RSPBA Tune Lists

The RSPBA’s comprehensive and updated  list of set tunes for Grades 4 and Novice is now available here. All tunes are available for download and the Music Board has selected some great and challenging tunes for the lists. Make sure you have the up to date versions of the tunes. Here’s the first ten 2/4s: Achany Glen (Added for 2015) Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering (Revised for 2015) Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen (Revised for 2015) Australian…

Schoolboy’s Weekend at Winterstorm; Dougie’s Funeral

Cameron McCall (14) is in Form III at Dollar Academy and plays in their current Scottish, European and World Champion Juvenile pipe band. He was third in his category at the 2014 World Solo drumming championship. He attended the popular contest/ workshop weekend ‘Winter Storm’ in Kansas City earlier this month. As his trip involved taking time away from school, Cameron’s father imposed a condition that he must keep a…

PP Editor’s Blog: New Baby, Piob. Soc, Douglas Elmslie, National Library

Congratulations to top pipers Craig Sked and wife Fiona on the birth of their daughter Maggie Heather who was born at 20.06 on the 21st of January in Melbourne. As you can see mother and baby are doing well and dad doesn’t look too bad either! Check out the baby’s fingers – a piper or what? President Dr Jack Taylor has announced changes to the line up for this year’s…

Band Playing Requirements for 2015 Season – Important Amendments

The RSPBA has issued revised details of tune sets competing bands will be expected to play this summer at the various major championships. The Association has apologised for the earlier errors. The first is the British at Bathgate on May 30th where Grade 1 will submit two MSRs, Grade 2 one medley, Grades 3a and 3b one MSR, Juvenile a Medley, Grade 4a one four-part or two two-parted marches and two…

New Books Available for Free Download

Today we make available two books which will be of interest to piobaireachd enthusiasts. The first is a copy of the Gesto Canntaireachd first issued in 1828 and compiled by Captain Niel Macleod of Gesto from tunes taken from ‘John MacCrimmon’. The second is P/M William MacLean’s transliteration of this book into staff notation. Read more about the pipe major and his work here. He is pictured above. Both books…