Reaction and More RSPBA News

Correspondent Ian Forbes has commented on yesterday’s disappointing news regarding the 2026 Major Championships. Ian writes: ‘If it is confirmed that, in a sad repeat of this year, there will only be four Majors for 2026, then it will represent a substantial failure by the RSPBA and its Board of Directors. ‘Alternative options and models for financing the Majors have been highlighted previously on Piping Press. ‘These included self-funding by…

2026 Majors Confirmed and Other RSPBA News

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…

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

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…

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

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,…

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

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…