By Robert Wallace A reader in the US has written: ‘I’ve joined a new competition band with another bandmate; we’re competing in about two weeks. Yesterday, there was some contention concerning the correct beating for a taorluath. My friend and I have always played the embellishment with the beat on the E grace note; that’s how we learned it from a book. ‘Several of the other band members, including the…

Speaking to a piper who plays with Closkelt (above) over at the All Ireland’s. He told me that P/M David Chesney is very strict about who he lets into the band hence they never have that superabundance of pipers that seems to be de rigueur with today’s Grade 1s. I hope David’s band don’t suffer a visual deficit when they stride on to the big arena next year. Everyone is…

I write from my room overlooking the Irish Sea. Just north of Dublin. I’m here for the All Ireland Solos. Two hundred and one pipers and drummers. Yes, that’s right 201 and not a penny in prizemoney. The record entry is split 55-45% in the pipers’ favour. By Robert Wallace John Wilson and I are picked up by the Irish Pipe Band Associations’s Vice President Seamus Russell. A fiddle with…

Well that’s the solo Highland games season over for another year. I think the support has been higher than in the recent past so well done to the pipers who got out there for a tune and to all the volunteers who keep these vital events going. There’s no sign of a resurrection at Perth, Crieff or Stirling – and Invercharron looks decidedly iffy for 2020. As regards the majors…

By Robert Wallace Thanks to the competitor who reminded me that I had not recorded my thoughts on this year’s Senior Piobaireachd event at the Argyllshire Gathering. The contest, with 21 competitors, was held on August 21 in the Corran Halls, Oban. I managed to listen to the whole event apart from the last player Andrew Hayes. Here’s what I noted down in the order recorded… Dr Peter McCalister –…