The Day Ross and Reid Tied for the Clasp and a Recording of the Great John MacColl

A trawl through my old audio archives has turned up a remarkable recording made by one Craigie Calder, a former P/M of the Johnstone Pipe Band in 1984, writes the Editor. The tape was give to me by Ian Sinclair formerly of the College of Piping Veteran Pipers Society. Ian knew Craigie well and played with him in the band. One of the regular tutors of the Johnstone pipers was…

A Short History of Piping and the British Legion Golden Jubilee 1971

The following article is taken from a programme published for a Massed Pipe Bands and Beating of Retreat on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade in May 1971. The occasion was the Golden Jubilee of the Royal British Legion. The note may have been written by Captain John MacLellan, one of the main organisers of the event. Antiquity obscures the precise origin of the sophisticated modern bagpipe but it is known that it…

Uist & Barra 2024 Review: Giving Tunes a Week Early Does Not Help Pipers or Listeners

Most highlights of the day came in a four hour period between 9am and 1pm when the ten invited pipers performed their piobaireachd. They had been given their chosen tunes, selected by the promoters from six submitted, a week in advance. I’m not sure this is a good idea. Yes, it allows a programme with prescribed tunes to be printed (costly and is it really necessary?) and it reduces the…

10th Annual Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship Results

YOUNG MUSICIANS from a Renfrewshire schools pipe band have won gold at one of Scotland’s biggest piping and drumming events. Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band hit the right note with the judges at this year’s annual Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship (SSPBC), bagging wins in the highly-contested Freestyle category. By Alexandra Duncan, Chief Executive Ninety-seven schools went head-to-head vying for success across The Championships’ eight categories. The Championships were launched in 2013, as part of a…

Uist & Barra 2024 Results

This competition was held today, March 9, at the old College of Piping building in Otago Street, Glasgow. Pipers were given their tunes one week in advance. There was a large and appreciative audience throughout the day. Ten invited pipers competed. Ceòl Mòr, Glasgow Highland Club Medal1 Callum Beaumont, £220, (above), Donald Gruamach’s March2 William McCallum, £175, Earl of Ross’s March3 Alasdair Henderson, £110, Bells of Perth4 Iain Speirs, £85, Nameless-Cherede…