Brighde Recital/ Donald MacLeod Recordings

Up and coming young piper Brighde Chaimbeul is giving a recital in Haddington, East Lothian, on Sunday (July 5). It will be held in St Mary’s Parish Church from 4 – 5pm. The publicity blurb reads: Seventeen-year-old Brìghde  comes from the Isle of Skye and has been immersed in Scottish/Gàidhlig music from a young age. She was offered a place at St Mary’s Music School in 2010 and since then has been…

Famous Pipers: Angus MacKay/ Forres Thoughts

The first part of our latest Famous Pipers column is carried today. It concerns one of the great piping figures of the past, Angus MacKay. Not only did Angus MacKay provide the modern era with a link to the MacCrimmons, he also produced a book of music highly esteemed since it first appeared in 1838. In addition to this, MacKay co-invented the ‘competition’ pipe march, was the first Sovereign’s Piper…

Ceres Games

A pleasant summer day at Ceres in Fife but a low entry of only seven in the professional ranks, possibly as a result of the clash with the pipe band championship at Forres. Jimmy Banks judged all events. Piob 1 Darach Urquhart (left with his winners’ trophy), Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay 2 Edward Gaul, The Groat 3 Peter McCalister, Lament for the Viscount of Dundee (pictured top playing for…

North East Games Solo Piping League

Patricia Grant has sent us this update on the John Milne Fine Arts Grampian Games Association Piping League 2015  SENIOR Piobaireachd Fochabers Edward Gaul                                             4 Colin Campbell                                        3 Gordon Barclay  …

New England Piping Academy/USPF/Piobaireachd by the Sea/Letters

New England Piping Academy Principal Robert Wallace writes: ‘Well here we are in the deep woods of Massachusetts and the birds are singing and the pipes playing. It is quite an idyllic surrounding in which to study the great highland bagpipe. ‘The students are all responding well to treatment, crossing noises diminishing and breathing improving every day. There is the occasional increase in blood pressure when playing in public but most…