Reviews

Dan Nevans reviews ‘The Stout Collection’

Dan Nevans reviews ‘The Stout Collection’

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, […]

Dan Nevans reviews The Shasta Collection of Modern Piobaireachd

Dan Nevans reviews The Shasta Collection of Modern Piobaireachd

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 […]

John Mulhearn reviews Fred Morrison’s second collection

John Mulhearn reviews Fred Morrison’s second collection

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 […]

Stuart Letford reviews The Last Highlander

Stuart Letford reviews The Last Highlander

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 […]

Dan Nevans reviews John Dew’s ‘Pipe Tunes’

Dan Nevans reviews John Dew’s ‘Pipe Tunes’

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 […]

Dan Nevans reviews Ross Ainslie’s ‘Vana’

Dan Nevans reviews Ross Ainslie’s ‘Vana’

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 […]

Matthew Welch reviews Donald Lindsay’s ‘History of Sleep’

Matthew Welch reviews Donald Lindsay’s ‘History of Sleep’

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 […]