Tobar an Dualchais, the archival project that digitises, catalogues and disseminates Gaelic and Scots sound recordings online, is seeking information on the surviving family of Pipe Major James Robertson, Gordon Highlanders (b. 1886-d. 1961). Recordings of Robertson, the composer of Farewell to the Creeks, have been discovered – both spoken […]
News
Appeal for practice chanter / Uist & Barra line-up / Lochaber Piping Society Juniors (and recital)
We kick off today with an appeal for a unique practice chanter. June Ross, a relation of Pipe Major George MacKenzie, Seaforth Highlanders, wishes for the return of the instrument. Unfortunately, we do not have a photograph of it. June says: “It was presented to my great uncle by the […]
Judges for the 2020 majors announced
The judges for this year’s major pipe band championships have been announced by the RSPBA. They are:
P.M. Donald MacLeod Mem. line up / NPC job vacancy / Showcase Scotland /Gary Nimmo at the Vale
The eight pipers who will compete at this year’s Pipe Major Donald MacLeod Memorial Invitational Solo Piping Competition have been confirmed as: Stuart Liddell, Niall Stewart, Iain Speirs, Angus MacColl Snr., Connor Sinclair, Sarah Muir, Willie McCallum,Gordon McCready. The competition will be held on Friday April 3 at the Caladh […]
Army School to mark 20 years at Inchdrewer House
A commemorative dinner is being held tomorrow night at Inchdrewer House in Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, the home of the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming. The dinner is to mark 20 years of the Army School moving there from its previous home, Edinburgh Castle. Many retired Army officers, […]
Alisdair McLaren to return home to Australia
Alisdair McLaren, who last September succeeded Iain MacPherson as Pipe Major of Glasgow Police Pipe Band, has stepped down ahead of a return home to western Australia. A spokesman for the band said in a statement: “Glasgow Police Pipe Band announce [sic] that Pipe Major Alisdair McLaren has, with regret […]
Scots Guards KO: MacColl Jnr through to semis
Jimmy Banks of the Scots Guards Association reports: “Angus MacColl Jnr won through to the semi final of our Knockout competition, beating Callum Wynd on Sunday. We had good audience of approximately 45 who listened to some very good piping, “The next quarter final heat sees Callum Brown and Bradley […]
Boghall concert/Drummond recital/MacCal solos/Leinster solos/G. Johnston Mem.
There are still a few tickets left for today’s Boghall & Bathgate Pipe Band concert. The concert is part of this year’s Celtic Connections festival. The band takes to the stage of the Main Auditorium of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall around lunchtime. It will be the first the band […]
Bruce Thomson, 1930-2020
Bruce Thomson, MD, died at home in Crieff, Scotland aged 89 on January 13. Bruce was a piper and pipe composer of considerable merit. He made around 450 tunes in his lifetime including the Haddington Turnpike and Tommy McDonald of Barguillean, played by Shotts & Dykehead at the World Pipe […]
Important changes to PDQB drumming syllabus
The Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB) has made changes to the drumming syllabus for both snare and bass/tenor examinations. The changes relate 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 […]