Three Orkney businesses all contributed to bringing you this very well presented book: The Orkney Brewery, Sheila Fleet Jewellery and The Brig Larder restaurant. I suppose that’s a sign of the character of this collection as a whole. To me, the central themes that radiate from this collection are Family, […]
I think it’s safe to say that ceòl mòr is enjoying its perhaps fourth revival. The post Jacobean/Ossianic era produced much interest and began the culture of competitive piobaireachd as we know it. Queen Victoria’s Scottish obsession spawned much of the fundament of piobaireachd recording and performance we have today […]
I once thought it would be a funny idea to assemble, during the Worlds, all the beardy, speccy blokes in Grade 1 pipe bands for a photo. Me, Andrew Bova, Ross Miller, Callum Watson, Johnny Simpson, Scott Wallace, Gus Sicard, Emmett Conway, that guy with the big red number that […]
By Stuart Letford Duncan Johnstone wasn’t really one for competitions – his 1964 victory in the Scottish Pipers’ Association’s Knockout series was pretty much his only foray into solo piping contests. As he put himself, “I was never interested in whether I could beat this man or the next. I […]
Many names in piping are just that to most of us: names. Quoted by so and so from such and such. I pride myself on having a very good knowledge of the history of the Highland Bagpipe and its culture but I must admit Pipe Major Evan Macrae BEM was […]
By John Mulhearn There are few pipers in the Highland piping tradition that command the depth of respect that Fred Morrison enjoys. His entertaining and highly charged solo performances on the concert stage are legendary and unique. Equally, his thoughtful and deeply musical performances on the competition stage have earned […]
By David V Kennedy Yes, indeed: to watertrap or not to watertrap, that is the question! Some say that the trap is necessary in all climates. In an eight month 100˚F average summer? With less than an average 20% relative humidity? Sounds dreadful, doesn’t it? Logical? Well, not at first […]
By David V. Kennedy The question a piper may ask is: “Why on earth would one want to squeeze the blades or the staple of a chanter reed?”’ And this is certainly a valid question. After all, didn’t the reedmaker assemble the reed correctly? Didn‘t he tie the blades onto […]
By David V. Kennedy In an early issue of The International Piper, Mr. Roger Gould-King wrote an informative, and useful, article on the chanter reed. He included a drawing of the reed, dimensioned. From the top of the lips, going downwards to the staple- bindings, he drew in a conception […]
“The pipe reed obeys no laws. Like the most fickle woman, it rewards, if at all, the lavish attentions of an honest heart with but a brief and transient display.” – J.C.M., Piping Times, October 1949. By Chris Apps Contrary to ‘J.C.M.’s’ quote, the average pipe chanter reed, if well […]
