John MacFadyen Recordings Available on Scottish Music Archive/ New Piping Book Published

The Scottish music archive ‘Rare Tunes’ has unearthed an LP recording by Champion Piper John MacFadyen. Its on the ‘Gaelfon’ label and dates from 1958 and was recorded in Glasgow. The recording includes a complete piobaireachd, MacIntosh’s Lament, and the ceòl beag is as follows: Braes of Lochiel / Invercharron Gathering / Cameron MacFadyen / Duart Castle; 71st Highlander’s Farewell to Edinburgh / Pipe Major Willie Gray’s Farewell to the…

Highland Games Begin a Slow Revival – Updated With Results and Pictures

The first Highland games on Scottish soil for almost two years took place today. The Grampian Highland Gathering was staged in the Princes Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. The last full Highland Games were staged at Braemar in September 2019. Today’s games were a reduced event but were organised to keep interest in piping, dancing and sports alive. HRH The Prince of Wales, currently resident…

Masters Piping Results: Lament for the Earl of Antrim Wins on the Day 9th Earl is Laid to Rest

Seventeen pipers toook part in the ‘Masters’ piping competition held yesterday at the National Piping Centre as part of Piping Live! The winner earns an invite to the Glenfiddich competition on October 30 in Blair Castle. The ‘Masters’ competition is open to Gold Medallists and winners of ‘A’ grade light music events at Oban and Inverness. Callum Beaumont, from Bo’ness and the piping instructor at Dollar Academy, was the overall…

Piping Live! Well Underway – Time to Make Your Contribution!

This year’s Piping Live! got underway last weekend and as Scotland enters a new phase of freedom, the Glasgow festival is set to host another six days of world-class performance and piping competition between now and Sunday, 15 August, writes Claire Hutchison A number of exciting in-person shows are being staged for up to 1,200 attendees as part of the annual event at the National Piping Centre, alongside a rich programme of…

MacGregor Memorial Finalists Announced

Twenty-seven young pipers aged under 22 entered for the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd competition promoted by the Highland Society of London and run by the Argyllshire Gathering. The competition is one of the most prestigious professional competitons for young pipers in the world. The winner is usually given entry into the Silver Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering. Judging for the 2021 MacGregor was completed last weekend. This is the second year…