Editor’s Notebook: 2/4 March Tempos/ Alastair MacQueen/ Bangor BB/ Pipe Band Gradings

Further to my comment about the slow playing of 2/4 marches, and concerned that I was talking out of turn, I had a listen to a recording I made back in 1982. The tempo is more or less the same as Hugh MacInnes‘s. The tunes are Highland Wedding and Jeannie Carruthers: I then had a listen to a selection of marches from the PP archive and they all confirmed that…

Editor’s Notebook: Bob Hardie Recording Comments/ Larkhall Piping Job/ Breton Canntaireachd/ Euro Drums

Several responses to the Bob Hardie recordings and my comments thereon published earlier this week. I agree with the message that he rushed the crunluath doubling somewhat in his Corrienessan. Maybe he felt the drones were moving. Overall an excellent rendition though. Next up was Iain Bruce in Queensland who helpfully identified the air Bob played. Iain wrote: ‘It is Mull of the Mountains. It was often played by Bob…

Recordings of P/M RG Hardie from 50 Years Ago

We are very grateful to Jim Barrie in western Canada for forwarding these recordings of Bob Hardie playing at an impromptu recital at the Coeur d’Alene Summer School in Idaho in the early 1970s. Bob went there on several occasions at the invite of the Principal Col. John McEwing and taught with the likes of Andrew Wright, John Wilson, Toronto, John MacAskill, and on one occasion, James Campbell. Bob is…

Ulster Solos and Games Updates

The Ulster Solo Piping & Drumming Championships 2024, were held on Saturday 13 April in Lisnagarvey High School, Lisburn. Run by the RSPBA Northern Ireland Branch, the solos attracted a large entry. Piping Champion for 2024 was Ashley McMichael of Field Marshal Montgomery, with runner up Kris Coyle from the same band. Ashley and Kris are pictured above. Results:Piobaireachd: 1 Ashley McMichael 2 Kris Coyle 3 Scott McKay (Scottish Power)…

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Editor’s Notebook: 100 Years of PS Books/ Jimmy McIntosh Scholarship/ Piping Festival

One hundred years ago, in a large house in the Cairngorm woods, the finishing touches were being put to a book which was to alter the course of piping history. Sheriff Iain Grant, Music Committee Secretary for the Piobaireachd Society, was preparing to send off to the printer the first edition of Book 1 in its new collection. This was the Society’s second go at putting together a selection of…