Argyllshire Gathering’s Lochnell Intermediate Professional Piping Championship Draw and Tunes

This prestigious competition for junior professional pipers will be held at Lochnell Castle, Benderloch, Argyll, a week today on Saturday, October 2. Ten leading young pipers aged 22 and under have been invited to take part.  Piobaireachd Draw and Selected Tune1 Luke Kennedy, MacKay’s Banner2 Anna Smart, Old Men of the Shells3 Bobby Allan, MacDougall’s Gathering4 Cameron May, King’s Taxes5 Hamish Drennan, Battle of the Pass of Crieff6 Andrew Ferguson, Earl of Ross’s March7 Brodie Watson-Massey, Lament…

Focal Dystonia in Pipers – Readers Respond With Touching Personal Stories

We make no apology for this third and final (for now) article on Musician’s Focal Dystonia (MFD). You only have to read the comments below to realise the anguish this distressing condition has caused pipers. We are grateful to these correspondents for sharing their experiences and to Norman Matheson whose erudite articles brought the matter once more to pipers’ attention. Bill Currie: ‘Some 15 years ago I consulted the late…

Picture Poser Solved/ Solo Contest Round Up: Bratach, Captain John, George Sherriff

In reply to yesterday’s photograph poser, Donald Mackay, Pipe Sergeant of Scottish Power, was first out of the blocks. Donald writes: ‘This photo was taken in 1999 out in Pakistan. ‘The Pipes and Drums of the 1st Btn The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons & Camerons) were out taking part in Queen’s Birthday celebrations all over the country. ‘The band played at various engagements and functions in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore and…

Donald Morrison Archive: King George and Bob Brown and an Impromptu Rendition of Lament for the Children

This is the second part a letter, a copy of which Donald held in his papers. It was from Seton Gordon, is dated January 5, 1973, and was to Col. John McEwing, a piping enthusiast in the US and the man responsible for so much good work in the Pacific North West. He was the original director of the Coeur d’Alene Piping School in Idaho where Donald taught. Seton Gordon…

Fred Morrison Reel Pipes for Sale/ New Piobaireachd Society in North America

This is a beautifully made, hallmarked silver set of mouth blown Fred Morrison reel pipes by McCallum Bagpipes. African blackwood, they are in the key of A with bass, baritone and tenor drones. They come complete with a Canmore bag and ‘drone start’ lever. They were bought new for £1700 and have hardly been played. They are as new. The cost new was £1700. On offer for £1200. More information…