Editor’s Notebook: Forres Thoughts/ Ian C Cameron/ Jim Dow/ Balmoral Concerts/ Gaelic Cash

Not being able to travel to Forres for the British I had a listen to a few of the Grade 1 bands online. Not ideal, but better than nothing. Of those I heard I thought third placed Shotts had the most complete MSR. The winners Boghall had an outstanding march…but then the strathspey. Inveraray, second, likewise. Band drummers these days don’t play strathspeys in the traditional sense, four beats to…

Piobaireachd Society Summer School on Skye

I had always wondered why the last of the MacCrimmons, Donald Ruadh, found himself on the mainland at Glenelg. Thanks to research by Dr Decker Forrest we now know that those fertile lands, directly opposite Skye on the old drove road to Mam Ratagan and the south, were owned by the MacLeods of Dunvegan. Back then the MacLeods revered their pipers, granting them land rent free on Duirinish, and would…

Corgarff Games Results

Well done to all the pipers who supported this small games in the wilds of Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, and held yesterday (June 8). The weather was cold and wet. Champion piper was Angus MacPhee (pictured). The judge was Lewis Barclay. Piobaireachd1 Angus MacPhee2 John MacDonald3 Hector Munro March1 Angus MacPhee2 Hector Munro3 John MacDonald S&R1 Hector Munro 2 Angus MacPhee3 John MacDonald 6/8 March1 John MacDonald2 Angus MacPhee3 Hector Munro Jig1…

Piping News from Brittany

As part of the 70th anniversary of the bagad [pipe band] Raoul II of Fougères, a piobaireachd concert was held in the small church of Beaucé, Brittany, writes Clement Gallet. The tunes were very well introduced by Pierre Gallais. He took the time to teach the general history and structure of piobaireachd, as well as introducing each individual tune and piper before they played. Five pipers played, most of them…

Editor’s Notebook: Glass Chanter/ Jimmy Anderson/ CLASP Invitational/ Capt. John Dinner/ John Balloch

Reader Les Hutt has commented on the news this week of the new trophy for the North Games. Les writes: ‘Many thanks to Andrew Grant and Jean Cameron for the new trophy. ‘The Glass Chanter was an institution for those who competed on the Northern circuit and hopefully this will inspire a good turnout in the future competitions.’ Yes, a terrific gesture by Jean and Andrew Les. I am sure…