RSPBA History: ‘Farcical’ and ‘Tragic’ Judging in the Post War Pipe Band World

We conclude our look back at the history of the RSPBA as described in an edition of the Piping, Drumming and Highland Dancing Journal of 1949. The author, Mr RC Whitelaw, Secretary of the then Scottish Pipe Band Association, turns his forensic eye on the establishment of a pipe band college and problems with judging as he saw it. Pictured are Bowhill Colliery Pipe Band, Fife, winners of the first…

CLASP Amateur Solos: Virtual Highland Games Results

There was a big virtual turnout from all across the globe for this event. It was the first time that CLASP ran Grade Four events also. Prizes were sponsored by R G Hardie & Co Bagpipes and the judges were: Alex Gandy, Dan Nevans, Connor Sinclair, John Mulhearn, Gail Brown, Alastair Dunn, Donald MacPhee and Calum Brown. Pictured above is Grade 2 Overall Winner, John Nevans from Airdrie, Lanarkshire. The World Solo Amateur…

RSPBA Announce Online Summer School/ New Teaching Deal From Balmoral/ Composing Project Deadline

The Association is happy to announce the launch of its Annual Summer School for 2021, writes John Nevans. The School opens on Monday 2nd of August 2021 and closes on Thursday 5th of August 2021 and will be an online event open to all of our Association members.  Broadly, the school is aimed at: pipers, snare drummers and bass and tenor drummers. The school’s focus is on the individual, the…

RSPBA History: The Hallmark of a Solo Piper is Piobaireachd, But What Use Does it Serve Pipe Bands?

We continue with our look back at the history of the RSPBA as described in an edition of the Piping, Drumming and Highland Dancing Journal of 1949. The author, Mr RC Whitelaw, Secretary of the then Scottish Pipe Band Association, demonstrates the misguided thinking which set the Association’s attitude to classical pipe music for 40 years, an attitude only overcome relatively recently. As ever, Mr Whitelaw is refreshingly outspoken, and…

The SPBA’s Post-War History: The Problem With Massed Bands and With Teaching

We continue with our look back at the history of the RSPBA. This is from the Piping, Drumming and Highland Dancing Journal of 1949. The author, Mr RC Whitelaw, was appointed Secretary of the then Scottish Pipe Band Association in 1948. Mr Whitelaw was refreshingly outspoken in his assessment on how the Association needed to develop. The photo below is of the massed bands at Cowal in 1950. Before passing…