Category: Comment

Field Marshal Win UK Pipe Band Championships

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Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band are the UK Grade 1 Champions after a clear victory today in the grounds of Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Grade 1 1 FMM 2 Inveraray 3 Scottish Power 4 Spirit of Scotland 5 Shotts 6 St Laurence Drumming: Spirit of Scotland G2: 1 Police Service N Ireland 2 Glasgow Skye 3 Johnstone 4 Buchan Peterson 5 Lomond & Clyde 6 Closkelt Drumming: Glasgow Skye Grade 3a…

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

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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…

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Is Famous Song Source of ‘When the Battle’s O’er’?

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It’s a familiar call whether in pipe or massed bands: Green Hills / Battle’s O’er’.  Indeed, ‘When the Battle’s O’er’ is a tune almost every piper in the world has either played or heard more than once. The tune is attributed to William Robb (1863 – 1909, pictured top). P/M Robb was born in Stirling and won the Gold Medal at Oban in 1893 and the Marches at the same gathering….

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

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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…

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PP Academy: Bands, Your Dress & Deportment is Important

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The following article appeared in Pipe Band Magazine in 2000. It is by Highland Dress expert Bill Blacklaw formerly of the Gordon Highlanders. Much of Mr Blacklaw’s advice is still relevant today. The picture above shows P/M Alan Bevan and the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Canada with a front line from a few years ago. Notice the correct length of kilt, polished brogues (properly tied) and the glengarries…

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