Features

Donald W. G. Lindsay: Piping on another planet, part 3

Donald W. G. Lindsay: Piping on another planet, part 3

It’s been 22 months since we set off for Ascension. In two more, all things being equal, we’ll arrive back in Scotland. It’s also eight months since I last wrote a ‘Piping on another planet’ blog for Bagpipe.News so now seems like a good time to round up our adventures […]

Keith Sanger: A sign of “the ‘Times”

Keith Sanger: A sign of “the ‘Times”

By Keith Sanger I first subscribed to the Piping Times in 1969 so it is possible to look back at the last half century of its publication, first as a reader and then as an occasional contributor. At the time I first subscribed, the attraction of the ‘PT’ was that […]

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 12

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 12

1921-1922 By Jeannie Campbell In July 1921 the regatta was revived. Though the gathering was resumed in 1919, the Royal Highland Yacht Club did not resume because Royal Highland Yacht Club maintained that September was so far on in the year that yacht owners found it “inconvenient to sail their yachts […]

Michael Grey: Who doesn’t love a good magazine?

Michael Grey: Who doesn’t love a good magazine?

Who doesn’t love a good magazine? Colourful. shiny pages, interesting articles of easy-to-read length and pictures … lots of pretty pictures, if you’re lucky. Magazines have been printed for almost as long as the printing press has been invented. So for 500 years we’ve had the world’s cupboards, attics and […]

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 11

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 11

1919-1920 By Jeannie Campbell The competitions resumed in 1919. Advance news of the Argyllshire Gathering appeared in several newspapers during July and August that year. The events were the same as before, with three piobaireachd competitions, a march confined to those who had not won previously and a march for […]

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 10

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 10

1912-1914 By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1912 the events were the same as in the previous year and the Gathering began on September 10, a holiday throughout Argyll as usual, with sports on the Gathering field at Soroba Road. The day was reported to be beautifully fine, though somewhat cool. A […]

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 9

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 9

1909-1911 By Jeannie Campbell In 1909 the weather is described as ‘charming’. The report goes on, “The presence in the bay of HMS Essex and HMS Victorious lent an added interest to the Gathering, detachments of the blue jackets and marines taking an active part in the athletic sports.” The […]

Modern pipe band drumming

Modern pipe band drumming

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, […]

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 8

The history of the Argyllshire Gathering, part 8

1906-1908 By Jeannie Campbell After the resignations of the previous years, the remaining members continued the work of the Piobaireachd Society and produced a second book of six tunes in 1906. The six tunes in the book were set for the 1906 competitions and the rule was stated that, “No […]