Latest News

The Fifth Festival of the International Guild of Town Pipers

Mon 19 Dec 2011 20:00 GMT

The IGTP Directors are planning the Fifth International Festival of Town Pipers over the 2nd to 4th of June 2012 in Colchester, in association with the well-established medieval-themed Colchester Medieval Festival (formerly the Oyster Fayre), with performance sites in the Castle Park and around the town centre. Member bands already lining up to take part include those from Baggeshotte, Charlotte, Colchester, Doncaster, Ely, Gloucester, Leeds, Lincoln, Ludlow, Kings Lynn, 's-Hertogenbosch and York. Further information has been posted in the "Festivals" section of the website. If you are interested in taking part please email the IGTP.

A relevant Summer School

Mon 06 Feb 2012 08:30:00 GMT

Tim Bayley of The York Waits will be teaching this year at the Chalemie Summer School in Oxford, from 14-19 August. Others teaching there will be Matthew Spring (hurdy-gurdy, viol etc.), Katie Hodges (natural trumpet) and Sarah Stowe (voice). The summer school also has classes in baroque dance, commedia and historical costume making,

Another relevant Summer School

Mon 06 Feb 2012 08:40:00 GMT

William Lyons and The City Musick will again be running their Dartington summer school "The Topping Tooters of the Town" from 28 July to 4 August. This course will examine the wide range of music played by the Waits.

Waits on the radio

Fri 10 Feb 2012 15:15:00 GMT

Last December, in conjunction with the York Waits' annual "Yule Riding", William Lyons of "The City Musick" recorded music and interviews for a radio programme on waits and their music. It is understood that it will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 22 March. As yet the time of the broadcast is unknown, but watch this space.

Merryweather's "York Music"

Mon 06 Feb 2012 08:50:00 GMT

James Merryweather's "York Music: the story of a city's music from 1304 - 1896" is long out of print. However, for anyone interested in this detailed study of a well-documented waits group, a few second-hand copies are available from booksellers through AbeBooks and Amazon.

Lincoln Waites in the news

Wed 1 Feb 2012 10:00 GMT

Congratulations to the Lincoln Waites for their participation in a "Making Music" partnership scheme, twinning with Millfield Primary School in Lincoln, taking a programme ofTudor Christmas carols in to add to the school's study of the Tudors. What an impression a fully liveried band must have made on these young people! Further collaborative work with the school is planned.

Review of 2011

Sat 31 Dec 2011 16:00:00 GMT

In the past year, we have welcomed de Mowbray's Musick, Waytes and Measures and the Gloucester Grallers into membership of the Guild. Recalling what has been listed in the Concerts and Events Diary, it has been quite a good year for gigs despite the economic situation. Looking forward to 2012, there aren't too many events listed yet but this is the quiet time of year. However, we all look forward to summer, lots of gigs for individual bands, and the main event of the year - not the Olympic Games, nor the Jubilee, but the Fifth International Festival of Town Pipers in Colchester. Best wishes for the new year to town pipers everywhere from the IGTP Directors.

Membership renewals

Sun 20 Nov 2011 10:30:00 GMT

IGTP membership renewals for 2012 become due on January 1st. For payment details and methods, please see the Membership page.

York Wait retires

Thu 12 Jan 2012 13:45:00 GMT

After more than three decades as a member of The York Waits, Roger Richardson officially retired after the annual Yule Riding procession on December 21st, although occasional guest appearances are anticipated. After the early evening procession, fellow waits (including representatives of the waits of Colchester, Doncaster, Kings Lynn and Leeds) and other friends gathered at York Brewery to mark Roger's retirement. In recognition of his long and meritorious service in the York Waits, Roger was awarded honorary life membership of the International Guild of Town Pipers and presented with his certificate by the Chair of the IGTP. Thelinked document includes a photograph of the occasion and A letter from Roger including a description of the early days in York.

IGTP Events page updates

Sun 18 Dec 2011 15:30:00 GMT

The IGTP Events page is now listing public events by member bands up to the end of June 2012, including of course the Fifth International Festival in Colchester. Please send details of events to waits.events@btinternet.com

RSS news feed

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The IGTP has included this RSS news feed into the Waits' Website homepage to provide the latest news about waits and their musical activities. It is maintained by Alan Radford, and relevant news items may be submitted to waits.events@btinternet.com