Regimental & Pipe Band Tartans - Who Chooses?

[@foolsufferer7688]

My band had a vote: red or green. We had a book of each and the members voted on each tartan after that

[@ericrose7450]

The RTR (Royal Tank Regiment) Pipes and Drums currently wear the Clan Rose Modern Hunting tartan. Permission for them to wear it was given by Elizabeth Rose, 25th Baroness of Kilravock.

[@la_old_salt2241]

I know of a pipe band in South Louisiana that is known as the Kilts of Many Colors Pipe Band just for the reason Rocky mentioned, all members wear their own tartan.

[@Backs4more]

Regimental tartans are a mixture of family tartans (a Marquis or Laird would raise a regiment in his name) such as The Gordon Highlanders and Cameron Highlanders, or Government Tartans such as the Black Watch and the Scot’s Guards. Many civilian bands where I live were raised post WW1 or WW2 when returning pipers and drummers set up bands in their towns and villages. They used their surplus kilts as a basis to the band uniform. That is why Huntly, Kintore, Lonach and Old Meldrum, all based in Aberdeenshire, wear Gordon Tartan. Other civilian bands may be sponsored by a Laird, for example, Banchory pipe band wear Burnett of Lets tartan because the Laird gives a bolt of tartan to the band annually. Other bands pick a district tartan, a local regiment or family tartan, or just a nice looking tartan. One last note. Whilst the Royal Regiment of Scotland wears Government 1a tartan (a slightly brighter version of Government, known as Black Watch tartan) each Battalion of the regiment wears its antecedent tartan for the pipes and drums. For example, 4th Battalion wears Cameron of Erracht tartan with Gordon highlander tartan pipe bag covers.

[@iand5369]

Bydand forever

[@fod1855]

The Black Watch and Scots guards pipers wear Royal Stuart tartan don’t they?

[@Backs4more]

@@fod1855 they do indeed.

[@gordonstewart8258]

Of the bands I've played in, Centenial State Pipes and Drums from Denver wears Elliot tartan because our founding Pipe Major came up through the Dunedin, Florida piping system, and that's what they wore. Colorado Isle of Mull wore Ancient MacLean of Duart because Mull is MacLean country and that's where our Pipe Major came from. My current band, Celtic Nations from Milwaukee, wore Hunting MacGregor (I don't know why) until this year, when we got a massive influx of new members, and didn't have enough material to make kilts for every body. Now some people still wear the MacGregor kilts and others wear their own kilts in a variety of tartans. It actually looks surprisingly good. Incidentally, I have a bone to pick with you guys. I saw you video about different ways to pleat a kilt, and when I watched the World Pipe Band Championships, all I could think about was lawn chairs!

[@iand5369]

I was at Telfords bridge at Craigallachie in 1994. The Gordon Highlanders marched on from the south, the Queens Own Highlanders ( Seaforth and Cameron's) marched on from the north Both Colonels of each Regiment met in the middle , shared a quaich then both bands joined together as did the men of each Regiment and then marched off simply as The Highlanders. Years of individual history, tradition and boundaries gone forever.

[@maxwellfan55]

Whoever choses? Important and interesting point. Also important to emphasise that once a "group" tartan is selected, each individual wearer becomes part of one family, so adopts a sense of belonging. Some will continue to wear the same tartan beyond membership of a military unit, pipe band, or whatever association till the end, knowing they still belong to the same "family". Wanting to retain a sense of identity with pride, flair, and fortitude. A good thing in my opinion. Of course, one doesn't necessarily have to have an association to wear tartan. But many that do consider their tartan precious, emphasising just how important the colours and patterns of the cloth can be. There are few other ways to express this better than the uniqueness of an individual tartan, and few ways better than to wear your kilt. People will also love you for doing it.

[@johnevans4003]

We have our own tartan for Colchester Pipe Band, designed for our own use. Also been registered.

[@Hotfir78]

So it is 2023 and my FD honor guard has never had a pipe band. We are slowly starting one and are currently a band of 3 (1 piper, 1 side drummer, 1 bass drummer). We are currently using the FF memorial tartan. My plan for the future is to make it a public service pipe band and design a tartan to encompass colors for police, fire, and the city in which we serve.

[@USAKiltsOfficial]

That sounds great!

[@antoniojose8606]

Rio de janeiro. Brasil, 🙋🌎⭐👀👍

[@modwolf55]

I am with the Buffalo Niagara Scotia Society ipes and Drums. They wear the Isle of Skye tartan. I believe that it was chosen because the founders liked it.

[@theclarksvillepiper9202]

Some pipe bands get them because there was a lot of them for sale cheap.

[@smeirkish]

If I had a choice of tartans I'd probably use the Livingstone ancient because there isn't really any like it. And it's my family lol.

[@patrickwilliams3108]

Celtic Nations Pipes and Drums from Milwaukee, WI, was, at one time, a 'provide your own kilt in whatever tartan you like' band, as was Black Swan Pipe Band from Elkhorn, WI. I played with Black Swan and enjoyed the lack of uniformity. Alas, Black Swan did not survive the founder, and Celtic Nations went to a uniform tartan many years ago.

[@gordonstewart8258]

Do you know how the chose the Hunting MacGregor tartan? Was it connected to someone, or was it just because it's extraordinarily pretty?