Category: Comment

Review: ‘Back from the Battlefield’ Recital

Posted on      by      1 Comment

‘It will take more than a storm to derail me’, was Duncan MacGillivray’s response to the threat of cancellation of Inverness Piping Society’s recital last Friday night, writes Les Hutt. Duncan’s journey home was to be a serious challenge thanks to Storm Amy and the high winds and rain which blocked many roads and brought down power lines across the Highlands. Nevertheless, an enthusiastic crowd of around 60 came to…

More Review: ‘Back from the Battlefield’ Recital

The Importance of Schools Music Education

Posted on      by      6 Comments

In Scotland we have become inured to idiotic statements from well paid public employees and politicians struggling to connect the family brain cell with their vocal cords. This produced another candidate for dunce of the decade last week. In a live-streamed statement the Head of Education at East Ayrshire Council declared her opposition to schools music teaching by stating that she was ‘no [not] really seeing the point of a…

More The Importance of Schools Music Education

Captain John MacLellan Draws/ Lewis& Harris Juniors/ Glengarry Cup

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Sixty-three pipers have entered for the Captain John MacLellan Memorial competition to be held at the Army School HQ, Inchdrewer House, Edinburgh, tomorrow, October 4. The piping begins at 8.30am. There are graded events from P to C with an open hornpipe and jig. The draw in the P Piobaireachd is: S Leask, C Beaumont, G Brown, B Watson-Massey, I Smith, R MacLeod, W McCallum, F Johnston. In the P…

More Captain John MacLellan Draws/ Lewis& Harris Juniors/ Glengarry Cup

Insights into Pipe Band Ensemble

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The study ‘Insights into Pipe Band Ensemble’ is dedicated to improving pipe drum ensemble outcomes in both set and medley competition. With a focus on 2/4 march, strathspey, and reel music, the study follows a basic premise that some MSR pipe tunes are so rhythmically compatible with the music of the competition side drum, that their accompanying drum scores almost write themselves, while other MSR tunes are almost impossible to integrate with…

More Insights into Pipe Band Ensemble

Northern Ireland Pipe Band & Solo Round Up

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Ballynahinch High School was the setting last Saturday (Sept.27) for the third annual Down Academy Juvenile Solos. The adjudication panel comprised Richard Parkes and David Chesney (piping), and Gordon Parkes (drumming). The Parkes brothers presented the prizes in their respective disciplines. They said a high standard of playing had been on display throughout the day and they were particularly encouraged by the quality of teaching which augured well for the…

More Northern Ireland Pipe Band & Solo Round Up