Membership
Tune and Tone are Paramount
Extract from the RNPS Rules (2008):
"Musical Competency
16. It is not intended to certificate musical competency within the Society, rather to encourage proficiency through constantly playing basic tunes and playing with local bands, individual tutoring and involvement with the established competition circuit. However to aid pipers wishing to progress, and to assist in the categorisation of pipers for Society records, the Society offers the following broad definitions of standard:
a. Elementary
Ability to play well two slow and two quick marches, and to keep a set of pipes in good condition.
b. Intermediate
(1) Ability to tune pipes unaided, including the setting of reeds, and a full knowledge of care and maintenance of the bagpipes.
(2) Ability to play well:
four slow marches
six quick marches
one strathspey
one reel
c. Advanced
Ability to play, to solo standard and consecutively, at least two four-part marches followed by two strathspeys and two reels. A suggested list of suitable marches, strathspeys and reels/jigs and a suggested march, strathspey and reel set is also given below:
marches
P/M Donald MacLean of Lewis
All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border
Bonawe Highlanders
Dovecote Park
Glendaruel Highlanders
Pibroch o' Donald Dhu
79th's Farewell to Gibraltar
Earl of Mansfield
Leaving Port Askaig
strathspeys
Over the Bows to Ballindalloch
Maggie Cameron
reels
Mrs MacCleod of Rasaay
The Piper of Drummond
The De'il Amang the Tailors
Kate Dalrymple
Rejected Suitor
jigs
Banjo breakdown
Glasgow City Police Pipers
Paddy's Leather Breeches
Jig of Slurs
march, strathspey and reel set
P/M Donald MacLean of Lewis
Maggie Cameron
Rejected Suitor
Support of Pipe Bands
17. Although bands formed in shore establishments and large ships must be self-supporting if they are to succeed, the Society is able to assist in their formation and with any administrative problems which may arise. The Society will wish to be closely connected with the running and general management of such bands, as it is the official authority backing pipers throughout the Navy, and must therefore maintain a measure of controlled interest in any pipe band so formed. There is, however, no affiliation fee to be paid and the relationship between band and Society is one of friendly co-operation.
Common Society Tunes
18. No particular collection of music has been selected as the standard work used by the Society, however the following list of tunes is published in order to provide a core of basic tunes. It is aimed at encouraging Members and Friends to acquire enough tunes in common to enable them to play together at gatherings of the Society, or when they meet in out-of-the-way places:
2/4 marches
Set: Barren Rocks of Aden (two parts), Brown Haired Maiden, Mairis's Wedding
Highland Laddie
Teribus
Corriechoillies Welcome
3/4 marches
Set: The Green Hills, Battle's Over, Lochanside
4/4 marches
Set: Scotland the Brave, Rowan Tree, Bonnie Galloway, Rustic Bridge
6/8 marches
Set: Bonnie Dundee, Mucking of Geordies Byre, Steam Boat
Cock 'o the North (4 parts)
Strathspeys
Because he was a Bonny Lad
Loudens Bonny Woods
Orange and Blue
Reels
High Road to Linton
Jock Wilson'sBall
Keel Row
Slow marches
Sky Boat Song
My Home
Highland Cathedral
Flower of Scotland
Others: Amazing Grace, Bells of Dunblane, A Man's a Man, Na Awa Tae Bide Awa
Auld Lang Syne, Cockney Jocks, Wooden Heart, When the Saints