Category: Bagpipes

Bob Hain 1937-2024

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We report the sad and sudden passing of piper and reedmaker Bob Hain, Leslie, Fife. He was 87. After a career in the Black Watch, during which time he was selected to be Lone Piper at the Edinburgh Tattoo, Bob left the Army and joined Cupar & District Pipe Band. Only a short while after joining he was elected Pipe Major. This began a very successful period for the band…

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SPA Professional Date/ Talk Piobaireachd/ EUSPBA Elections

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The Scottish Pipers’ Association have set the date for their 2025 annual professional contest: April 12. The venue is the Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow. The SPA is the first open professional contest of the season. Pictured above is Ben Duncan, one of the big winners at the 2024 SPA. The competition has enjoyed substantial sponsorship from the Piobaireachd Society. The Uist & Barra, an invitational contest, is on March…

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Analysis: The ‘Strange’ Crunluath Revisited

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The set tunes for 2024 had two tunes which had ‘open’ toarluath and crunluath fosgailte movements, the Nameless tune from Angus MacKay set for the Gold Medal, and the MacNabs’ Gathering set for the Silver, the tunes appearing in the PS Book 3 on pages 148 and 149.   By Duncan Watson There are about five or six other tunes which come to mind where this open fosgailte can occur…

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RSPBA Tune Search for New Book/ Piping and Drumming Jobs Deadline Extended

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Since its formation in the 1930s the home of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has indisputably been the city of Glasgow. Next year the metropolis celebrates 850 years since it founding. To mark the occasion the RSPBA has launched a project to create a ‘Glasgow 850 Commemorative Pipe Tunes’ book containing 85 compositions. On behalf of the Association, Vikki Singer wrote: ‘For those interested in composing, why not come up…

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Pipe Major Robert Reid Pipes Sell for Substantial Sum at Glasgow Auction

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Pipes and chanters previously owned by P/M Robert Reid earned over £10,000 following an auction in Glasgow yesterday The main set, almost certainly that pictured above being played by the master piper (r). Rubber bands on the drone slides can still be seen on the picture below. This set attracted interest from around the world after it was featured on Piping Press pre-sale. It sold for £6,000. The name of…

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