Author: Robert Wallace

Editor’s Notebook: Duncan Ban Macintyre/ Raasay/ Livi Drumming/ Pipe Music Software/ 1968 US Results

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Last weekend was spent near St Conan’s Kirk, on Loch Awe-side in Argyll. That’s the handsome church you see on your left about twenty miles east of Oban as you head for the Argyllshire Gathering.  It was the venue for a concert to celebrate the life and work of the famous Gaelic poet, Duncan Ban Macintyre. There was piping and poetry and stories. One speaker, Professor Alan Riach of Glasgow…

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Editor’s Notebook: Northern Winter School/ Talk Piobaireachd/ Calum’s New Book/ John Dew/ Col. Alastair Campbell

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We had several hours to kill before our flight home from the Northern Winter School and accepted an invitation of a short tour of the nearest great city, Hamburg, from our generous guides Frank and Kirsten. Hamburg vies with Rotterdam as the most important port on mainland Europe. A previous tax-free enclave made it a world centre for coffee roasting. Much of the old quarter is built on oak piles…

More Editor’s Notebook: Northern Winter School/ Talk Piobaireachd/ Calum’s New Book/ John Dew/ Col. Alastair Campbell

Editor’s Notebook: Winter School/ Angus MacKay/ Brighde at COP/ Oldest Band/ Roddy Cannon

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We are well into the 2021 Northern Winter School here on the plains of Lower Saxony and as I write the music mingles with forests and fields that have borne witness to the best and worst of human conduct. In this little corner of Lohheide over 50 piping and drumming students banish the pandemic memories, learn their rudiments and re-kindle old friendships. The format is, as ever, hard work in…

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Editor’s Notebook: Bratach Gorm/ Northern Winter School/ John and the Duke/ Queensland/ John MacDonald’s Pipes

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This is a busy weekend for piping with the London Championship beginning held tonight in the capital and the Northern Winter School kicking off in Germany. The Championship’s prestigious Bratach Gorm takes place in the Caledonian Club, Belgravia. Good luck to everyone. Leading the charge for the big one will be Glenfiddich prizewinners Finlay Johnston and Callum Beaumont but on their day any of the contestants is capable of taking…

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Glenfiddich Championship 2021 Results

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The Glenfiddich Champion for 2021 is Jack Lee. He was placed second in ceòl mòr and third in light music to take the overall title. Runner-up overall was Angus MacColl and third Finlay Johnston. The ‘live’ competition was held today in Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Perthshire. It was also livestreamed for viewers around the world. Piobaireachd placings:1 Finlay Johnston, Lament for the Union2 Jack Lee, Lament for Colin Roy MacKenzie3…

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