Letters/Guest Blogger Responds on Piobaireachd Embellishments

Three new letters added today. Guest blogger Duncan Watson has sent this in response to the response to his original post:  Embellishments in ceol mor are undoubtedly an important aspect of the music irrespective of setting or style of playing and I suppose there is danger in going on ad nauseam on this subject and forgetting about the music. Undoubtedly the methods of writing those embellishments has changed over the period…

PP Ed’s Blog: SFU Fundraiser, South Africa 100 Guineas

Congratulations to all involved with the SFU charity concert for the BC Cancer Foundation. $32,000 (£17,000) is a considerable total to achieve. I watched the concert, and it certainly was an emotional evening, with Andrew Bonar and his family centre stage. The band played very well in my view, as well as could be discerned from the Livestream, with strong melodic content in all selections. A drone hardly needed touched….

Preview of New Edition of Pipe Band Magazine

The April 2015 edition of the magazine will be out on Wednesday as a free download from the RSPBA or from the ppresshop.  Followers of the Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band (pictured below in 1974 under P/M Tom MacAllister Jnr. and L/D Alex Duthart) will be interested to read of the life and times of band legend Sandy Bell. Here’s a short excerpt:  ‘At Shotts, a period of re-building started again when,…

Scottish Pipers’ Association Veterans and Adult Amateur Results

The Scottish Pipers’ Association held another successful adult amateur and veterans competition today with a good entry of 12 pipers. There was a mixed bag of playing, the judging difficulty weighing indifferent pipes and good technique against indifferent technique and good pipes. Closest to delivering on all fronts was Champion Piper Alasdair Morrison. Full results here.  The competition was judged by Willie Morrison and Stuart Shedden and stewarded by Hugh Anderson…

PP Editor’s Blog: SFU Concert, SPA Vets, Cambridge PB

Simon Fraser University Pipe Band have announced a complete sell out for tomorrow’s ‘Pipe Up for Cancer!’ concert in support of leading piper Andrew Bonar. The band’s website has this info for those attending: ‘Doors to the SFU Theatre will open precisely at 5pm for a 6pm concert start. It is general seating, so come early to get a great seat. As we are completely sold out, we ask that you not…