Category: Blog

PP Editor’s Blog: Judging/Bellows Piping/Band Re-Grades

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Mr McCombie-Smith made some interesting comments yesterday regarding manufacturers and judging in the 1890s. In more modern times this is something that has been an issue, but more so in the bands. The matter was quickly sorted a few years ago when the RSPBA introduced monitoring. Any judge giving preferential treatment to bands playing his instruments could be easily identified and the matter is no longer a concern.  Unfortunately it has, indirectly, reared…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Donald MacLeod, New England School, Stuart Liddell Pipes, Pipes & Sticks

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I must say that from what little I saw of the Donald MacLeod livestreaming (on the mobile phone) it all looked very professionally done. A high quality production with three cameras deployed so that the angles could be varied by the show’s director. Good to see BBC Radio nan Gaidheal there too so we can look forward to hearing the music in improved harmonic depth via Cailean MacLean’s excellent show on…

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PP Editor’s Blog: Crieff, Toronto Police New P/M, Muirheads Pic, SLoT Drums

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Hector Russell has kindly sent me a copy of this picture taken in 1978 at the retiral of Muirhead & Sons P/M Robert Hardie and Leading Drummer Robert Turner. The line up is: Dougie Alexander (drummer), Peter Anderson (drummer), John Kirkwood (drummer), Lawrence Jenkins (Band Secretary), Robert Wallace (I know, I know), Robert Turner, Derek Boyd (piper), Willie Williamson (bass & tenor), Les Hutt (piper), John Christie (Band President), Jimmy…

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Letters/Guest Blogger Responds on Piobaireachd Embellishments

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Three new letters added today. Guest blogger Duncan Watson has sent this in response to the response to his original post:  Embellishments in ceol mor are undoubtedly an important aspect of the music irrespective of setting or style of playing and I suppose there is danger in going on ad nauseam on this subject and forgetting about the music. Undoubtedly the methods of writing those embellishments has changed over the period…

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PP Ed’s Blog: SFU Fundraiser, South Africa 100 Guineas

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Congratulations to all involved with the SFU charity concert for the BC Cancer Foundation. $32,000 (£17,000) is a considerable total to achieve. I watched the concert, and it certainly was an emotional evening, with Andrew Bonar and his family centre stage. The band played very well in my view, as well as could be discerned from the Livestream, with strong melodic content in all selections. A drone hardly needed touched….

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