Author: Robert Wallace

2026 Majors Confirmed and Other RSPBA News

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The recent meeting of the Association’s Board of Directors confirmed the following Major Championships for 2026. It looks like, as with 2025, there will only be four: The 2026 Championship venues and dates are: • British – 30th May, Ingliston• European – 27th June, Perth• Scottish – 25th July, Dumbarton• Worlds – 14th/15th August, Glasgow Green Next year’s playing requirement details are being withheld until final confirmation of the number…

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History: A Look at two Piping Books from the 19th Century

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Thanks to the kind offices of Niall Macdonald, great-grand son of the late Neil Angus of that ilk, I have been loaned copies of two interesting, early piping books. I always enjoy a browse through this material. It lets us see how the music, and the writing of it, has developed, and it shows how the early scribes endeavoured to put an oral tradition down on paper. The first is…

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Editor’s Notebook: Let Piping Flourish/ Kyle Warren Book/ Kiwi Bands/ Roy Gunn

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John Mulhearn: I was wondering if you might be able to post something about the upcoming event at the ‘Aye Write’ book festival at which myself and Richard McLauchlan will be discussing our new books? The event is this Sunday, November 9, and the copy reads: ‘…….. two fellow pipers discuss their books and enjoy a tune or two….Richard McLauchlan is our guide to the fascinating history of the bagpipes,…

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Editor’s Notebook: Grading and the Games/ Glenfiddich Winner/ Northern Winter School/ SPA Juveniles

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Reader Ben Greeves from Northern Ireland has commented on the recent rule adopted by the Competing Pipers’ Association whereby they will not consider results for their grading process unless these were achieved before an adjudicator accredited by Solo Piping Judges Association. I think many of the solo competitions in Ireland North and South are before SPJA judges, Ben. Recently Logan Tannock did the Piper of the Year in Ballymena and…

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Capping Band Numbers: Readers Respond Part 2

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This important topic continues to engage the pipe band community, writes the Editor. A further range of opinions is printed below. People are clearly very concerned at a situation which leaves Scotland with only five Grade 1 bands. Surely something must be done to arrest this ongoing decline? Thanks once more to everyone who has contributed. Andrew Young: I feel a Grade 1A and 1B would work better with a…

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