Category: Blog

PP Ed’s Blog: Piob Soc Conf./ Tain Games/ Donald MacKinnon/ Gillie’s Family

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The Piobaireachd Society conference enters its second day today and I must say it has been a roaring success so far. I’ll have a full report later as the there is not a lot of time before the next session on the 2017 set tunes begins. The weather up here in Birnam has been amazing – as it has been in much of the UK. Last night’s ceilidh went on…

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Band Cut Offs and Why Do Some Pipers End With a Rabble of Finger Gymnastics?

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For decades, possibly even centuries, pipers have been vandalising their own performances. I have been fortunate enough to hear some of the finest pipers ever, and I must admit that many of them have been as guilty of this crime as the rankest amateur. The vandalism I refer to is defacing their own performances by tacking on the end ‘wee twiddly bits’ rather than cutting off smoothly. Bands are expected to make perfect cut-offs. Why…

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‘Big’ Donald MacLean and Arm Swapping and Harry’s Father’s Pipes

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I read George Taylor’s letter re swapping arms, writes Duncan Watson. Re Donald Maclean. I understood that big Donald did start playing under the right arm and to conform with others in the pipe band scene in the Army he was ‘instructed’ to  switch to his left arm. Counter marching through pipers in a band seemed to a problem with cords getting in a tangle. The late Willie MacDonald (Benbecula) could…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Highland School Success/ Boghall Concert/ Online Ads/ Paddy’s Day, Belfast

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Gail Laird reports: ‘Three groups of young pipers all from Ross and Cromarty Pipes and Drums School competed for the first time in the North of Scotland branch of the RSPBA Quartets competition on last Saturday (18th March) in Huntly, Aberdeenshire. The three groups successfully achieved 1st, 2nd and 4th in the Grade 4A March, Strathspey and Reel.  ‘Their Pipe Major, Niall Matheson, was delighted with this result as the youngest…

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Duncan Johnstone Memorial Contest Results (picture added)

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This was a very well run contest today at the Piping Centre in Glasgow, but it was noteworthy that not many pipers waited around for the prize giving. With the sponsors in attendance along with the Johnstone family, this did not enhance proceedings. All contests were over by 6.45pm. A very big ‘well done’ to CPA Secretary Helen Wilkinson for organising things so well and ensuring the smooth running of all…

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