Author: Robert Wallace

Editor’s Notebook: Farewell to the Creeks/ Dan’s Book/ Rolf Obliers/ Williamsburg USA/ Inverness 1970

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I read somewhere on the internet the other day of a new recording by Jack Lee of JB Robertson’s [sic] 6/8 march, Farewell to the Creeks. It’s a common mistake but the tune was of course written by James Robertson, Banff, Gordon Highlander, and not the famous Scots Guardsman. Robertson Banff was the teacher of my late comrade Joe Wilson and we have covered Joe’s early life with his teacher…

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In Praise of……..the Piobaireachd Society

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The latest of my Newsletters to members of the Piobaireachd Society was issued this week. Two significant figures pop out: 1 We now have almost 1,000 members; 2 This financial year we will be giving away circa. £15,000 to help piping bounce back from the deleterious effects of the pandemic. By Robert Wallace I think that commendable. If we combine the numbers it means that roughly speaking the entire annual…

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Editor’s Notebook: Talk Piobaireachd/ SPA Entries/ Aberdeen Art/ Games in 1937 and P/M John Slattery

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A treat tonight for members of the Piobaireachd Society with the celebrated Bill Livingstone delivering the final ‘Talk Piobaireachd’ of the 2021-22 season. Time is 8pm BST (GMT+1) and Bill will be talking about and demonstrating two of his favourite tunes, Lament for the Earl of Antrim and In Praise of Morag. Bill, who recently enjoyed his 80th birthday, was one of the great pioneers of Canadian piping, proving that…

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Be a Better Piper: Where the Beat Falls

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By the Editor One of the issues that seemed to exercise the minds of several students at the Florida school a couple of months back was where the beat falls when playing our ceòl beag. It seems there is stuff out there that is misunderstood. To try to put their minds at ease I ran through my simple explanation: 1 Play a succession of low As on the chanter whilst…

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Draw For British Pipe Band Championships Announced

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The first major championship of the pipe band season takes place at Greenock, Inverclyde on May 21. The RSPBA today announced the full list of entrants and judges. Here is the playing order for grade 1 and 2: Grade Two 1  13:30 City of Edinburgh 2  13:39 Portlethen and District 3  13:48 St Joseph’s – Eire 4  13:57 Oban 5  14:06 Bucksburn and District 6  14:15 Uddingston 7  14:24 Royal…

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