To kick off the new year we reproduce Seumas MacNeill’s editorial that appeared in the Piping Times of January 1957. Seumas had three suggestions for pipers that year and they are still relevant today. As we look forward to, hopefully, a return to piping at some point this year, let’s […]
No individuals from the world of highland piping have been recognised in the The Queen’s New Year Honours list for 2021, although a British Empire Medals (BEM) has been awarded to Margaret Campbell of County Tyrone in Northern Ireland for services to pipe bands and highland dancing in the county. […]
2020 was to be the year I made my first appearance for the Dunvegan Medal, for which I had been preparing mightily over the last three years. My four submissions are, out of interest, Lament for the Children, Lament for the Earl of Antrim, MacSwan of Roaig and Lament for […]
It is Christmas morning here in Scotland. Everyone connected with Bagpipe.news and the National Piping Centre would like to wish you a Merry Christmas. We hope Santa has been good to you wherever you are. It’s been a tough year. One like no other. Throughout this historic year we’ve worked […]
Finlay MacDonald today acknowledged and reflected on the difficult times he has faced in this his first year as Director of Piping at the National Piping Centre (NPC) in Glasgow, Scotland. The 42-year-old’s upbeat message also looked forward with optimism to 2021. In his short (just over four minutes) festive […]
Sandy Grant Gordon, one of piping’s great patrons – possibly its greatest ever benefactor – has died peacefully at home. He was 89 and had been in hospital following a fall a week ago. Daughters Maggie and Sally were with him at the end. Sandy was not a piper himself […]
Kilsyth Thistle Pipe Band’s 12 hour ‘Pipe and Drum Marathon’ took place on Saturday … and raised an incredible £11,551 for Christmas presents for children in the Stirlingshire town. Members of the band played around the town and the surrounding villages of Banton, Croy and Queenzieburn from 09:00 onwards. All […]
Pipe Major Iain Murdo Morrison died in hospital in Stornoway yesterday (Thursday). He hadn’t been well for a while and had been in hospital in Glasgow last month. Iain, a native of the isle of Lewis, was undoubtedly one of the best pipers of his generation, or, indeed of any […]
Organisers of two of the piping world’s three major solo competitions are looking ahead to 2021 with optimism and have made a joint announcement advising that they are now accepting entries for next year’s competitions. The Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting will be held on August 25-26 and September 2-3 […]
To pipers, Lord Lovat of the ’45 is known through two tunes, both called Lord Lovat’s Lament. One is a 4/4 march, the other a piece of ceòl mòr. Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat – MacShimidh Mòr – was a clan chief who was beheaded for his part in what […]
