Author: Duncan Watson

Bob Nicol, A Blunt But Inspirational Teacher

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Recent Piping Press posts on the judging of solo piping led to a response from Mr Neil Mulvie in which there was reference to an unnamed piper whose playing was criticised by Bob Nicol. The piper played the piobaireachd Beloved Scotland and apparently did not give enough value to the low A in the commencement to the tune and Nicol uttered the words, ‘he hasn’t got it’. By Duncan Watson This occasion was…

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Sheriff Grant’s Copy of Thomason’s ‘Ceol Mor’

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I was very interested to read the articles on General Thomason’s ‘Ceol Mor’. When I came to Aberdeen at the raw age of 21, I had no knowledge of it. The only piobaireachd books I had heard of were the Kilberry Book and William Ross’s, an old copy of which we had in the family home. I now have a copy of ‘Ceol Mor’ which once belonged to Sheriff Grant…

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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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