The latest free, digital edition of Pipe Band Magazine will be available from tomorrow. The front cover has a super picture of the new World Champion Pipe Major, Ryan Canning of Shotts & Dykehead. Inside there is an interview with Ryan and another with his Leading Drummer Jim Kilpatrick.
In addition the magazine has an extensive picture gallery of Worlds winners. The magazine, the official publication of the RSPBA, then talks to one of its leading adjudicators, Harry Stevenson from Northern Ireland, following that with a look back at the great days of the Cowal Gathering.
There is an obituary for the late P/M Ed Neigh of Ontario, a review of the SFU concert in August and all the news from RSPBA branches. Finally the ‘By the Right’ column from Headquarters features those who have been given Honorary Life Memberships by the Association after decades of dedicated service to the pipe band movement.
Check www.rspba.org and the ppresshop from Oct 1.
Those looking for help with the Unjust Incarceration, the tune featured in our report from the Iain Dall ceremony up in Gairloch at the weekend, might like to know that it is now available for download from the shop as part of Volume 4 of the Classic Piobaireachd tutorial recordings. Other tunes in the volume are Tulloch Ard, The Vaunting, Young Laird of Dungallon’s Salute, You’re Welcome Ewan Lochiel, War or Peace and Weighing from Land.
The picture used on the front of the Iain Dall competition programme is by romantic Scottish artist Alexander Nasmyth (1758 – 1840) and, according to Ian Blake the Iain Dall organiser, may be of an Irish blind piper being led by a young woman, possibly his daughter, rather than the great man himself. No matter, it perfectly captures the atmosphere of the times.
Reader Neil Clark was asking about the dates for next year’s Piobaireachd Society Conference. They’re March 19 and 20 Neil. Hope to see you at Birnam for what will be another interesting, entertaining and fraternal weekend.
Patricia Grant has issued her latest stats from the Scottish Highland Games Association piping events: SHGA Piping League 2015
It shows Ben Duncan and Gordon McCready in the lead but Patricia says some of the results have still to come in. Please forward on any that are missing to her at p.grant18@btinternet.com with copies to Piping Press too.
Scottish Pipers’ Association have their monthly meeting this Friday in the College of Piping at 7pm; all welcome.
Calling all Juvenile and Novice Juvenile bands registered with the RSPBA: the National Juvenile Pipe Band Fund opens for applications from tomorrow. If you need financial help with your band buses, or maybe tuition costs or instruments, then download and submit the form from the RSPBA website. There is a form available inside the next edition of PB Mag too.
Any reader who has come up through the ranks of a juvenile band may like to consider making a donation to the fund. This can be done here.
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Thanks very much Robert, do my best to be there.