Day 2 of this year’s Argyllshire Gathering – Oban Games held at Mossfield Park – saw with hot and sunny weather in this the 150th anniversary of the event. Approximately 35 competing pipers plus Oban High School Pipe Band led the march to the field. Before the piping competitions commenced, […]
Stuart Liddell of Inveraray was the overall winner at the Argyllshire Gathering’s invitational solo piping competition, held today as part of the Gathering’s 150th anniversary. Liddell was placed first in the Piobaireachd and third in the March, Strathspey and Reel (MSR). A Medley competition was held for the first time […]
Champion piper, Finlay Johnston is about to embark on a marathon cycle trip to raise money for Cancer Research. Finlay’s father, Tommy, died last July from cancer. Finlay and friend, Gordon Bruce who teaches piping at St Columba’s School in Kilmacolm, aim to cycle from the National Piping Centre’s Glasgow […]
1949-1950 By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1949, competitors for the Open Piobaireachd had to offer four tunes, The End of the Great Bridge, Lament for MacDonald’s Tutor, Scarce of Fishing and The Vaunting. For the Gold Medal no tunes were listed but for the Northern Meeting Gold Medal the requirement […]
We have been asked about why some pieces of ceòl mòr are played these days with taoruath and crunluath variations when formerly they weren’t – or, for the most part, weren’t. It’s a good question and our correspondent has made particular reference to The Big Spree, one of the tunes […]
In February 2020, for their appearance and tone, I bought a used set of silver and faux ivory 1980 Kintail bagpipes. I then spent months trying to bring that tone properly to the surface, where I could be confident that they would still be near in tune whenever I picked […]
A documentary airs in Belfast next week that tells the story of pioneering women pipers who helped pave the way for women musicians at a time when the traditional music scene in Ireland was dominated by men. The documentary, entitled ‘Mná Na Bpíob’ (‘Women of the Pipes’), is part of […]
With the 18th Piping Live! festival ending last weekend we take a brief breather here at McPhater Street and bring you some highlights in pictures of this incredible piping event. See you next year!
The results from last weekend’s Grampian Highland Gathering piping competitions were: March – 1. Allan Russell [pictured]; 2. Calum Brown; 3. Pipe Major Ben Duncan; 4. Gordon McCready; 5. John MacDonald. Strathspey & Reel – 1. Pipe Major Ben Duncan; 2. Allan Russell; 3. Calum Brown; 4. Gordon McCready; 5. […]
The National Piping Centre. Friday, August 13. As compère, Fergus Muirhead noted, Piping Live! has always showcased the huge diversity of bagpipe music. This concert was a great example of that. Funding was received from the PRS Foundation Open Fund to commission five Scottish composers to make new pieces for […]
