Another of our brave, anonymous correspondents has chipped in apropos my comments on band medleys saying that I am longing for the glory days of Muirhead & Sons. You should understand my faceless friend that there were no ‘glory days’ for Muirheads under the medley regime from 1970 onwards.
They all belonged to Shotts, Dysart, Edinburgh Police, and then Strathclyde Police. The imposition of the medley was a huge sea change for the top bands, designed to crack Muirheads’ MSR monopoly during the 1960s. It worked.
At the start of the medley format he says ‘tradition ruled’ and ‘innovation was nowhere at the table’ but conveniently forgets that even before that Donald Shaw Ramsay was experimenting with hornpipes and jigs in bands. Then came all sorts of new ideas: seconds, Shotts startling use of rallentando, Red Hackle and their tenor rolls.
And from all that emerged Strathclyde Police and their brilliant sound and smart tempi, setting new standards in medley composition and delivery.
From over the water came Bill Livingstone’s 78th Frasers and Ed Neigh’s Guelph band dipping into the Irish and other folk idioms and styles being recorded by the traditional bands like my own and the Chieftains.
So, my super courageous interlocutor, innovation has been ongoing over the past 60 years and I recommend you study your pipe band history a little more closely.
My point was that you can go to far with innovation and once you have to start explaining what you are doing, then perhaps it is time for a re-think.
Surprisingly, he agrees: ‘No one should have to explain their medley in advance. We are in a bad place if that becomes the norm. Many, in a crude attempt to ‘top’ Inveraray’s ‘Dream Valley’ medley, are simply trying too hard. The current fashions will move on and simplicity will reign again.’
Let’s hope he’s right about that.
Games Updates
Inverness Piping Society: ‘The Society is delighted to be again running the piping competitions at Inverness Highland Games this Saturday 11th July [tomorrow] at Bught Park.
‘Entries on the field from 10.30am with competition draws at 11am. Junior (u-15 & u-18 events) and Senior (Piobaireachd, MSR & H/J) events.’ Judges are Les Hutt, Moira Robertson and DJ MacIntyre.
Killin Games: The organiser has intimated that after judges’ feedback and committee discussion, a decision has been made to bring timings forward for piping competitions.
She writes: ‘Please be advised of the following for all age categories. Registration will close at 9.45am. Draw will be held at 10am. Competition start 10.30am.’
North Uist Games are a week today, July 17th: Jnr./ Snr. solos; P, M,S&R; entry on field. Interval music from Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band.
Lochaber Entry
Chairman of Lochaber Piping Society, James Rosie: ‘We have released the entry form for the 2026 Lochaber Gathering. Entry numbers will be capped and entries decided by ballot using an on-line random number generator.
‘Entries close Friday, July 31st. We will contact entrants as soon as the entry list is finalised to let them know if they have been successful. At this point we will request an entry fee of £25. If your entry is unsuccessful, you will not be asked to pay the fee, though you will be asked if you wish your name to be added to a reserve list.’ Junior entries here; senior here.
Newspaper Pic
This is from the Aberdeen Press & Journal newspaper of a couple of weeks back. It was taken at the 1982 National Mod held in Portree, Skye:
The caption reads: ‘Bags of talent: waiting their turn to tread the boards in the under-15 piping competition at the Mod are Skye youngsters (left to right) Neil MacRae, Broadford, Murdo MacLeod, Kyleakin, and Jonathan Ball, Broadford.’
A superb digital book of pipe music… click on pic to order
Order by clicking on picture…