By Andrew Wiseman If it was not for one of the more catchy 2/4 marches ever to have been composed for the pipes then it is rather doubtful that Father John MacMillan of Barra, (Maighstir Iain Dhonnchaidh), would be so well remembered. Duncan Johnstone, the famous piper and composer – […]
By Keith Mumby I’d like to communicate a very pleasurable experience I had recently which took me nearer the heart of the spirit of piobaireachd than anything so far to date. I was at the College [of Piping] for a couple of days’ tuition under Duncan Johnstone (my, doesn’t he […]
Next year, the National Piping Centre marks its 25th anniversary. Among other initiatives planned to commemorate the milestone is the publication of a collection of original pipe music. The organisation is inviting all students, former and current, over the past 25 years to contribute to the project. Tunes should be […]
One of the most hotly tipped competitive solo pipers making their way through the B grade, multiple pipe band championship-winning John Dew (a recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) presents his first solo recording effort, The High Bridge Walk. Let’s get real. John is someone I know. I […]
Iain MacDonald, one of Scotland’s greatest ambassadors for its piping and culture, died this morning. He was 70 and had been in hospital for a few weeks with various health issues. Iain was born in Glasgow to parents who were born on Great Bernera, just off the Isle of Lewis. […]
By Bruce Thomson The 6/4 time signature is not found frequently in pipe music, but I can quote a few examples. The most familiar is perhaps, Farewell to Nigg, by Duncan Johnstone on page 68 of the Scots Guards volume two. They are quite scarce. For example, there is only […]
By Dougie Pincock I was very pleasantly surprised a couple of weeks ago to be contacted by Piping Times editor, Stuart Letford and asked to make this contribution to the Bagpipe.News Blog. I met Stuart when I was an instructor at The Piping Centre (before it was National!), and hearing […]
This Saturday evening – May 4 – sees Stuart Liddell and Gordon McCready play in the first heat of the Scottish Pipers’ Association’s (SPA) ‘knockout’ series for the Piping Times Trophy. Stuart is the current holder of the trophy. The other invited players in the series are Cameron McDougall and […]
Heat 1 sees of the Scottish Pipers’ Association’s prestiguous knockout series for the Piping Times Trophy. Current holder Stuart Liddell takes on Gordon McCready. The series was began in 1964 by Seumas MacNeill and the trophy was given by the Piping Times. Duncan Johnstone was the first winner.
