News from the Piobaireachd Society

The Society are holding their annual conference in Perth from March 28-30. There are four illustrated talks on the Saturday (March 29). These are: ‘Gems from the PS Archive’ – Dr Jack Taylor‘Life, Times and Music of John Macdonald, Inverness’ – Robert Wallace‘Memorising the Great Music’ – Dr Peter McCalister‘Skye: Language, Heritage and the Silver Chanter’ – Dr J Decker Forrest The formal events are followed by a piobaireachd ceilidh…

John Scott, Dolina MacKay and the Scottish Pipers

Logan Tannock, President of the Scottish Pipers’ Association: ‘Thank you for the stories on John Scott. They brought back memories of my early days at the SPA club nights at the Dorchester Hotel. I remember John, Captain Alex Fraser and Dolina MacKay, and yes I remember the Thow drones and how sweet they sounded. ‘John was always willing to offer advice to me as a young player, or indeed any…

History: A Tribute to General CS Thomason Part 2

Major General CS Thomason was one of the great figures in piping at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. His 400-page work ‘Ceol Mor’ paved the way for the formation of the Piobaireachd Society and its seminal collection of Books 1-16. We continue with the report from the Oban Times of July 10, 1909, of a dinner given in the Major General’s honour in Edinburgh…

Piping Society Honoured to be Part of Visit by His Majesty The King to Gordons Museum

The Aberdeen Piping Society (TAPS), established 2023, has a simple aim – to encourage and nurture the playing of the Great Highland Bagpipe. Our 35+ members of all ages and experience, meet up regularly to play pipes, and share stories, writes Fraser Maitland. Despite being a young organisation, we’ve provided two new trophies for local events, including the creation of a new junior Piobaireachd competition at the Aberdeen Highland Games (the…

History: A Tribute to General CS Thomason

Major General CS Thomason was one of the great figures in piping at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. His monumental 400-page work ‘Ceol Mor’ paved the way for the formation of the Piobaireachd Society and its seminal collection of Books 1-16. The Oban Times of July 10, 1909, reported on a dinner held that month in his honour in the Union Hotel, Edinburgh….. The…