“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 […]
2020, Bliadhna na Cobhid (the Year of Covid to those unfamiliar with Gaelic), the year that almost all piping activity took place in front of a laptop or Smart phone. Where every competition or band practice began like a seance: “Hello? Can you hear me … can you hear me? […]
By James E. Scott The Muillean Dubh [The Black Mill] is a very old tune and, at one time, was well-known and popular all over the Highlands, every piper having it in his repertoire. For some reason, it seems to have gone out of favour in later times and is […]
2020 was to be the year I made my first appearance for the Dunvegan Medal, for which I had been preparing mightily over the last three years. My four submissions are, out of interest, Lament for the Children, Lament for the Earl of Antrim, MacSwan of Roaig and Lament for […]
By Wilbert Garvin As church organist I have on occasions played Guilmant’s Noél Ecossais (Scotch Carol) at Christmas, not only because it was appropriate for the time of year, but also because it obviously mimicked the Great Highland Bagpipe, which I had played when I was younger. Not only did […]
It is Christmas morning here in Scotland. Everyone connected with Bagpipe.news and the National Piping Centre would like to wish you a Merry Christmas. We hope Santa has been good to you wherever you are. It’s been a tough year. One like no other. Throughout this historic year we’ve worked […]
Finlay MacDonald today acknowledged and reflected on the difficult times he has faced in this his first year as Director of Piping at the National Piping Centre (NPC) in Glasgow, Scotland. The 42-year-old’s upbeat message also looked forward with optimism to 2021. In his short (just over four minutes) festive […]
By Clemson N. Page, Jr. It hardly seemed possible a year had passed. The Second Annual Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen Yuletide International Invitational Grand Championship Grade 7 Extra-Loud Pipe Band Extravanganza and Highland Revue was now history. All creation, like a dowager countess loosening her corsets, sighed with relief. It had […]
Andy Tasker is a piper with an impressive piping lineage. The retired banker from Leeds can trace a direct lineal descent to two of our most important piping families, the MacKays of Raasay and the MacKays of Gairloch – and also Captain Malcolm MacLeod of Raasay. But before we get […]
Sandy Grant Gordon, one of piping’s great patrons – possibly its greatest ever benefactor – has died peacefully at home. He was 89 and had been in hospital following a fall a week ago. Daughters Maggie and Sally were with him at the end. Sandy was not a piper himself […]
