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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It’s been a hell of a year for new music. This year, plenty of performers have released new records, new collections and performances on live streams and YouTube recitals. Just in time for Christmas, here comes a collection of tunes titled simply, Pipe Tunes. John Dew, one of our most […]
I was thrilled by the prospect of Matthew Welch’s new book, A New Compleat Theory for the Highland Bagpipe immediately I read about it. Having been familiar with Matt’s playing for some years, and with his innovative work both as a composer and in collaboration with some of the US’ […]
I don’t do drugs. Expanding the horizons of my consciousness with chemicals has never seemed as interesting as expanding my consciousness with more corporeal, external media. But, if I did want to smoke DMT or rub mushrooms on my temples until time becomes a visible substance, I’d do it to […]
Donald WG Lindsay and I have come to know each other over the last decade through the very small network of bagpipers pushing the boundaries, capabilities, and future possibilities of the bagpipes and bagpipe music. His recent explorations in smallpipe and chanter design are seen through the lens of a […]
The limitations of the great highland bagpipe are: A fixed range of melody notes/fixed octave drone; No dynamic ability; No rests (traditionally). Nevertheless, considering our instrument cannot become louder or quieter, we don’t start and stop, and we are restricted with what keys we can play in, it’s amazing the […]
A bagpipe is an investment. If you are lucky then you’ll get a return out of that investment either for yourself or for whomever gets the pipe after you. The mystique of the antique bagpipe is much like the sword ‘Excalibur’ in Thomas Mallory’s epic, Le Morte d’Arthur: the object […]
