PP Ed’s Blog: Old Pipes v New/ Gordon McCready/ Strathallan School/ Drumlough PB

I read the other day that according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences an extensive study has shown that audiences actually prefer the sound of newer violins over those made by master craftsmen such as Antonio Stradivari. Violin acoustics expert Professor Claudia Fritz, of the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, asked seven world famous soloists to play at concert halls in Paris and…

PP Ed’s Blog: Schools Poll/ Gordon’s Recital/ SPA Pro/ Piob Soc Conf/ Barnaby

The result of our poll into the suitability or otherwise of the new venue for the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship were as follows:  Some heart for the organisers if we amalgamate the two bottom stats: 41% think it okay or are prepared to give it another go. The majority however were clearly not happy. Read about the 2017 contest here. The picture up top shows the main winners, George…

Aboyne Games (updated)

Bright but cold day on Royal Deeside. Healthy turnout of pipers. Fifteen played in light music; 17 in ceol mor. A very successful day for piper Gordon McCready (pictured with David Wilton). Piob: 1 G McCready (Lady Mgt. MacDonald’s Salute) 2 U Beckford 3 A Russell 4 G Canning 5 D Watson Judges: N Mathieson, M McRae, W Wotherspoon March: 1 G McCready 2 A Russell 3 J Greenlees 4…

Aberdeen Games/ BC Games (updated)

Aberdeen Games 20/6/15 Dry to begin with; rain in afternoon. Gordon McCready continued his impressive run at the games with another ‘Champion Piper’ title. Piob 1 Edward Gaul, Lament for Viscount of Dundee 2 Ben Duncan, MacDougall’s Gathering 3 Gordon McCready, Big Spree 4 Allan Russell 5 Jonathan Simpson Judges: Norman Matheson, Duncan Watson March 1 Gordon McCready 2 Ben Duncan 3 Allan Russell 4 John MacDonald 5 Jonathan Simpson…

Strathmore Games/ Brown Cup, NZ

A sunny day with a cold easterly wind. Thirteen played. Piob 1 Graham Mulholland, MacDougall’s Gathering 2 Mike Fitzhenry, Park No2 3 Allan Russell, Mary’s Praise 4 Gordon McCready, Lord Lovat’s Lament 5 Ben Duncan, Lament for MacSwan of Roaig Judges: D Watson, G Clark March 1 Gordon McCready 2 Ben Duncan 3 Allan Russell 4 Mike Fitzhenry 5 Edward Gaul S&R 1 Gordon McCready 2 Ben Duncan 3 Mike…