La Bertholdia

The North American Pipe Band Championships were held in Maxville, Ontario at the beginning of the month. James W. had the pleasure of judging the two day event. The Amateur events were on the Friday with the rest of the solos and the band contest on Saturday. The Montreal Highland Games were held on the Sunday despite horrendous weather! Thanks to the PPBSO for organizing both events and for hosting James W. and Louise for the weekend.
These types of judging gigs facilitate the opportunity to travel in and around the area where the Games are held. Montreal and Quebec City were visited during the following week; taking in the sights, dining in the fine restaurants and seeing some interesting things along the way...such as La Bertholdia Fife and Drum Corps all the way from Fribourg, Switzerland! The recognizable wide collars and mega plumes out of their hats could only mean one thing: awesome Basel drums!





The Bertholdia Association of Fifes and Drums, founded in 1986, gets its name from Duke Berthold IV of Zaehringen. History determines that Zaehringen took in his group of musicians and had them play at leisure time as well as parties and religious gatherings. The musicians were also paid by the authorities who outfitted them in black fabric uniforms to give them an official, yet solemn appearance. Fife and drums corps were, and continue to be, an essential feature to public festivals.
This group continues to develop and promote the art of fife and drum all over the world.







It is said that the Swiss were responsible for the advent of rudimentary drumming. Around 1386, the Swiss used fifes and drums to signal troops in battle. This type of signalling was used by the Swiss continually and since they were deployed throughout Western Europe as mercenaries, it was quickly adopted by the locals, spreading throughout Europe.
In the mid 1920s, Dr. Fritz Berger, a Swiss drumming legend, was responsible for devising a new notation system and thus, revolutionized how drumming was communicated. With great influence on the likes of Jimmy Catherwood and Alex Duthart as well, he had a major impact on pipe band snare drumming as we know it today.
(Read a detailed explanation on how Swiss drumming influenced us pipe banders on www.pipebandarticles.com.)





Neutral or not, let us take a moment and thank the Swiss for all they have given us...
And just in case, the secret hasn't been let out of the bag for you yet, watch this.

-JLT