Features

The art and mystery of composition for the bagpipe: part 1

The art and mystery of composition for the bagpipe: part 1

by BILL LIVINGSTONE. Piping Today #100, 2020. The ability to compose music, any music, for the bagpipe or otherwise is a peculiar talent and very difficult to describe or define. We know what the results of the effort are, but not much is known about the process itself. Everyone has […]

How to run a pipe band

How to run a pipe band

by DAN NEVANS • Piping Today #92, 2018 Being in a pipe band can be a real labour of love. You’ll know of people who seem to live for the band. They are at every practice, they are on the committee and take an interest in the running of the […]

Piping in London – part 11

Piping in London – part 11

1888 – 1891 by JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE The 1888 gathering was held earlier than in previous years, reverting to its earlier date, Whit Monday, May 21 but the venue at Stamford Bridge was the same and the gathering was favoured with glorious sunshine and a large attendance. Among those present […]

Bob Worrall’s 2020 vision and a postcard from 2022

Bob Worrall’s 2020 vision and a postcard from 2022

In the final ever edition of the Piping Today magazine published in May 2020, a wide range of people were asked to give their 2020 vision for piping going forward. They were all sent a list of questions and asked to choose one to answer in no more than 200 […]

Return of the Italian Spring Piping School

Return of the Italian Spring Piping School

On Sunday May 1, National Piping Centre instructors Wilson Brown and Ailis Sutherland returned from Italy after spending four days teaching at the Italian Spring School. Due to Covid, this was the first time since 2019 that the NPC had been involved with this school. The school was based on […]

Donald MacPhee’s 2020 vision and a postcard from 2022

Donald MacPhee’s 2020 vision and a postcard from 2022

In the final ever edition of the Piping Today magazine published in May 2020, a wide range of people were asked to give their 2020 vision for piping going forward. They were all sent a list of questions and asked to choose one to answer in no more than 200 […]

Jack Taylor’s 2020 vision and a postcard from 2022

Jack Taylor’s 2020 vision and a postcard from 2022

In the final ever edition of the Piping Today magazine published in May 2020, a wide range of people were asked to give their 2020 vision for piping going forward. They were all sent a list of questions and asked to choose one to answer in no more than 200 […]

History of the Argyllshire Gathering part 42

History of the Argyllshire Gathering part 42

1977 BY JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE Competitors in the Northern Meeting Clasp Competition and the Argyllshire Gathering Open Piobaireachd competition in 1977 were required to select and submit four from the following list of six tunes: Sobieski’s Salute, The Stewarts’ White Banner,  Mary’s Praise, The MacDonalds’ Salute (the tune Fannet would […]

Michael Grey’s Notes: Piping in later life – no excuses

Michael Grey’s Notes: Piping in later life – no excuses

GREY’S NOTES by Michael Grey. Piping Today #74, 2015. My Dad always said that life moves forward at a pace in tandem with a person’s age.  So when you’re 10, life seems to move along at a grindingly slow 10mph. At 10 a kid feels like it’ll take forever for […]