Atholl Gathering Online Piping 2021

Results  Overall Champion John Dew (above) Under 18 Champion Robin Sulzer  P/A/non CPA Piobaireachd 1 Ben McClamrock – Park Piobaireachd 2 2 Pipe Major Ben Duncan – MacDougall’s Gathering 3 Jamie Forrester – Battle of Bealach nam Brog  Judges: I Duncan, C MacLellan  7 played.  B Piobaireachd 1 Scott Armstrong – Big Spree 2 John Dew – Isabel MacKay 3 Fraser Allison – Rory MacLoude’s Lament  Judges – Final: A MacDonald, R Hawke; Heats: C Armstrong, A…

Letters: Bruce Gandy on Oban and Inverness/ Duncan Watson on March Playing

Correspondence to Piping Press is always welcome. Recent letters are carried below. Subjects are this week’s article on the prospect of an Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting being held this year and Donald Shaw Ramsay’s comments on pipe marches. Firstly Bruce Gandy, Nova Scotia, one of the world’s leading pipers, on the uncertainty surrounding Oban and Inverness. Bruce writes: ‘Good article; hopefully this will push the promoters a wee bit…

A Pipe Band is Judged By Its Poorest Players – P/M Donald Shaw Ramsay BEM

The second part of the article from a 1960s issue of the Piping, Drumming and Dancing Journal by P/M Donald Shaw Ramsay, a brilliant player, pipe major and composer. Here he considers march tempi, and then offers an introduction to ceòl mòr or piobaireachd. Read the first excerpt here. How fast should a piper play?  This again is a very controversial point, but try playing a march at a speed of…

False Fingering an ‘Unforgiveable Error’- Playing Advice from One of the Greats of Piping and Pipe Bands

The following is from the Piping, Drumming and Dancing Journal, 1960s. P/M Donald Shaw Ramsay was a brilliant player, pipe major and composer. Tunes to his credit include classics such as the 6/8 Miss Lily Christie, the 2/4 march Jimmy Young, and the hornpipe Tam Bain’s Lum. He won World Championships with the City of Edinburgh Police Pipe Band and came close to doing the same with the legendary Invergordon…

Archie Kenneth Quaich Today ‘Live’ Online/ Dan’s New Book/ Eilidh’s Legacy Helps Young Musicians

The competition for the prestigious Archie Kenneth Quaich takes place today (Sat., May 22) online. The contest is being run under the auspices of the Piobaireachd Society’s Music Committee. It features 23 amateur pipers several of whom are previous winners of the coveted Quaich. They are, in playing order:Martin Lee Wey Vern , Leslie Barrett, Dugald MacLeod, Alasdair Beaton, Gill Cairns, James Carnegie , Billy WardropeTom Peterkin , Stuart Letford, Lachlan MacDonald, Andrew…