The solo piping competition organised by the Glasgow Uist and Barra Association normally kicks off the solo piping year. The 2020 competition was the 75th year of the contest. The competition didn’t take place in 2021 and it’s too early to say whether it will return in 2022. In the […]
One of the most eagerly awaited piping books in many years will be published this spring. I Piped, That She Might Dance is a novel based on the life of Angus MacKay, the man who became the most famous piper of his own lifetime and whose legacy continues to this […]
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 […]
Today we look at a tune that is quite often the first piobaireachd most of us will learn. It is a straightforward yet musical tune in the Primary classification. A little known snippet of information is that the man for whom the tune was named was the inventor of the […]
By Joe Wilson. An article in the Piping Times regarding the jig playing at the Northern Meeting in 1961 reads: “Sergeant Campbell made amends for his previous appearance [he had made a mistake while playing the strathspey and reel in the short leet] by winning this competition very clearly. Second […]
We have received some feedback regarding the blog post from Simon McKerrell, pictured right, that appeared here last week. All of the feedback we received came from competing pipers and a couple of judges. Most were supportive of Mr McKerrell’s suggestion that it is time to gradually abolish the Set […]
Skye Games will not take place this year. Cameron MacFadyen, Piping Convener, said: “It is with much regret that I have to advise that the decision has been taken very recently to cancel the 2020 Skye Games in view of the current emergency. “With the exception of the two World […]
Roderick MacDonald was born on South Uist in 1901. He was a member of Glasgow City Police Pipe Band from 1923 to 1956. He served under two Pipe Majors, Willie Gray, then the famous John MacDonald, his brother. At the Argyllshire Gathering, Roderick won the March in 1928, the Strathspey […]
Peter Bain was a prominent piper and judge of the post-war era. Taught his piping by William MacDonald, Lairg, Peter joined the Scots Guards in 1927 and was appointed Pipe Major of the Holding Batt. in 1941 then the 4th Batt. In 1944-45 he was Pipe Major of the 2nd […]
The 26th annual P.M. Donald MacLeod Memorial Invitational Solo Piping Competition was won by Finlay Johnston. The contest, held in tribute to the Lewis-born master piper and composer, took place today in the Caladh Inn, Stornoway in front of a packed house. The contest was, as ever, organised by the […]
