By Margaret Dunn (of CLASP) Members of the CLASP (Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers) last week uploaded their video entries to our Remote ‘Video Submission’ Competition. Judging by the large entry, it proved to be a popular contest among the membership. Due to the inevitable uncertainty surrounding the ongoing […]
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London C Grade / Blàs online / LBPS conference / Tiny piper?
The Great Highland Bagpipe (and its music) has long been embraced by people from all walks of life and cultures. Further evidence of this can be seen in the entries for this weekend’s online C Grade competition organised by the Scottish Piping Society of London. We understand that at least […]
Virtual PM Donald MacLeod competition cancelled
The Pipe Major Donald MacLeod MBE Memorial Piping Competition, which was to take place behind closed doors at the National Piping Centre and broadcast online at a later date, has been cancelled due to the pandemic restrictions in place in Scotland’s Central Belt. The Lewis and Harris Piping Society had […]
Young Global Piper of the Year / A candle for Eilidh
The Governor Macquarie Memorial Pipe Band of New South Wales, Australia, is hosting an online competition for junior pipers. The competition is being ambitiously titled the ‘2020 Shepherd Challenge for Young Global Piper of the Year’ after the band secured headline sponsorship for the competition from R. T. Shepherd & […]
Famous pipers: Duncan Johnstone
The Duncan Johnstone Memorial Piping Competition has taken place at the National Piping Centre for over 20 years. It is held in memory of the famous Glasgow piper dubbed the King of Jigs. As Angus J. MacLellan wrote in Duncan’s obituary that appeared in the January 1999 Piping Times, Duncan […]
A flavour of the 2020 Glenfiddich
By Stuart Letford Ever wondered what it would be like to have a private recital given by our ten best pipers? Well, that’s almost what I experienced last Friday at Blair Castle where this year’s Glenfiddich, the 47th, was held behind closed doors. By now, you will no doubt have […]
From bands to ceòl mòr: bad music is the same turn-off
An interesting commentary on musicality by Duncan Watson appeared in the Piping Times 20 years ago. Duncan was essentially responding to an article penned by Robert Mathieson on dull pibroch playing. Duncan’s comments are in some ways still relevant and worth repeating. By Duncan Watson On browsing through my back […]
Jock Agnew, 1933-2020 / New John McLellan website / Davie’s turn
We are sad to report that Jock Agnew, a very well known and popular figure in the bellows piping scene in both Scotland and England, has died. Jock died on October 26, from chronic heart disease, aged 86. Stuart Letford, Convenor of the Lowland & Border Pipers’ Society, said: “Jock […]
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 […]
Stuart Liddell wins 2020 Glenfiddich Piping Championship
Stuart Liddell of Inveraray, Scotland took home the overall prize at the 2020 Glenfiddich Piping Championship, held yesterday behind closed doors in the Ballroom of Blair Castle in Perthshire, Scotland. Inveraray & District Pipe Band’s Pipe Major notched two seconds which were enough to secure him the overall title. It […]