Category: Comment

Analysis: The ‘Strange’ Crunluath Revisited

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The set tunes for 2024 had two tunes which had ‘open’ toarluath and crunluath fosgailte movements, the Nameless tune from Angus MacKay set for the Gold Medal, and the MacNabs’ Gathering set for the Silver, the tunes appearing in the PS Book 3 on pages 148 and 149.   By Duncan Watson There are about five or six other tunes which come to mind where this open fosgailte can occur…

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Pipe Major Robert Reid Pipes Sell for Substantial Sum at Glasgow Auction

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Pipes and chanters previously owned by P/M Robert Reid earned over £10,000 following an auction in Glasgow yesterday The main set, almost certainly that pictured above being played by the master piper (r). Rubber bands on the drone slides can still be seen on the picture below. This set attracted interest from around the world after it was featured on Piping Press pre-sale. It sold for £6,000. The name of…

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New Knockout Contest Aims to Bring Europe’s Best Pipers Together


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The European Knockout Bagpipe Competition is an innovative and thrilling event designed to showcase the best talent from across the continent. Modelled after the Eurovision Song Contest, this competition aims to celebrate the bagpipe traditions of different European countries while fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie within the piping community.
 The goal is to reach a wider community than the typical piping audience. Next year each participating country will…

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SPA Veterans Results/ Ardmore Cup Details/ NZ Bands

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Five played in the Scottish Pipers’ Association Veterans competition held at the Piping Centre in Glasgow last Friday (December 6). Only first places for each category were awarded.  The judge was Tom Johnstone who is pictured far left (above) with the contestants, Logan Tannock, Dave Mason (new member), Brian Mulhearn, Neil Cameron and George Johnstone. Results: Slow Air: Logan Tannock ; 2/4 March: George Johnston ; Medley: Dave Mason. Details of…

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Review: An Alternative Desperate Battle of the Birds

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By Duncan Watson A few weeks ago I attended a talk at Aberdeen University’s Storytelling Festival. It was given by Jamie MacDonald Reid with musical accompaniment by a cellist. The title was ‘The Desperate Battle of the Birds’ and that’s what sparked my interest. I was not sure what to expect. I thought we would have the usual story backed up with extracts of the tune: the cock birds stalking each…

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