We conclude the very interesting article ‘Pipers of Scotland’ from the pen of the London Times piping correspondent Seton Gordon. It dates from the 1960s. In this excerpt he discusses the hereditary pipers to the MacDougalls and MacKenzies, gives composers for two famous piobaireachd and poses the age old question: do pipers today play as the masters of the past did? The MacDougalls were originally hereditary pipers to the MacDougall…

We continue with the article by noted writer Seton Gordon first published in the London Times in the 1960s…. Another family of pipers celebrated at one time in Perthshire were the MacIntyres, for a period pipers to the chiefs of the Clan Menzies. They were not, like the MacGregors, natives of the county but came traditionally from the Isles. The first of whom we have read is Donald Mor. He…

For many decades the elegant prose of writer Seton Gordon graced the pages of the London Times discoursing as he would on piping, folklore and the natural world of the Highlands of Scotland. Here we reproduce the first part of an article he wrote in the 1960s. It shows that the MacCrimmons were not the only great piping family of legend…. THE world has heard of the MacCrimmons of Skye…

By The Editor The Office of the Scottish Charities Register (OSCR) have confirmed that, despite stories to the contrary in the national press last weekend, they are NOT conducting any formal inquiry into the affairs of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. In a statement on their website the RSPBA say: ‘Following the articles in the national press last weekend, the Board of Directors would like to state that the…

Piping events at the popular Highlands & Islands Festival are now open. The contest takes place on May 2 and entries close on March 9. The festival blurb reads: ‘The 37th Festival 2020 is going to be our biggest year yet with new venues, over 1100 participants, 125 competition classes in eleven disiplines and fringe events to be announced. ‘The Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival has developed into…