Review of the 2026 Uist & Barra Professional

Pity those who weren’t at Otago Street last Saturday for the 79th Annual Uist & Barra Professional.

We heard two piobaireachd that would have won any competition anywhere – and I’m talking senior events at Oban/ Inverness – and some flowing ceòl beag that wasn’t to be sniffed at either.

By Robert Wallace

The two tunes I mention were from Callum Beaumont and Finlay Johnston. There wasn’t a gossamer strand between them; it took all the expertise of the panel to separate.

There can be no finer drone sound in world piping than Finlay’s. From the moment he struck up, the ear was taken, the rich sonority filling the room. As he led us through the wonderful melody of Donald Gruamach you could hear each note of the chanter harmonising with the overtones from the drones. Enchanting, and the essence of ceòl mòr manifest. Could he have pulsed the doublings more? Probably; minor point; masterly playing from a master piper and first prize.

Yet how could you fault Callum? Here we had everything: beautiful, vibrato-enhanced chanter sound, a high G to die for, and an expertly phrased My Dearest on Earth. Did he rush the doubling of the crunluath slightly, was the a mach always clear towards the end? Again, minor points; masterly playing from another master piper.

Third went to Connor Sinclair with Port Urlar. Chedari wasn’t always rhythmical; there was a missed D taorluath and some connecting notes in the taorluath doubling were longer than others, but overall this was enjoyable piobaireachd – controlled phrasing on a solid pipe.

A sharp C detracted from an otherwise entertaining Red Speckled Bull from Angus MacColl. C is one note you can’t afford to have off key in this tune. But Angus was given credit for verve – and for the way he captured the essence of the ‘Bull’.

Of the others, there was an iffy chanter and lax timing from Brodie Watson-Massey with the Earl of Antrim; Calum Brown had a good pipe and fingers but needs a closer look at Fare Thee Well Donald – a sameness pervaded his work; Sandy Cameron failed to nail low A and his King’s Hand suffered accordingly; Steven Leask was given Donald MacLeod’s Lament for John MacDonald, Inverness, but the tune lacked shape; good instrument; Ben Duncan was a bit open with the low As in the ground of the Fingerlock and thereafter nippy in the dithis and Ts and Cs; first on, Sarah Muir had a well set pipe but her ‘Big Bridge’ was just too cautious and the throw on D needs a tad more C; Jamie Forrester played Lament for Airds; my notes read: well set pipe; VG finger; one missed D taorlauth and two wrong notes; true pathos missing from urlar and variation 1.

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Lunch over, it was time for the light music. The large, enthusiastic crowd, whetted by the high standard of the morn, crowded back in in anticipation. They weren’t disappointed. MSR tempos were up.

Unfortunately several pipers forgot that when you raise the metronome the short notes must be relative to the long rather than cut to extinction to emphasise the latter. This is a skill that comes with understanding.

Absolved of any criticism in this regard would be the prize winners. Angus MacColl took the MSR first, his fluency and genuine feel for the music offsetting the occasional bit of tight technique.

Finlay Johnston (that bagpipe), Sandy Cameron and Ben Duncan were also guilt free: clear, flowing melody, tunes well expressed whilst still played at bright tempi.

The H&J was infected with inconsistency. Rushing here; rushing there; lilt and control gone. Not so the playing of the prizewinners, with Angus again thrusting to the front with dancing rhythm, closely followed by Sandy, Sarah and Brodie.

This was a very successful day of high quality piping. The historic trophies provided focus, were presented then retained. The old College building played its part too. It remains the only custom made piping space in the world. You can walk straight in from the tuning rooms and be on the stage ten seconds later. I know the thought that went into the design now nearly two decades ago.

Thanks for this competition’s re-build must go to the Glasgow Uist & Barra Association themselves, especially Mags, Catriona and Innes, and of course all the sponsors.

I wasn’t the only one to remark that the Uist & Barra piping family was back together again. They’re planning big things for their 80th year twelve months hence.

• Full results here.

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