Piping Press Audio Archive – Most Popular Recordings to End of 2020

The Piping Press Audio Archive has a full range of solo performances in both ceòl mòr and ceòl beag. The library is free to everyone. During this covid lockdown/holiday period why not spend some time exploring it? We also thought it would be of interest to see which recordings have been the most popular to date. The current listening figures show that South African piper Chris Terry (pictured) has by…

History: ‘The Piper and His Music’ and the Early Days of BBC Radio Broadcasting

This article, by BBC radio producer Hugh MacPhee, first appeared in the Radio Times, the BBC’s listings magazine, on November 9, 1956. Mr MacPhee was involved in all aspects of Scottish culture in the early days of the BBC in Scotland, variously head of Gaelic broadcasting, a keen supporter of the National Mod and of shinty. His piece ends with a note that ‘You can hear the music of the…

Mr Sandy Grant Gordon: A Tribute

The following piece by the editor was first published in Piping Times magazine in 2003, but its recognition of the debt of gratitude owed by piping to Mr Grant Gordon, who died last week aged 89, is as relevant today as it was then….. By Robert Wallace In the long annals of our history there are many men who through their efforts as players, composers, teachers or writers have fanned…

World War 1 and An Unsung Piping Hero Comes to Light: Pipe Major David Anderson

This article is based on a display in the Royal Scots Club in Edinburgh. Thanks to reader David Waterton-Anderson for bringing it to our attention and to the club for their memorial to another WW1 piping hero who would otherwise be forgotten…….  Serving police constable David Anderson, a piper from Dalgety Street, Edinburgh, answered the call of duty when, on the outbreak of WW1, he signed up with the 15th…

Champion Piper Jack Lee Leads Latest ‘Talk Piobaireachd’ Discussion Tonight

Tonight (Dec 16) at 8pm GMT the Piobaireachd Society is hosting the latest in its online ‘Talk Piobaireachd’ sessions. Leading the discussion will be champion piper Jack Lee from British Columbia, Canada. Jack will discourse on aspects of ceòl mòr using suitable tunes to illustrate his comments. Jack has over 40 years experience at the very highest level of solo piping competition. He has won all the awards open to…