The altpibroch website, which has lain dormant since the death of ceòl mòr scholar J. David Hester, has been rebranded and relaunched as The Pibroch Network. The website curates a network of digital resources devoted to the learning, teaching, performance and wider public appreciation of pibroch. Known as The Alt […]
Tag: Keith Sanger
More on 1921 / Giving the birl a spin / Queen’s jubilee pipe band draw
After Stuart Letford’s recent article on the 1921 Census appeared, readers have contacted us to point out that the year was the birth of quite a few individuals who would go on to become notable names in piping. These include: Tommy Pearston co-founder of the College of Piping – born […]
Famous pipers: Willie Gray
Willie Gray (1883-1962) was one of the major figures of early 20th century piping. Most pipers today know his name through the well-known and ever popular 2/4 march, Pipe Major Willie Gray’s Farewell To The Glasgow Police. Composed by Pipe Major John MacDonald – Seonaidh Roidein – of South Uist […]
The Worlds: too early for decision / Gesto: publication expected soon / Sean Somers’ new collection / The Scottish variant
With the Scottish Government planning to help major events return in the summer months – as long as infection rates are kept down – this could mean that the World Pipe Band Championships may be in a position to take place “in some form,” a source at the City of […]
The strathspey in Scottish music
WILLIAM LAMB discusses the origins of the genre and what he says is its uneasy relationship with the great highland bagpipe The strathspey is undoubtedly the most iconic variety of Scottish traditional music. Collinson describes its characteristic dots and snaps as the, “life blood of Scots musical rhythm”. Yet, recent […]
Bag and bellows from past to present
We can thank the Lowland & Border Pipers’ Society (LBPS) for the successful revivial of bellows-blown bagpipes that’s taken place in Scotland in recent years. The Society was founded by a handful of enthusiasts in Glasgow in the early 1980s. At the time, the instrument and the pipe music of […]