Author: Barry Donaldson

Iconic Bagpipe Maker William Sinclair, Leith, is Back in Business

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The world-renowned Sinclair Bagpipemaking business is now back up and running and fully operational. Ewan Sinclair, grandson of William Sinclair jnr. and son of Allistair, has teamed up with master craftsman Tim Gellaitry and the firm are once more manufacturing instruments of the highest quality. This week, myself and Brian Lamond went along to their workshop in Leith to test the first batch of chanters and drones. The standard was…

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The Dynamics of Pipe Band Competition Part 2: On the Day of the Event

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I will now move on to how bands and pipe majors may like to deal with the logisitics and formalities on the day of competition – logisitics and formalities that are all to easy to forget midst the tension and pressure of the occasion. Firstly, have last year’s trophies been returned? This may seem trivial, but you would be surprised to learn of the the number of bands that have…

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The Dynamics of Pipe Band Competition – Remember, Most Do Not Win Prizes!

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Bands throughout the Northern Hemisphere will soon begin their winter practices for the 2022 season. In eight short months we will have, fingers crossed, the resumption of competition after a three year hiatus. We hope this article will help bands focus productively on what lies ahead…. This article examines the band competition environment. First of all, let’s try and understand the ethos of pipe band competition and why we do…

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Review: ‘The Roke’, A New Music Collection by Ross Miller

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‘The Roke’ is a recent publication of pipe music by the well-known and successful piper, Ross Miller. Ross now hails from Linlithgow and The Roke is the official town tune. Ross, appropriately enough, is the town piper. He has compiled an interesting collection of bagpipe music. He has included compositions both traditional and contemporary, as well as some imaginative new music by himself. By Barry Donaldson The publication coincides with…

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Book Review: ‘Eat, Sleep, Pipe, Repeat’ by Kyle Warren/ Plus Two Other New Books

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The title of Kyle Warren’s new publication of pipe music is certainly original – as is a lot of the music. Kyle (pictured) is well known, having played with Field Marshal Montgomery PB and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. He is also a talented composer of pipe music. This compilation contains an interesting blend of original pieces alongside standards such as Lochanside and Farewell to Nigg, both re-arranged and reproduced…

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