Category: Bagpipes

More Memories of Harry, Two Super Days at Cowal and the Great Trophy Theft

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Last week’s tribute to Harry McAleer brought back many memories, writes Barry Donaldson. He was a close friend and a huge personality. Here is one of the many memories I have. When the band was at its best, the individual playing was world class and Harry was as good a player as anyone. The band photo marching up the street at Cowal on the Saturday morning [top] was taken in…

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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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New Book Review: ‘Grey’s Notes on a Life Around Bagpipes’

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This is the recently published book penned by an esteemed piper, superb composer, internationally famous teacher, overall music master and consummate Bard. My tongue is firmly in my cheek I hear you say. Certainly not. Who am I talking about? None other than Ontario’s Michael Grey. Mike, I have you up there with the best. By Barry Donaldson This book is an autobiographical account of his life and times as…

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Donald Morrison Archive: A Fateful Letter from Bob Brown, A Rebuke for the Oban Times, and a Report from the Bratach

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In early 1972 Donald received the following letter from Bob Brown resident at Balmoral. It was prior to Bob’s trip that year to Australia to ‘check on what I taught them last year’ [1971]. During the tour he took ill and had to be flown home. Bob, pictured above left with Donald, died a few days after arriving back on Deeside. As the letter explains, Bob had been booked to…

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A Letter from Australia from a Man Dedicated to Preserving Piping History

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Last week we told of the generosity of Robert Bruce McKenzie Baker from Maclean, New South Wales. Robert had donated two handsome snuff mulls to the Northern Meeting, one of which will be used for a prize in their junior competitions. The other has been given on loan to the Piping Centre Museum. Read about the snuff mulls here. Robert, pictured above at a games in 1997, has written an…

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