Month: February 2022

Hugh MacInnes, Campbell McGougan, P/M Angus and the ‘Big Pipe’ 

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It was a bit of a shock to hear from Duncan Watson a couple of weeks ago that Campbell McGougan in now in a nursing home. I doubt if he’ll remember me, but if you get a chance to speak to him Duncan, please tell him Clive Douglas, a friend of the late Hugh MacInnes, was asking for him. I know Duncan’s comments concerned Jack Churchill’s pipes at one time…

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Editor’s Notebook: Hopeful Signs for 2022 Season/ Dale Brown/ Ken Eller/ Northern Meeting 1971

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Whether coincidental or by design, the considerably more positive statement which has appeared on the RSPBA website subsequent to my comments of last week regarding the forthcoming pipe band season, are to be welcomed. The Association is working hard on the majors (judges, stewards, compilers), is filling in gaps on the minors, and has their promoters, our cash-strapped Scottish local authorities, in constant and close contact. The feeling in Washington…

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World Online Contest Entries Open/ New Tune for Norman

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Jori Chisholm has launched the spring edition of his ‘World Online’ competitions for pipers and drummers. To enter the band/ duet contest click here. To enter the solo contest click here. Here’s how the online competitions work:• Register by March 8, 2022• Video entries by March 23• Judges watch videos and write comments for every performance• Results and winning performances posted online March 30 Prolific composer Niall Matheson has written…

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No New Classics and ‘Same Old, Same Old’ with our Competition Marches, Strathspeys and Reels

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I suspect that what I write will attract comments from others who do not share my opinion. I hope we can have an interesting dialogue.  GS McLennan, John MacColl, Willie Lawrie, Roddy Campbell, where have you gone?  We miss your music, your composing genius. (That’s MacColl’s masterpiece, Dugald MacColl’s Farewell to France, in the composer’s hand above.) By Dale Brown Today’s new music seems concentrated on hornpipes and jigs.  Admittedly, they often…

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WW2 Piping: As the Battles Raged Abroad the Music Continued at Home

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On the Home Front, many pipers who were either too old or two young for service in the forces, or who were in reserved occupations, joined the Home Guard and many pipe bands were formed within that organisation.   John Seton served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the First World War and afterwards joined the Glasgow Police. For many years he was the Drum Major of the police band….

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