Daily News

CLASP end-of-season results

CLASP end-of-season results

By Margaret Dunn Yesterday, CLASP (Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers) held its annual end-of-season competition. The competition marked the end of our 2019/2020 CLASP season and, as with our previous competition on March 23, this one was held digitally due to Covid-19 situation. It was a great success and […]

Angus MacKay.

What happened to Angus MacKay’s family?

More information has come to light on the life of Angus MacKay and of his family. Angus was the musical genius who became the first piper to hold the post of Sovereign’s Piper. He took a mostly oral tradition and put in on the stave and his music collections became […]

Var, Provence, south of France. Cane drying prior to export.

Chanter reed basics – part 2

Continuing an instructive article written by David V. Kennedy of Sacramento, California. The profileIf you take a single chanter reed blade and look at it so that it has the shape of the shaper shown earlier, you are looking at its ‘shape’. Now take the blade and put it flat […]

Members of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland sitting their PDQB exams last weekend.

PDQB: changes to drumming syllabus / CLASP online contest

The Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB) has made changes to the drumming syllabus for both snare and bass/tenor examinations. This relates mainly to the performance element of the examination and was implemented to align with the performance requirements of the piping examinations. This work was carried out by the […]

Donald Lindsay / St Valery stats / Bagpipe.News feedback

Donald Lindsay / St Valery stats / Bagpipe.News feedback

Donald Lindsay, the inventor of 3D-printed smallpipes, whistles and practice chanters, will be the subject of an interview on BBC Scotland’s The Nine programme on Friday night. Donald, pictured, who is ensconced in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on Ascension Island, will be talking about his ‘print and play’ […]

Lewis Russell, winner of the MacGregor Memorial in 2017.

‘MacGregor’ going online for 2020

As Bagpipe.News suggested almost a month ago, the organisers of The Argyllshire Gathering have decided to hold this year’s MacGregor Memorial competition online. The organisers haven’t yet discounted holding the final in person, however. A spokesman told us: “Clearly, we [the Argyllshire Gathering] would be guided by the government and […]

John Mulhearn: Let piping flourish

John Mulhearn: Let piping flourish

Place is important in music, and understanding the place that one is from, bides in, or looks to for inspiration, is a central part of traditional music in particular. It is with this in mind that I am going to ask for your help. But first, bear with me while […]

Queen’s piper leads St Valéry commemorations

Queen’s piper leads St Valéry commemorations

Thousands of pipers around the world joined in yesterday’s tribute to commemorate the 80th anniversary of St Valéry. On June 12, 1940, around 10,000 Allied soldiers were taken prisoner there. The 51st (Highland) Infantry Division suffered huge losses. The event was organised by PoppyScotland. Those participating included former Armed Forces […]

2021 ‘majors’ / Atholl Highlanders CD / Michael Grey / Kyle Warren

2021 ‘majors’ / Atholl Highlanders CD / Michael Grey / Kyle Warren

The RSPBA has announced the dates for next year’s major pipe band championships. They are as follows: British Championships – May 22 at St James Playing Fields, Paisley, Scotland. United Kingdom Championships – June 12 at Lurgan Park, Lurgan, Northern Ireland. European Championships – June 26 at Bught Park, Inverness, […]