After only two days, the National Piping Centre’s crowdfunder target for the project to digitise the Piping Times and Piping Today magazines has reached one third. It would appear that this campaign is clearly resonating with the piping world. For younger readers, it may be instructive for us to take […]
The subject of this short article is a common one amongst pipers: pipe band drumming. Many pipers – and some drummers – feel that pipe bands have now become far too percussion oriented and driven, to the point that the fundamentals of the Great Highland Bagpipe – it is pentatonic, […]
By Stuart Letford Duncan Johnstone wasn’t really one for competitions – his 1964 victory in the Scottish Pipers’ Association’s Knockout series was pretty much his only foray into solo piping contests. As he put himself, “I was never interested in whether I could beat this man or the next. I […]
Regular readers will recall our post on Jeannie Campbell’s discovery of a rare photograph showing Willie Lawrie receiving his Gold Medal at the 1910 Northern Meeting. The post also included two other rare photographs from that year’s competition, one of which [pictured] shows four judges who were seated, hidden from […]
• Our thanks go once again to the indefatigable Iain Bell for this month’s Donald Drone cartoon strip. Kevin MacLean of Simon Fraser University Pipe Band sent us this video of the Canadian Grade 1 band’s latest virtual recording. The band recently recorded Finlay MacDonald’s composition for his son, Elliot […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE The “Piobaireachd Society of Scotland” gave notice in the autumn of 1903 that it would hold a competition at the 1904 Argyllshire Gathering at which it would award a total of £30 in prizes. The first prize shall be £20 and a Gold Medal, second prize […]
Last August we uploaded to Bagpipe.News a great article on Calum Campbell that had been written by Joe Wilson 13 years ago and published in the July 2008 edition of the Piping Times. As a teenager Calum had enlisted in his father’s old regiment, the Seaforths, before being appointed some […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1899, the Argyllshire Gathering placed an advert in the Oban Times of August 26. Alex Shairp, the Gathering’s secretary, listed all the piping events (and prize money): 1. Strathspeys and Reels (Champions), Champion’s Prize. Gold Medal and £3.2. Piobaireachd. Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE The Argyllshire Gathering of 1891 was spoiled by the weather. Rain fell continuously and in torrents, completely drenching everybody who was out of doors and converting the public park at Mossfield into a veritable quagmire. Many of those who would normally attend stayed away including competitors. […]
The National Piping Centre today opens its doors once again to the public. The reopening comes amid the Scottish Government’s easing of lockdown rules around the country. The reopening of the NPC’s city centre headquarters is limited to its hospitality and retail business. Piping lessons remain online for the time […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1884 there was some doubt as to whether the Gathering would be held. The Oban Times of August 23 carried a letter from ‘Gillie Calum’ saying he had been watching the columns for the announcement of the Games – “so far nothing, are they to […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1876 the Argyllshire Gathering games were held a day earlier than usual, on the Wednesday, September 13, with the regatta all day on the Thursday. The Lorn Ossianic Games, always previously held on Wednesday moved back to Tuesday. Its rules for the piping competitions stated: […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE The Argyllshire Gathering of 1873 was not the first games to be held in Oban that year. The Lorn Ossianic Society had been formed in the previous year, its object being “the furtherance of Celtic Sports” and it held its first highland games on September 3, […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE Pipers at the Argyllshire Gathering, if they think about its origins at all, probably believe it began as an ordinary Highland Games or as a piping competition to award the Gold Medal and the other important prizes. If they notice the presence of the Duke of […]
