WUSPBA releases 90-tune Jubilee collection for $25

The Western United States Pipe Band Association’s Golden Jubilee Collection of 90 original compositions composed by pipers with or closely connected with the association has been released for $25 and available online.

Tunes in the book include those by many eminent pipers, including Colin Armstrong, James McColl, Harry McNulty, Ozzie Reid, Aaron Shaw and the organization’s current Music Committee Chair, Lorne Cousin, who managed the project throughout the WUSPBA’s 50th anniversary year in 2013.

“I’m very proud that we have produced The Golden Jubilee Collection ourselves from start to finish, from the foreword kindly written by Jimmy McColl to the typesetting by Andy Trimble and amazing artwork by Hamish Yuile,” Cousin said. “We also of course wanted to ensure that all composers were given full credit and I’m delighted that the proceeds will go to furthering the cause of piping and drumming amongst young people in the Western United States region.”

Contributing composers signed a licensing agreement and were allowed to review the transcription of their music before approving the transcription for printing.

The collection is thought to be a first for a North American association. The RSPBA has published or subsidized several collections of music compiled or composed by their members, dating back to the 1950s.