By Robert Wallace A new edition of Seumas MacNeill’s seminal work ‘Piobaireachd – Classical Music of the Highland Bagpipe’ has been published by the Piobaireachd Society. The book first appeared in 1968 to accompany a radio series presented by Seumas, original publisher and copyright holder, the BBC. Out of print, permission to re-issue has been granted to the Society. Seumas was, for 30 years plus, its Hon. Secretary. In summing…

Folklorist Stuart Eydmann has forwarded this picture from a Russian publicaion of an British Army pipes & drums in Salonika, Greece, in 1905. The Schotlandskyie (Scotsmen) must have been there as part of some Balkan action which pre-dates the Salonika Campaign of WW1. All information gratefully received. I try to keep tabs on what is happening in the world of music with the view to informing pipers and pipe bands…

By The Editor A week on Saturday the RSPBA Music Board is hosting a meeting of all Grade 1 pipe majors and leading drummers. The main topic for discussion in what is billed as a ‘ground-breaking event‘ is the future of the pipe band medley. The current shutdown has afforded an opportunity for those at the top of the movement to get off the treadmill, think outside the box, go…

By Robert Wallace It is with sincere regret that I report the passing of Tommy Johnston, one of the great characters of pipe band drumming and piping, much loved father of Finlay and joint proprietor of world famous reedmaking company Pipe Dreams. Tommy passed away in hospital last night after a short illness aged only 65. His loss will be felt by all who knew him and his hundreds of…