Author: Robert Wallace

Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band in the 1970s

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Thanks to reader Peter Reilly for forwarding the above picture. It is of the famous Dysart & Dondonald pictured during rehearsals for the Worlds at either Corby in 1975 or Nottingham in 1979, writes the Editor. We are trying to confirm the date and identify all of those pictured. There is also a suggestion that Dysart won the Worlds drum corps title at Corby. All information gratefully received. Please reply…

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Rare Recording of P/M Donald MacLeod – Part 2

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More from maestro P/M Donald MacLeod in these excerpts from the historic recording made at an impromptu recital given in Seattle, WA, in 1955 whilst Donald was on a tour of the western US and Canada. I reckon Donald would have been in his early 30s at the time of the recital. On leaving the Army he joined the firm of Grainger and Campbell in Glasgow with John MacFadyen as…

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Rare Recording of Pipe Major Donald MacLeod from 75 Years Ago

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We are grateful to Jack Lee of British Columbia, Canada, for forwarding this historic recording of Pipe Major Donald MacLeod, writes the editor. It was made in Seattle, WA, in 1955 whilst Donald was on a tour of the western US and Canada. At the time he was still a serving soldier based at Fort George near at Inverness. As can be heard in the introduction, the recital was impromptu,…

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Editor’s Notebook: Judges Training/ RSPBA Website/ St Columba’s Concert/ Pipes ID/ Gloria Aicken

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When chatting to Jack Lee before his Talk Piobaireachd presentation this week we rounded on the need for continuous professional development (CPD) among judges and teachers. It was this that made sessions such as TP so valuable. CPD is common in all walks of professional life and piping should be no different. Jack’s tunes were the Earl of Seaforth’s Salute and the King’s Taxes. Both I have played and taught…

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Editor’s Notebook: Bob Nicol/ Tonight’s Recitals/ RSPBA Website/ Solo Judging/ Balvenie Medal

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Reading Duncan Watson’s article on Bob Nicol I thought, ‘they don’t make ’em like that any more’. Quite a character. To be a good teacher you must have a clear vision of how a tune should be played and RB Nicol clearly had that. Too many alternatives and the student becomes confused. But there is more to the man. When all we hear is of Nicol’s teaching we tend to…

More Editor’s Notebook: Bob Nicol/ Tonight’s Recitals/ RSPBA Website/ Solo Judging/ Balvenie Medal