Shongweni Scottish Concert 2019

The Shongweni Farmer's & Craft Market has become well known for its diverse products which range from a large variety of organic foods and fresh produce to all the exciting crafts.

This market oozes with stereotypical country charm. It’s almost mandatory to pack up the family and dog, take a sturdy basket and arrive early. Treat yourself with breakfast and, from your vantage point on a hay bale, decide your method of attack. Peruse stalls at a leisurely place as hands-on producers passionately talk you through their wares from traditional English sausages to decadent baked goods, handcrafted organic cheeses, breads and rustic French staples like terrines and rillettes. You’ll also find Middle Eastern and Mediterranean specialities from baklava to falafel. If you’re shopping with a conscience you can buy organic veg or a pre-installed, irrigated system to grow your own organic vegetables.The Market has become well known for its diverse products which range from a large variety of organic foods and fresh produce to all the exciting crafts.

http://www.shongwenimarket.co.za/
http://www.facebook.com/shongwenifarmersmarket/

 

The KwaZulu Natal Scottish Gathering is an annual event which was established in 1948 and has been going strong these 70 years, held in various different venues around KwaZulu Natal. 

The pipe bands have always been a major component of the gathering, competing in two categories.  First, the March, Strathspey and Reel set, or "MSR" for short.  This is a combination of three separate tunes, beginning with a march in 2/4 time, then a highly expressive dance tune called a "strathspey" (typically played for dancers to do the highland fling), and finally a more up-beat dance tune called a "reel".  The band will enter the competition arena playing on the march, form an inward-facing circle, and continue playing through the other tunes consecutively without interruption.  The MSR is considered both the more traditional and the more demanding contest, and takes precedence in case a tie-break is required.  The second category is the Medley.  Here the bands are free to create their own sets with a variety of different types of tunes in different time signatures and of different lengths, and also to be more creative with making their own rearrangements and adding harmonies.  Again, they will enter the arena on the march and form a circle, and play through the entire set in one go.  Four judges mark the performances - two focused on the piping, one on the drumming, and one on the overall ensemble.  Scores are given as ranks, so the band with lowest total is the winner.

The solo contests offer individual pipers the chance to showcase the results of their years of training.  At KZNSG there are 3 entrant categories - Novice (for competitors who have never won a prize for open solo piping at a major contest or who are under 18), Senior (for players who have attained the age of 50 years on the date of the gathering) and Open (as implied, open to all comers, unless also entered in the Novice events).  At this gathering contestants have a fair variety of events in which to partake, each of which is judged separately:  a standalone March, a Strathspey & Reel set, a complete MSR set, a Slow Air or Slow March, a Jig, and a Piobaireachd.  Trophies and/or cash prizes are awarded for winning or placing in each individual event, and there is also an overall winner for the best aggregate result across all events.

Programme for KZNSG 2019:

Band Contests

• From 09:00, order of play TBD

Dancing Displays

• Schedule TBD

Other Displays

• Address to the Haggis
• ~11:00 Massed Pipes and Drums

Solo Piping Contests

• From ~11:30, order of play TBD.