Sunday, 23 January 2011
Friday, 22 October 2010
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Top Secret Drum Corps
Top Secret Drum Corps is a precision drum corps based in Basel, Switzerland. With 25 drummers and colorguard members, the corps became famous for its demanding six-minute routine performed at the Edinburgh Tattoo in 2003. With its invitation to Edinburgh, Top Secret became one of the first non-military, non-British Commonwealth acts to perform on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle.
Since its success in 2003, Top Secret was invited to return to Edinburgh in 2006 with a new and improved routine. They were invited a third time in 2009. Under the leadership of Erik Julliard, the band is also responsible for the founding of the Basel Tattoo, a military tattoo show similar to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, now held annually in Basel.
Basel drumming style is militaristic, derived from the military drumming drills of Swiss soldiers dating back to the Middle Ages. Top Secret in many ways adheres to the military nature of Basel drumming, but differs in many respects. Its drummers play at a much faster rate. Also, while traditional Basel drumming is somber and favors traditional marching tunes (accompanied by fifes during the Fasnacht), Top Secret's drumming style is upbeat and playful. Segments of their routines feature a "rhumba", a drummer's duel, drumstick juggling, exploding flagpoles, and other humorous details. Perhaps because of their 18th Century uniforms and precision work, the Corps is often referred to a military band or a part of the Swiss Army, but it is not affiliated with any military unit.
Since its success in 2003, Top Secret was invited to return to Edinburgh in 2006 with a new and improved routine. They were invited a third time in 2009. Under the leadership of Erik Julliard, the band is also responsible for the founding of the Basel Tattoo, a military tattoo show similar to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, now held annually in Basel.
Drumming style
Top Secret has its roots in the rich drumming traditions of the band's home city, Basel, Switzerland, which is known for its annual carnival called Fasnacht. The city is said to have over 3,000 active drummers at any one time. These drummers perform at traditional events such as Fasnacht, the Vogel Gryff, Charivari, and various parades associated with the city's guilds. A Trommelkonig (Drummer King) competition is also held every year by the city's Fasnacht Committee.Basel drumming style is militaristic, derived from the military drumming drills of Swiss soldiers dating back to the Middle Ages. Top Secret in many ways adheres to the military nature of Basel drumming, but differs in many respects. Its drummers play at a much faster rate. Also, while traditional Basel drumming is somber and favors traditional marching tunes (accompanied by fifes during the Fasnacht), Top Secret's drumming style is upbeat and playful. Segments of their routines feature a "rhumba", a drummer's duel, drumstick juggling, exploding flagpoles, and other humorous details. Perhaps because of their 18th Century uniforms and precision work, the Corps is often referred to a military band or a part of the Swiss Army, but it is not affiliated with any military unit.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Jim Kilpatrick MBE started playing drums at the age of 10. His progress was so rapid that within 2 years he was competing at the highest level in Grade 1 competition.
At the age of 15, he joined his present band The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band. It was at the age of 15 that Jim won his first World Drum Corps and World Pipe Band Championships - the first of Jim's record 18 World Drum Corps Championships. 14 of these titles have been won as a leading drummer. This also includes winning the World Drum Corps Championship for an amazing record breaking 11 years in a row. Jim holds the current Champion of Champions drum corps title. Again he has won this a record 15 times.
Jim’s move into the solo drumming arena proved to be equally successful. He has smashed every record in the books by winning the World Solo Drumming Championships no less then 16 times. He is also currently the Champion of Champions - a title he has won 3 times.
Another record that Jim holds is that of being the only leading drummer ever to win the Grand Slam which is all 5 major drumming championships in the one season. This run coincided with him actually winning 13 major drumming championships in a row over 3 seasons.
Jim’s talent and reputation is such that he is continuously invited to teach in schools and colleges all over the world, as well as making countless appearances at drum clinics and percussion festivals around the world including The Royal School of Music (London & Glasgow) and The Percussion Arts Society Conventions in the USA. Jim currently teaches percussion students at the Royal School of Music in Glasgow and is also principal instructor for the BA Scottish Music (Percussion) course at the same school. Jim has received the “Life Time Achievement Award” for drumming from the British Chapter of the Percussion Arts Society in London.
In 2004, Jim was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) for his services to music by Her Majesty The Queen in her birthday honours list - a significant milestone in any musician's career, but completely unique to Jim in the world of pipe band snare drumming.
These achievements rank Jim Kilpatrick MBE as one of the top percussionists in the world today, and he is regarded as the world’s greatest exponent of the snare drum.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
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