Bagpipers of the World!

It is time for the next International Bagpipe Conference! The fourth edition will take place in Palma on the island of Mallorca, where there has been a rich piping tradition since the medieval ages. The conference will span over 3 days with an opening concert on Friday 9 March, the conference on 10 March and a social outing involving bagpipes and historical trains on Sunday 11 March. We look forward to seeing as many people as possible in Mallorca next March. Piping in the Mediterranean - Can it get any better?!

Cassandre Balosso-Bardin

Director of the International Bagpipe Organisation

The International Bagpipe Organisation presents the Fourth International Bagpipe Conference 9-11 March 2018 Arxiu del Regne de Mallorca, Palma, Mallorca, Spain

Call for Papers

The International Bagpipe Organisation warmly invites you to participate in the Fourth International Bagpipe Conference to mark International Bagpipe Day 2018 (10 March), a celebration of the world’s diverse bagpipes and bagpiping traditions. Following on from the success of previous conferences, the upcoming event will be spread over three days, starting on Friday evening with an opening concert and ending on Sunday afternoon. The conference will be held in Palma, Mallorca, where there is a rich and unbroken piping tradition.

The conferences are 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 three days are open to the general public and bagpipe enthusiasts are more than welcome to attend. Ticket information will be posted on the website in the following weeks. As the conference will be held in Catalan speaking territory, papers are welcome in English, Spanish and Catalan. Translation options will be provided as required.

We will consider papers that have a direct link to bagpipes, touching on themes including:

Taxonomy/Organology
Playing techniques/Ornamentation
Cultural or social anthropology
Historical findings/iconography/recent history
Bagpipe making
Recordings/Archiving/Collecting
Any other theme directly related to the bagpipes will be considered.

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 15 October 2017 to internationalbagpipeorg@gmail.com.

Due to a large amount of applications the previous years, abstracts from people who are applying for the first time or who did not present in 2016 will be prioritised. This is to encourage a wider scope 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 30 November 2015.

Limited travel grants will be available to help support travel costs for international speakers. Terms and conditions will be published on the website.

Friday 9 March 2018 - The conference will be launched by an opening concert at the Xesc Forteza Theatre in Palma’s old town. International acts are still to be confirmed but Mallorca’s most prominent piping duets will be featured.

Saturday 10 March 2018 - The conference will take place on Saturday 10 March 2018 (International Bagpipe Day) at the Arxiu del Regne de Mallorca in Palma’s historical centre. Bagpipe specialists from all over Europe will exchange knowledge about their instruments, music and culture. A social evening with music making will be held on Saturday evening at a local bar.

Sunday 11 March - An open meeting will be organised in the morning to present the newly formed Board Committee and introduce the Advisory Board.

In the early afternoon, an event with the Xeremiers de Soller and the Xeremiers del Puig de sa Font, two Mallorcan bagpipe groups will be organised, most probably involving Mallorcan bagpipes, historical trains and oil factories. More details to come soon!

For more information or details about past conferences, visit www.internationalbagpipeorganisation.com

The Bagpipe Society

Bagpipers of the World!

Call for Papers