Pipe Major Alistair Duthie, formerly of The Black Watch, has composed a tune in memory of the 14th Army, the multi-national force that comprised units from the Commonwealth countries of Great Britain during the Second World War. The 14th Army – dubbed the Forgotten Army because its operations in the […]
This lovely tune is one of the many from the pen of John – Jock – MacLellan, Dunoon. It is quite simply a beautiful 3/4 march and, like most of Jock’s compositions, stands the test of time. In 1892, MacLellan, aged 17, enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry. He saw action […]
The Bag (size and shape: the stocks: seasoning) By Seumas MacNeill One of the most important things for a piper is the state of his bagpipe. The choosing of tunes, the ability to play well, the chance to perform for somebody’s pleasure (maybe his own), all go for nothing if […]
This lovely tune is one of the many from the pen of John – Jock – MacLellan, Dunoon. It is quite simply a beautiful 3/4 march and, like most of Jock’s compositions, stands the test of time. In 1892, MacLellan, aged 17, enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry. He saw action […]
A painting by an English artist but with a Scottish subject drew attention at an online auction held last month. The Piper who played the retreat at Tobruk [pictured] is an oil on canvas painting by Winifred Nicholson. The Cornish painter created the piece in 1952 and it stands 2ft […]
By Jeannie Campbell During that first British tour in 1904, Albert and the Kilties played for King Edward VII at Balmoral and a newspaper reporter in Dundee asked about the experience. “Yes,” he said, “the King was certainly pleased. … I piped and danced for Queen Victoria many a time. […]
By Jeannie Campbell Some time ago, I received a letter from Dale Brown with a request for information on an unknown piper from the past. He told me that he had been asked to look at a piece of music found in a pipe box few years previously by a […]
One implication of Brexit that is of interest to UK-based bagpipe manufacturers – as well as pipers with silver-mounted pipes – is how their silver will be recognised after January 1, 2021. From this date, the United Kingdom’s obligations to recognise the silver hallmarks from countries in the European Union […]
This article from the April 2000 Piping Times looked at changes made to hallmark regulations as a result of a ruling by the European Court of Justice a few months previously. Read also ‘Know your hallmarks’. By Robert Wallace Anyone buying new silver-mounted pipes would do well to heed the […]
Entries are now open for the 2021 Junior Competition organised by the National Piping Centre. This will be the 25th year of the contest – and it, like virtually all competitions this year, will be an online video submission competition, rather than an in-person event. To mark the milestone, however, […]
By John J.van OmmenKloeke So many times questions are asked about the age of hallmarked silver mounts on the pipes, that it seems wise to offer some more precise information on just how to interpret those hitherto quizzical hieroglyphs on the luxury parts of our favourite musical instrument. On close […]
Next year, the National Piping Centre marks its 25th anniversary. Among other initiatives planned to commemorate the milestone is the publication of a collection of original pipe music. The organisation is inviting all students, former and current, over the past 25 years to contribute to the project. Tunes should be […]
