News
February 28, 2011

New Scottish band takes Pryde in official 4A grading

After forming from scratch in 2010, the Pryde of East Lothian Pipe Band of Musselburgh, Scotland, has received an official assignment to Grade 4A by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.

The new band was formed to honour the late Pipe-Major Jimmy Pryde MBE of the Royal Scots Greys, which later became the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. The new band’s Pipe-Major is Jimmy Pryde’s son, Colin Pryde. The Leading-Drummer is Dave Henry, who was formerly a former drummer with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

The 26-member band wears a specially designed “Pryde of East Lothian” tartan, and most of its members are alumnae from the piping and drumming program at the Loretto School in Musselburgh.

 

According to Henry, “The band’s ambition is to work its way up to Grade 2 within the next three-to-five years and has recruited many players from both high schools and other bands from East Lothian. We are hoping that one day we will get the band to grade one and represent East Lothian at the highest level of piping and drumming.”

Henry added that the band has concert aspirations, too, especially since several members play several other instruments, including piano, guitar and whistles.

In addition to a distinguished military service, Pipe-Major Jimmy Pryde was well known for being Pipe-Major of the Scots Greys when the band shot to number-one in the UK, Ireland, Australian, Canadian and South African charts with its 1972 recording of “Amazing Grace.” The track sold more than seven-million copies by mid-1977.

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