• From the June 2017 Piping Times. By Allan MacDonald Side Lights on the Kilberry Book of Ceòl Mór, By Malcolm McRae and Robert Wallace (Piobaireachd Society, 2017). This has been republished recently (2016) and is a compilation of notes written by Archibald Campbell of Kilberry (1877-1963) while receiving instruction […]
From Scots Borderer to Ulster Scot … and Frontiers Beyond – New Tunes in the Auld Style by Iain Bell, (Iain Bell, 2018); £16. By Jenny Hazzard Iain Bell’s book comprises 42 original tunes, each with a background story. It begins with a concise, conversational account of the links between […]
By Iain MacInnes(from the April 2019 Piping Times) Simon McKerrell presents 71 tunes, all self-penned and original other than four traditional tunes which he has arranged for pipes, including Atholl Cummers (in jig time) and a wonderful setting of The Manchester Hornpipe. To have accrued such a mass of material […]
IN PRAISE OF HOME. CD Review by Chris MacKenzie. Piping Today #92, 2018. In contravention of the normal progression of bands in the Scottish traditional scene, Rura have taken songs out of their album rather than put more in. In Praise of Home is Rura’s third album and their first completely […]
ROAD TO THE NORTH CD Review by Stuart Milne. Piping Today #93, 2018. Assynt were a lovely surprise when they shared the stage of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s New Auditorium with Iranian piper Mohsen Sharifian and his band Lian at Celtic Connections in 2018, and the Piping Live! launch […]
Finlay MacDonald is Head of Piping Studies BA (Scottish Music — Piping) degree course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has been in demand as a performer and has toured with top Scottish bands such as Deaf Shepherd, Battlefield Band and Old Blind Dogs, and, as well as having […]
Piper and multi-instrumentalist, Calum MacCrimmon of Scottish folk band Breabach, who were nominated for a BBC Radio 2 ‘Best Band’ Folk award of 2011, talks about the importance of having a concert pitch B-flat chanter. Calum attended Celtic Connections in 2004 as part of The National Youth Pipe Band of […]
New Tunes from the Campbell Canntaireachd By Patrick Molard & Jack Taylor The last few years have smiled on the piobaireachd community, with a number of new collections and books published. These include Jimmy McIntosh’s collection, book 16 of the Piobaireachd Society collection, the new Sidelights on the Kilberry Book […]
A Memoir by Bill Livingstone. In the introduction to this book, Livingstone quotes David Sedaris saying: “A memoir is the last place you’d expect to find the truth.” This well thought out and classy statement sets up the understatement and humility I have found in these pages. I have a […]
