| The IBO team is very excited to announce that the next International Bagpipe Conference will take place from 6-8 March 2026 in Belgium, one of the hotpots in Europe for bagpipe culture. Events will take place in the city of Leuven and in Brussels, at the Musical Instrument Museum which hosts one of the world's most striking bagpipe collections. Watch this space for more information, and we look forward to seeing you there next year! |  Leuven's historical town hall. Credit: Flavio Vallenari |
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 The International Bagpipe Organisation warmly invites you to attend the Seventh International Bagpipe Conference (IBC) to mark International Bagpipe Day 2024 (10 March), a celebration of the world’s diverse bagpipes and bagpiping traditions. This year’s conference is organised in collaboration with the Bulgarian National Bagpipe Association and the Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Art in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. We have confirmed speakers from Spain, Greece, UK, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Singapore, USA, France, Belgium, and Bulgaria.
We are inviting you to pre-register for the conference so that we have an understanding of numbers. We are currently still applying for funding and do not know the final attendance price for the event. We are, however, committed to the attendance fee being as low as possible. In previous years, it has not gone over 50€ including lunch and coffee breaks. This year, we hope to make the conference a free event, but need more clarity about attendance numbers.  We are excited to announce the dates and location for our next conference: The Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Home to a rich bagpipe culture (who has not fallen in love with the deep sounds of 100 Kaba Gaidas) and a beautiful historical town, we are lucky to be organising this conference in partnership with the Bulgarian National Bagpipe Association. We hope many of you will join us there in March.
See the Call for Papers if you would like to be a presenter! We welcome talks by musicians, musical instrument makers and scholars.  It's that time of the year again! Pipers from different cultures all across the world are celebrating in their own way. Some of the flagship events this year include:
Some celebratory pieces have also been published:
 Tickets for the Sixth International Bagpipe Conference and the Newcastle Piping Festival are now available! We have a weekend packed with musical events for you, organised in collaboration with the Northumbrian Piping Society and Newcastle University.
If you have any further questions, please contact us here: [email protected] IMPORTANT NOTE FOR EU/INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS: All passengers travelling to the UK now need a passport. EU identity cards are now no longer accepted. SCHEDULE Friday 11 March Noon: Northumbrian bagpipe lunchtime concert (NPF event - donation) From 7pm: 'Bring Your Own Bagpipes' Evening Session in a local pub (location tbc) Saturday 12 March 9-5:30pm: Conference at King's Hall, Newcastle University (see detail of papers below). Lunch and tea breaks included in the price 5:30-6:30pm: Conference wine reception (included in conference price) 7pm: Newcastle Piping Festival International Bagpipe Concert, King's Hall, Newcastle University (incuded in conference price) 9pm onwards: 'Bring Your Own Bagpipes'Session in a local pub Sunday 13 March 9am-12pm: Conference at King's Hall, Newcastle University, including screening of "The Journey of Askavlos - a documentary film about greek bagpipes" by Yorgos Arvanitis (tea break included in conference price) 1-5pm: Trip to Morpeth to visit the UK's largest bagpipe collection (and one of Europe's largest collections). Add on cost which covers coach transport to the museum. From 7pm: 'Bring Your Own Bagpipes' Final Session in a local pub LIST OF PAPERS (in randomised order and subject to change)
The International Bagpipe Organisation presents the SIXTH INTERNATIONAL BAGPIPE CONFERENCE 11-13 March 2022 Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK CALL FOR PAPERS Abstract submission deadline: 1 October 2021 Abstract acceptance notification: 21 October 2021 Abstract length: 250 words Contact: [email protected] Website: www.internationalbagpipeorganisation.com  Newcastle University, where the 2022 Conference will be held.  King's Hall, Newcastle University, UK heldThe International Bagpipe Organisation warmly invites you to participate in the Sixth International Bagpipe Conference (IBC) to mark International Bagpipe Day 2022 (10 March 2022), a celebration of the world’s diverse bagpipes and bagpiping traditions. This event celebrates the 10th anniversary of the International Bagpipe Conference.
For 2022, the IBO has joined up with the Northumbrian Pipers' Society (NPS) and Newcastle University to host a 3-day event, combining the conference with the 3rd Newcastle Piping Festival. The combined events will start on Friday afternoon with a lunchtime concert, and end on Sunday afternoon making use of the outstanding facilities at Newcastle University. Full details of the weekend will be announced on the website in the autumn. The conference will be held at Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K and will be based in the department of music in the Armstrong Building. Events and concerts will take place in the wonderful space of the King’s Hall. The conference is a productive and welcoming platform for all people interested in the study of bagpipes: musicologists, ethnomusicologists, music experts, instrument makers, folk musicians, dancers, and music lovers. This event is an exciting interdisciplinary opportunity to debate various questions relating to the study of bagpipes both today, and historically. All are welcome, whether you choose to present or simply listen and enjoy the atmosphere. The IBCs are friendly events, open to all, promoting bagpipes from all around the world. In 2022, the conference returns to the UK (after going to the United States in 2020, but rescheduled to a virtual conference in June of 2020). CALL FOR PAPERS Presenters from around the world are welcome to present on themes directly linked to bagpipes. Papers touching on other themes such as organology, playing techniques, ornamentation, history, iconography, instrument making, recordings, archiving, collecting, and composing are welcome. Interested participants are to submit a paper title, an abstract of no more than 250 words, complete with an institutional affiliation or profession and contact details by Friday 1 October 2021 to: [email protected] . Please find previous abstracts in the conference archives on our website: www.internationalbagpipeorganisation.com Due to the large number of applications in previous years, abstracts from those applying for the first time, or who did not present in 2020, will be prioritised. This is to encourage a greater diversity of presenters. We do, however, encourage everyone to attend the conference, regardless of whether you are presenting or not. Successful applicants will be notified by 31 October 2021. Programme Committee: Dr Roger Landes (Texas Tech University, USA) Dr Cassandre Balosso-Bardin (University of Lincoln, UK) Dr Simon McKerrell (Newcastle University, UK) Dr Liz Santamaría Cadaval (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain) For more information or details about past conferences, including abstracts of past papers, please browse our website. Organising committee Cassandre Balosso-Bardin (IBO) Simon McKerrell (Newcastle University) Andrew Davison (NPS) Andy May (NPS) Iain Gelston (NPS) IBO Committee Cassandre Balosso-Bardin Roger Landes Arle Lommel Provisional Weekend schedule Friday 11 March 2022 – afternoon Afternoon concert Friday 11 March 2022 – evening Curated pub session (bring your bagpipe) Saturday 12 March 2022 – day International Bagpipe Conference Saturday 12 March 2022 – evening Bagpipes of the World Concert Curated session (bring your own bagpipe) Sunday 13 March 2022 Conference workshops by NPS Parting session at the Pub Join us for the online launch of Michael Vereno's fantastic book, The Voice of the Wind, on International Bagpipe Day 2021!
This linguistic history of bagpipes is a unique volume, retracing the numerous different words for this wonderful instrument. Published by the International Bagpipe Organisation, we will be presenting the book, and Michael will be available to answer any questions you may have. Day: 10 March 2021 Time: 8-9pm UK time Tickets: Free event, but registration required. Please register by clicking on the link below. If the mood is right, the event may continue informally beyond 9pm. Drinks welcome! More about the book: Scholars have long provided bagpipes with a creation myth that stretches back to the ancient Near East, where they supposedly appear in the biblical Book of Daniel. It then has the Greeks playing them and Roman legions carrying them to the ends of the Empire. But Michael Peter Vereno’s The Voice of the Wind calls this story into question. Using linguistic analysis, Vereno shows that the oldest ‘evidence’ is often dubious at best and demonstrates that supposed ancient stories of bagpipe origins— and sometimes even their names—were later scholarly creations to give them a respectable, ancient pedigree. His erudite examination calls into question many conclusions and settled ‘facts’ to reveal a more enlightening story of bagpipe origins. It redefines its field and represents a significant contribution to historical organology. Readers with an interest in modern bagpipes, the history of instruments, and the interpretation of ancient and more recent textual sources will all find something to engage them and complicate their beliefs. Reviews: “A book any historically oriented bagpiper and connoisseur of early European instrumental music should know. It is a significant contribution to organology, in a field full of myths, written by a sober-minded linguist and enthusiastic drone musician.” – Ulrich Morgenstern, Professor, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna “A long-awaited and essential addition to the bookshelves of linguists, organologists, and bagpipe enthusiasts alike. Michael Vereno has applied thorough, rigorous research and unearthed the roots of the bagpipe through linguistics. A lively, engaging read.” – Jane Moulder, Editor, Chanter, journal of the Bagpipe Society  Following the cancellation of our International Bagpipe Conference at Harvard University, we are now holding the event online.
The International Bagpipe Organisation warmly invites you to participate in the Fifth International Bagpipe Conference (IBC) to celebrate the world’s diverse bagpipes and bagpiping traditions. The conference will take place online, via Zoom on 6 June 2020. You will be sent a link once you obtain a ticket. ATTENTION: The event will take place across timezones: 8:30am to 4:30pm USA EST time 1:30pm to 9:30pm UK BST time We have planned breaks throughout the day for tea/coffee and your lunch or dinner. The conference is a productive and welcoming platform for all people interested in the study of bagpipes: musicologists, ethnomusicologists, music experts, instrument makers, folk musicians, dancers and music lovers. This event is an exciting interdisciplinary opportunity to debate various questions relating to the study of bagpipes both today and historically. All are welcome to come and enjoy the atmosphere. The IBCs are friendly events, open to all, promoting bagpipes from all around the world. Our online conference will explore bagpipes in diasporic communities. We will be looking at how pipers from various traditions have spread their customs and music all around the world, helping sustain communities or forging new identities far away from home. There will be many opportunities to network as well as participate in interactive activities throughout the day. TICKETS We have created a varied ticket price, more akin to a donation. Options vary from £10 to £20. Please choose one option (1, 2 or 3). All proceeds will go towards the organisation costs of the 2020 conference. Any remaining funds will be put towards our 2022 conference, which will take place in the UK. Should you wish to give more, we have made a donation link available as well. Any further donations will be much appreciated and all proceeds will go towards the organisation costs of the IBO. The conference will include the following speakers and topics (order subject to change): A fully detailed schedule will be uploaded on this page by 1 June 2020. Jason Busniewski: Bagpipes, “Martial Races”, and Empire in the Central Himalayas Michael Vereno: On the Road : On the diaspora fate of bagpipers in and around Austria in the 20th century Nadia Vázquez-Martínez: Dissemination and cultivation of the traditional music from Galicia in New York Scott Spencer: The NYPD Emerald Society Bagpipe Band and the Line-Of-Duty Funeral Arle Lommel: Towards a Feature-Oriented Account of Bagpipe Evolution and Taxonomy Nada Gitto Surdulina: A little bagpipe of Balkan origins, built in the USA and returned to Italy. Musical performance, Organology and analysis of repertory Zexuan Qiao: Employing new technologies in the reproduction of historical bagpipes José Emilio Colón Ríos: Cuban pipers: the spread of uillean piping in Cuba David Marker: The Social Life of Rocco Costello’s Zampogna. Vincent Janoski: Decoding Forgotten Melodies: from the Piobaireachd Tradition Musical interpretation of forgotten tunes from the Campbell Canntaireachd. Brian McCandless: Rediscovering Northern British Bellows-Blown Bagpipes in North America Barry Shears: Immigrant Bagpipes of Nova Scotia Erin Walker: Under the Kilt: The Pipe Band as a Tool of Cultural Transmission If you have any further queries, please contact us at [email protected].  Dear Friends,
In light of the recent international events and the now global corona virus epidemic, we have been receiving expressions of concern from both US and European participants regarding their travel plans and health. After much thought and discussion, it is with a heavy heart that we have come to the decision of cancelling this 2020 edition of the International Bagpipe Conference. We feel that this is the only responsible decision to take in the current climate, responding to your concerns, but also to eventual problems that may arise such as last minute travel-bans, cancelled flights or even unexpected enforced quarantines for travellers. We will be convening in two weeks time to think about alternative possibilities to disseminate your research and continue such as publications of the papers in virtual or printed format or the organisation of a substitute event further in the future when the situation has cleared up a little. Please keep an eye out here for any further updates. We would like to express our most heartfelt apologies towards all of you, as we had planned a wonderful event and we were looking forward to meeting all of you at the conference. We would like, however, to encourage everyone to celebrate International Bagpipe Day on 10 March 2020 in your respective communities. Harvard University will be celebrating in a quieter way with a curated bagpipe exhibition in it's music library, accessible until 13 April if you can't make it next week. Please do get in touch with any feedback or any further comments if you have any. We are here to respond to any of your questions. Cassandre, Roger and Panayotis The 2020 International Bagpipe Conference Committee |
