The Lowland & Border Pipers’ Society (LBPS) today marked in music a major milestone in Scottish history. The major milestone was the 700th anniversary of the so-called Declaration of Arbroath, the letter that was submitted to Pope John XXII in Avignon, France in the spring of 1320. The letter was […]
By MacGregor Kennedy. A mile north of Dufftown where Fiddich meets Dullan is Balvenie. On the west side stands Balvenie Castle on an eminence, readily seen from the A941. It was in times past called the ‘Castle of Mortlach’ and was the centre of the locality long before Dufftown was […]
By Dugald B. MacNeill Pipers will talk endlessly about their pipe chanters and go to great lengths to get them just right, or what they believe is right. They will spend money on reeds and buy new pipe chanters to increase the chance of getting both the correct scale and […]
GREY’S NOTES by Michael Grey Piping Today #68, 2014. Angus MacKay. He’ll be known, at least by name, to many of you. Born on September 10, 1813 — under the astrological sign of Virgo — on Raasay, an island off the north-west coast of Scotland, he was to become one […]
Alex Duncan, son of Ian and Chris Duncan, died today in hospital in Edinburgh. He was 26 years old. Alex had been in hospital for a week. Alex Duncan was a first class piper. Taught as a child by Dougie Reid, Perth and father Ian, Alex’ two biggest piping influences […]
By Seumas MacNeill What wonderful titles people have given to piobaireachd. Apart from the long lists of laments and salutes, we have such gems as My Dearest on Earth Give me Your Kiss, and All the Men Paid Rent but Rory, as well as this Red Hand tune, and many […]
As we reported on Tuesday, this year’s Pipe Major Donald MacLeod MBE Memorial Piping Competition will take place behind closed doors at the National Piping Centre (NPC) and broadcast online at a later date. Last month’s Silver Chanter competition was the first major solo event to take place in a […]
By Lt. Col. D. J. S. Murray In the year 2000 there was published Dr William Donaldson’s seminal The Highland Pipe and Scottish Society, a well written, well researched and well sourced book which one thought would have been well received by the serious piping fraternity. The contrary was the […]
The National Piping Centre today appointed John Mulhearn as its Head of Piping Studies. John, pictured, takes over from Finlay MacDonald who held the post for many years and who took the helm as the Glasgow-based organisation’s Director of Piping at the end of May. John Mulhearn has worked as […]
This year’s Pipe Major Donald MacLeod MBE Memorial Piping Competition will be held behind closed doors at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. The eight pipers invited to take part – based on their wins on the competition circuit in the previous year – are Willie McCallum, Gordon McCready, Sarah […]
By Archie MacLean My father, John MacLean, was born in the solitary house on the small tidal island of Kirkibost, North Uist, where his father, Angus, was the herdsman. My father’s birth certificate shows his birth date as April 23, 1900. There was no doctor present at the birth (not […]
We were saddened to hear of the death at the weekend of Anna MacLachlan. Anna had a long association with the College of Piping. Anna, pictured, joined the College staff in the summer of 1993. Officially, her role was that of cleaner but she was so much more, taking part […]
By Captain John MacLellan The year 1781 has much more significance to piping than the fact that it was the first time that a properly organised competition for ceòl mòr was held. As to the past, we can only surmise that competitions were held – none are on record. Apart […]
