Jimmy McIntosh, DR’s Scrapbook and the Day John MacFadyen Did the Double

I spent yesterday afternoon with Jimmy McIntosh who, with his wife Joyce, is on a three-week visit to the UK. Jimmy, now in his 90s, continues to amaze everyone with his energy and enthusiasm for piping. He is a firm believer in the adage ‘don’t count the days; make every day count’ and is currently involved in a number of projects, which, with Joyce’s valuable support, I am sure he…

PP Ed’s Blog: Jimmy Tune/ Chris Carving/ Ulster Burns/ DM Lauren/ Geoff Neigh

A performance of the Earl of Seaforth’s Salute by Jimmy McIntosh has been added to the PP Audio Archive. Jimmy says he thinks it is from the Northern Meeting in Inverness when he was runner-up to Donald Morrison in the Clasp. The tune comes to us via Chris Terry and Nicholas Taitz in South Africa. Thanks to all. Listen to the tune here. An accident involving RSPBA Finance Director Kenny Crothers…

A Look Back at the 2000 Gold Medal

Buy D Naill Standard Poly Practice Chanter (inc. any tax & mailing), from                         Still in ‘looking back’ mode, it is hard to believe that it is 15 years since Mike Rogers became only the second American in history – after Texan Mike Cusack – to win the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal. Mike R’s big day was…

Iain Speirs Impresses at Piobaireachd Society 2015 Conference (video added)

The highlight of this year’s Piobaireachd Society Conference had to be the playing of Iain Speirs, writes PS Vice President Robert Wallace. Iain, the consummate professional, was asked to illustrate a paper given by John  Shone on the life and career of one of the greatest pipers of all time, Donald MacPherson. With a beautifully set pipe, Iain thrilled the large number of attendees with outstanding performances of ceol beag, the urlars…

Important New Book from Jimmy McIntosh

Piobaireachd authority and expert teacher, James McIntosh MBE, has announced the release of his long-awaited book on piobaireachd. The publicity release reads: Introducing ‘Ceol Mor for the Great Highland Bagpipe’, by P/M James Haddow McIntosh, MBE. This is a collection of history and teaching, and Jimmy’s original manuscripts of ceol mor, presented in the Balmoral Tradition, as taught by P/M John MacDonald, MBE; P/M R.U. Brown, MBE, and P/M R.B. Nicol. …