By Wilbert Garvin As church organist I have on occasions played Guilmant’s Noél Ecossais (Scotch Carol) at Christmas, not only because it was appropriate for the time of year, but also because it obviously mimicked the Great Highland Bagpipe, which I had played when I was younger. Not only did […]
By Clemson N. Page, Jr. It hardly seemed possible a year had passed. The Second Annual Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen Yuletide International Invitational Grand Championship Grade 7 Extra-Loud Pipe Band Extravanganza and Highland Revue was now history. All creation, like a dowager countess loosening her corsets, sighed with relief. It had […]
Andy Tasker is a piper with an impressive piping lineage. The retired banker from Leeds can trace a direct lineal descent to two of our most important piping families, the MacKays of Raasay and the MacKays of Gairloch – and also Captain Malcolm MacLeod of Raasay. But before we get […]
RODERICK CANNON sent this article to the Piping Times in late 2014. It is an update on an article he had written elsewhere on the life and career of the legendary John MacDonald of Inverness, focussing on his personal and professional aspects rather than his music John MacDonald was born […]
WILLIAM LAMB discusses the origins of the genre and what he says is its uneasy relationship with the great highland bagpipe The strathspey is undoubtedly the most iconic variety of Scottish traditional music. Collinson describes its characteristic dots and snaps as the, “life blood of Scots musical rhythm”. Yet, recent […]
By Donald MacPhee In part 1 I discussed the information, styles and requirements of piping for dancing and finished by looking at some dances that come under the ‘Highland’ term. I’d like to conclude by explaining the rest of those dances and then those that are termed ‘Scottish National Dances’ […]
By Donald MacPhee Piping for dancing has been a big part of my life. My two sisters were highland dancers and latterly became highland dance teachers. When I got on to the pipes, my dad and bagpipe tutor (Sandy MacPhee) encouraged me to play for the dancers that were getting […]
By Keith Sanger I have been following the series, ‘The origins of ceòl mòr — a theory’ by Bridget MacKenzie with some interest. It presents a fascinating parallel between ceòl mòr and Norse Skaldic verse, but while not detracting from its main theme, contains a few areas open to some […]
By Fergus Muirhead That John Wilson would end up playing the pipes was never in doubt. His father William was a piper in the 8th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. His uncle, Archie, Pipe Major of the 8th Battalion, was killed, like a lot of his colleagues, leading the battalion […]
By Neill Mulvie Judging practice chanter competitions is fraught with danger. It is surprising how often the competitor’s tutor and even parents feel they themselves are being judged and some are not shy in letting the judge know when they are not happy with the result. And some can be […]
