PP Editor’s Blog: Live in Ireland Winners/ Blue Lagoon/ Lochaber Entry/ Gairloch Contest

Winners of the ‘Live in Ireland 87’ video downloads are John McFadden and Chris Lee. The questions were: 1 Name two piobaireachd heard on 78th Fraser CDs. 2 What do Canadians like best about Scotland? a) The weather b) The fish suppers c) The Worlds The correct answer to the first was Lament for the Children from the ‘Live in Ireland’ CD and A Flame of Wrath For Squinting Patrick from…

PP Editor’s Blog: Weekend Contests/ Lorient/ Breton CD/ Piobaireachd Letter

Shotts band contest today and Markinch tomorrow. Weather forecast good for both. Results for the first on the RSPBA website and the second here as soon as we get them. Tom Johnstone, Scottish Organiser for the Lorient Festival, has sent these details about this year piping events: Pipers representing Scotland: Callum Moffat, David Shedden and Fred Morrison. Scottish Judges: Andrew Frater and Bruce Hitchings The MacCrimmon Trophy, for which contestants play music from…

PP Editor’s Blog: Bob Worrall Recital/ Tutor 3/ Albert Duncan/ Pipe Bags/ Highland Games League

Videos and audio files to accompany Bagpipe Tutor 3 – Piobaireachd are now live and can be accessed here. If you would like to learn piobaireachd (pronounced ‘pee-broch’ with the ‘och’ as in loch) then you can buy the book here: I was sorry to hear of the passing of Albert Duncan a friend and teaching colleague on many occasions out in Western Canada. Always smiling and willing to help,…

Greenville SC Games and Jimmy McIntosh Contest

Greenville Highland Games Professional Piping, May 29, 2016 By Robert Wallace The  most impressive aspect of the Jimmy McIntosh MBE piobaireachd competition (held as part of the Greenville SC Highland Games) was the level of musicianship of the participants. They demonstrated an understanding of time signatures and phrasing not always heard on the professional stage. Much of that can be credited to Jimmy himself. Now 90 and living in Anderson, South…

PP Editor’s Blog: Greenville Games/ British Critique/ Alex Kiddie/ New Trophy Solo Games

I am writing this on the balcony of Jimmy and Joyce McIntosh’s lovely home in Anderson, South Carolina. I’m here for the local Greenville Games which begin on Saturday and end on Sunday with the professional piping and a workshop in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The journey from Scotland via Newark is about 20 hours door to door depending on lay over time in NJ. The temperature here is 84…