A Brief History of the Band

The Murray Pipes & Drums is basically a traditional Scottish pipe band. The band was formed in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1976. Among the founding members were Mats d Hermansson who has been the pipe-major of the band since it started. MPD is a non-profit organisation aiming to maintain a pipe band and to educate pipers and drummers in Gothenburg, Sweden. The band has always tried to emphasize a high technical quality of playing as well as artistic performance.

During the 20 years of the band's existence three phases can be described. During the period 1976 to 1983 pipers and drummers were educated and a band was formed. In 1982 and 1983 the band won first prize in the Scandinavian pipe band championships. During the mid 1980s a number of band members stopped playing as they formed families and moved to other areas. This left the band with six persons who started to develop a more personal style of playing. The group also experimented with music not traditionally played on the bagpipe, such as Swedish polska, western art music, jazz etc. One of the most hilarious events was the playing of piobaireachd accompanied by an electric guitar. Close contacts were also established with pipers and drummers in Denmark.

During the last few years the band has experienced a considerable increase in the interest to learn to play the pipes and drums, and MPD is now working to form a full pipe band again. Likewise D/S Marie Nordström is hard at work to form a new drum-corps. At the same time the more experienced players of the band try to improve their standard of playing, and in connection with the Copenhagen Winter Competition, in February every year, MPD tries to perform in new and different ways.

After a long period where the band has had almost no new pupils things are shaping up. We can at present if pressed put together a band of nine pipers and seven drummers. In addition to this we have seven beginners on the practice chanter and one on the practice pad. Because of this we will for some time emphasise band performances and pull back on the experimental stuff. To make everybody aware of this change, we competed with no less than three quintets at CWC 1998.

Kilts, Clans and Scottish Roots

The members of the Murray Pipes & Drums are dressed in traditional Highland dress at performances. On special occasions the full dress uniform is worn with kilts, plaids, silver trimmed doublets and feather bonnets; usually the kilt is worn with a black semi-formal jacket. The band is wearing the Murray of Atholl Tartan (Old Colours), which is predominantly light blue and light green in hue.

The band has taken its name from this tartan. The clan Murray has a long and well known history in Scotland, and in 1979 the clan chief, His Grace the Duke of Atholl, agreed to become the patron of the Murray Pipes & Drums. The duke died on 26th February, 1996.

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