By Jeannie Campbell MBE The recent article about the Eagle Pipers gave only a brief mention to the Open competitions run by the Society. For me, and perhaps for others, my only contact with the Eagle Pipers came from attending the annual competition, which at the time was one of […]
1956-57 By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1956 the tunes for the Open competition were Nameless (Book 8), The End of the Little Bridge, The Daughter’s Lament, Craigellachie, Lament for the Duke of Hamilton, The Red Speckled Bull, The Stewarts’ White Banner and Lament for The Harp Tree, from which four […]
Reader, Fiona Stephen, has been in touch with some fascinating information about three members of her family who fought at the Battle of Magersfontein. Fiona’s information shows us that this iconic battle, immortalised in pipe music, is really not as long ago as we think. The battle was fought on […]
By Seumas MacNeill The important feature of ceòl mòr is, of course, the music itself, and indeed it has been suggested by one prominent piper at one time that they should be simply labelled as Opus No. 1, and so on. However, most of us have an interest in who […]
By Seumas MacNeill Most gatherings have an atmosphere all of their own, and none more so than Inverness. Last of the season’s contests, equal in stature with Oban, it is the final fling for pipers and enthusiasts before the winter. The Northern Meeting ballroom with its warmth, splendid acoustics, and […]
Road to the Isles was composed by John McLellan of Dunoon in 1891 when he was a young boy of 16. However, he called it The Bens of Jura. McLellan’s mother, Mary Darroch was born at Keils in Jura, and his father, Neil McLellan, came from the nearby island of […]
By Captain John MacLellan The year 1781 has much more significance to piping than the fact that it was the first time that a properly organised competition for ceòl mòr was held. As to the past, we can only surmise that competitions were held – none are on record. Apart […]
Cowal Highland Games organisers have hailed its three-day virtual event as a success. A spokesman said: “In a year which no one could have predicted, this was an event like no other. It was a celebration of a Highland Gathering which is more than just a great day out. Cowal’s […]
This year’s Captain John A. MacLellan MBE Piping Championship has been cancelled due to uncertainty over COVID-19 pandemic, Major Gordon Rowan, the Director of Army Bagpipe Music, said yesterday. The annual competition, organised by the Army School of Bagpipe Music & Highland Drumming in Edinburgh, Scotland, has gained in popularity […]
More classic articles from our archives have been uploaded to the site today. From 1980-1981 Captain John A. MacLellan MBE published an introductory pibroch pieces that provide a sound explanation of the structure and notation of the music. The series was aimed at the junior piper but the information will […]
