh music and direct contact with Scottish ceilidh and dance band musicians. We supply ceilidh & dance bands and pipers from U.K. worldwide.
To enquire about music, please access our no-obligation enquiry form
Follow these links for more information on:
Pipers
Ceilidh bands
Highland dancers
Country Dance displays
Instrumental duos
Uniformed Pipe Bands
Mini Pipe Bands
Clarsach players
Scottish Singers
Accordionists
For information on English ceilidhs and Barn Dances link here
For all other kinds of music link to Arcadia Music Agency
More details of the Scottish entertainment we provide:
Pipers
add a sense of occasion to any event, whether there is a Scottish connection or
not. We provide pipers singly or in groups for weddings, dinners, Caledonian
balls, Burns Nights, funerals and memorial services, tourism events, product
launches and special occasions. The Great Highland Bagpipe, to use its full
title, is a powerful instrument originally designed for playing in the open air
which can be heard unamplified at large indoor gatherings. This is the
instrument most people have in mind when they hear the word 'bagpipe'.
Pipers will generally, unless otherwise instructed, wear Scottish day or
evening dress when playing at functions. If the occasion is formal, or a greater
visual impact is desired, many also have military style Number 1 dress, with
feather bonnet, shoulder plaid, crossbelt and spats.
Our pipers are happy to play requested tunes providing they have sufficient
notice. Virtually all pipers play Ceol Beag, the light music of the bagpipe,
which includes all the marches, strathspeys, reels, jigs, hornpipes and slow
airs which are most commonly associated with the instrument. We have pipers who
are also adept in Piobaireachd (English language equivalent 'pibroch'), the
classical music of the Great Highland Bagpipe.
Ceilidh bands and
Scottish dance bands vary in composition, but have a common purpose. Traditionally, a
'ceilidh' (pronounced kaylee) consisted of music, singing, piping, dancing, and
whatever else was available on the occasion, but nowadays the term is often
taken to mean an evening of Scottish music and dancing. The terms 'ceilidh
band' and 'Scottish dance band' are often used interchangeably.
These bands commonly consist of three to five musicians, playing instruments
such as accordion, fiddle, piano, double bass, and drums. Some modern ceilidh
bands include guitars, flute, whistle, and other instruments. For smaller
events a duo of fiddle and accordion, accordion and piano, or two accordions
may be sufficient.
Unless the guests at your ceilidh are experienced Scottish dancers, we strongly
recommend that you have a dance 'caller'. This is simply someone who can
briefly instruct the guests in each dance. Sometimes the caller is a band
musician, sometimes a separate dance caller/Master of Ceremonies is used,
depending on the band and the occasion.
A ceilidh can last from two hours or so as part of a wedding reception to four
hours or more at a Scottish ball (including breaks), and the bands are
accustomed to this length of engagement. If you have in mind a ceilidh of
substantially longer than four hours or shorter than two hours, we will be glad
to advise you on it.
The suitability of these bands for any particular function varies widely - a
few of the modern ceilidh bands are almost rock bands and could be out of place
at a formal Scottish ball, while some of the more traditional dance bands would
be perfect for such an event but a little restrained for students looking for a
wild night. We can advise on the most suitable band for your event.
Highland Dancers provide an interesting and energetic cultural snapshot whether on
their own or as part of a varied Scottish evening. Highland dancing is best
known in the form of the solo Sword Dance or the Highland Fling, and is usually
accompanied by a piper. Although the Sword Dance originated in military circles
and was traditionally performed by men, most Highland dancers performing in
public now are female. A Highland dance display requires little floor space.
Scottish
Country Dance Displays are both colourful and interesting.
Scottish Country Dancing is known to most people in the form of basic dances
such as The Eightsome Reel or The Duke of Perth, and involves more or less
complicated formations of dancers. Display dancers are usually members of
Scottish dance clubs with many years of experience, and the dance repertoire is
large and varied. Due to the structure of Scottish Country Dances, a display
team will usually have at least eight members, and will perform to music
provided by a Scottish Country Dance Band, a piper, or recorded music.
Instrumental duos provide excellent ambient music for
Scottish occasions, and can play for small dances. These often consist of
accordion and fiddle, accordion and piano, or fiddle and piano.
Uniformed Pipe Bands present a stirring spectacle for any outdoor or large indoor
event. They vary from large bands in full Number 1 dress (with feather bonnets,
shoulder plaids, crossbelts and spats) to smaller groups in kilt and black
jacket. Some are more affordable than you might expect, and all provide a focus
of interest for which there is no substitute. Smaller 'Minibands' are also
available.
The Clarsach
is a Scottish folk harp with a very pleasant and slightly plaintive sound.
Clarsach is ideal for delicate ambient music at smaller functions, receptions,
and dinners, and there is a repertoire of Scottish and other Celtic music
available. The Clarsach is not common but we are pleased to see that there is a
resurgence of interest in this fine instrument. We also have concert harpists
available who play from a wider repertoire including Scottish, classical and
popular music.
Scottish Singers have long been part of an evening of Scottish entertainment. They
can be broadly classified into Gaelic and non-Gaelic, although some Gaelic song
has long been translated and sung in English. The songs include wistful
Hebridean love songs, traditional folk ballads, Robert Burns songs, 19th
Century parlour songs and the 'Scottish music hall' of Harry Lauder, Will Fife and
others.
Mini Pipe Bands are a very useful combination for
circumstances where the effect of multiple pipes and drums is required but
space does not permit engaging a full pipe band. A mini band would often be
four pipers and three drummers, and this combination will be audible without
amplification at almost any indoor event
Accordionists are very useful for providing a Scottish
ambience with less volume than bagpipes but a full sound. Specialist Scottish accordionists
use instruments which are tuned differently to other accordions, and they play
with a rhythmic 'lift' unique to Scottish music.
This will take you to the homepage of our parent agency: Arcadia Music Agency
We can provide
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