Author: Duncan Watson

Analysis: The ‘Strange’ Crunluath Revisited

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The set tunes for 2024 had two tunes which had ‘open’ toarluath and crunluath fosgailte movements, the Nameless tune from Angus MacKay set for the Gold Medal, and the MacNabs’ Gathering set for the Silver, the tunes appearing in the PS Book 3 on pages 148 and 149.   By Duncan Watson There are about five or six other tunes which come to mind where this open fosgailte can occur…

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Review: An Alternative Desperate Battle of the Birds

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By Duncan Watson A few weeks ago I attended a talk at Aberdeen University’s Storytelling Festival. It was given by Jamie MacDonald Reid with musical accompaniment by a cellist. The title was ‘The Desperate Battle of the Birds’ and that’s what sparked my interest. I was not sure what to expect. I thought we would have the usual story backed up with extracts of the tune: the cock birds stalking each…

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Nethybridge Games Results

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The weather was reportedly rather cool for some of the participants’ fingers, but they coped well, writes Duncan Watson. Thirteen entered; nine played in the piobaireachd and ten played in the light music. The general attendance at the event was very good for such an isolated location. The piping board is situated outside the main games arena in a slightly elevated position and is surrounded with seating for about 25 people This allows…

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History: The Northern Meeting 1949

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I have in my possession four pages from an old Northern Meeting programme for 1949. The pages are for Day 1 only. Above is a picture of Andrew Pitkeathly, the winner of the Gold Medal that year. Twenty-four entered the Medal, but whether they all played I am not sure. The programme was given to me by the late Dr James Finlayson who was a Consultant Physician at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary….

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Revisiting the Past: 2/4 Marches and a Letter from Archibald Campbell

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Until the advent of recordings, music was ephemeral. Performances faded from memory, save for occasional outstanding examples imprinted on our minds. Memories become clouded in time, however.  Historic recordings can remind us of what we heard in the past. I am old enough to detect that march playing has arguably deteriorated, even at the highest level.  I can assure readers this is not just a personal view – it is shared…

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