Author: Robert Wallace

Editor’s Notebook: Jubilee Pipers/ Lorient Faux Pas/ Ivory Pipes/ Graingers and Reeds/ Donald’s Tune

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I know it was a week ago, but I do not want this column to pass without recognising all those pipers, both military and non, who made their contribution to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Reading reports and watching the ceremonies live, it was clear that we pipers did our bit on what was a uniquely historic occasion. The jewel in our crown was P/M Stuart Liddell whose composition Diu…

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Piping Still Has a Long Way to Go to Achieve the Respect it Deserves

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By Robert Wallace The central problem in Army piping is that pipers are not considered musicians. They are soldiers first. This is not the case with their counterparts in the military bands. They are musicians, front and centre. Pipe Majors are constantly having to justify their existence to unsympathetic senior officers. Come parade time, sure they want to be proud of their Pipes & Drums. That’s different; the world and…

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Silver Chanter Line-Up Announced

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The promoters of the Silver Chanter have sent the following release: The prestigious Silver Chanter competition will make a welcome return to the Isle of Skye as part of this year’s Piping Live! festival. The event, now in its 56th year, is the annual invitational Piobaireachd competition that was established by Dame Flora MacLeod, the 28th Chief of MacLeod, alongside John MacFadyen and Seumas MacNeill, in 1967. The primary purpose…

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Editor’s Notebook: Queen’s Awards/ Medley Analysis/ SPA/ Eagle Pipers/ US Piping Job/ Kyle’s Album

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Over the years many individuals have received recognition for their work for piping. I can’t remember anyone whose award has been met with such widespread approval and happiness as that for Iain MacFadyen. I think it would be fair to say that there has never been a piper more deserving of a Royal honour than Iain. Most correspondents echo that – and the view of Iain Marshall in our comments…

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HM The Queen Honours Piping Legend Iain MacFadyen

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The piping world will be thrilled to learn that Iain MacFadyen, Kyle, has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, writes the Editor. Iain, 86, has achieved worldwide renown both as a player and as a teacher. His pupils have featured at all levels of prizelists for the past 60 years. He became one of the first school’s instructors in piping when, in 1974, he…

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