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Editor’s Notebook: Juvenile Bands/ Piper Appeal/ Morar Games/ Renfrew Band Appeal/ Ken Eller

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We don’t give prominence to anonymous commentary unless it has some sense or truth about it. Here’s one on the dearth of bands in our Juvenile grade. We received it this week following Alistair Aitken’s review of the Scottish Championships: ‘Until those running the best Novice A bands have the courage to accept promotion when it’s awarded, I think the Juvenile category will remain fairly sparse. ‘A few observations to…

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Hallkirk Games Results

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Local organisers reported a great day’s piping at this Caithness games held on July 27, with a high standard in both Juniors and Seniors. Champion Piper was once more Angus MacPhee, Inverness. Pictured above are pipers and judges at the prizegiving. Piob1 Angus MacPhee2 L/Cpl. Norman Gillies3 Calum Dunbar4 Louis Davis5 Brian Lamond March 1 L/Cpl. Norman Gillies2 Angus MacPhee3 Louis Davis4 Gordon Barclay5 Calum Dunbar S&R1 Angus MacPhee2 Brian…

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Arisaig Games Results

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A dry, sunny day on the west coast with 20 playing in the seniors. Champion Piper was Angus MacColl, with a very good showing from Angus MacPhee. Piobaireachd1 Angus MacColl, Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon2 Angus MacPhee, Blind Piper’s Obstinacy3 Cameron May, Lament for the Earl of Antrim4 Josh Chandler5 Louis Davis March1 Angus MacColl2 Decker Forrest3 Campbell Wilson4 Angus MacPhee S&R1 Angus MacColl2 Angus MacPhee3 Dan Nevans4 Alastair Brown…

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Scottish Pipe Band Championships Review Part 2

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At the Editor’s request I have recorded some thoughts on the Grade 1 performances at the Scottish Championships from a drumming and ensemble perspective.  I would emphasise that the views expressed are personal.  I was standing in a position at the head of the bands.  It is quite possible that things could have been happening at the drum corps end of the bands which I would not see or hear…

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Scottish Pipe Band Championships: Grade 1 Review Part 1

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I have railed already about the dearth of good strathspeys among our bands. At Dumbarton, some pipe corps fought manfully against the 12/8 drumming tide, notably Inveraray, the Power, and Field Marshal, but the ‘band strath’ was in evidence throughout the Grade 1 contest. The other great carbuncle on the handsome face of today’s bands is a form of tune soup, or melody salad, that we are hearing at the…

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