Category: Features

BBC Recordings from the Northern Meeting to Air this Weekend / Northern Ireland Bands

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On the piping shows on the BBC this weekend (Radio Scotland and Radio nan Gàidheal) there will be live recordings from this year’s Northern Meeting competition in Inverness, reports presenter Micheal Steele. The shows include performances from the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal, the Gold Clasp and the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Silver Star for Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel. Saturday night on Radio Scotland (9pm) has Nick…

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Brittany’s ‘Pibroch by the Sea’/ New Raasay Competition

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Blustery wet weather did nothing to dampen enthusiasm at Brittany’s 20th annual celebration of ceòl mòr, ‘Pibroc’h en Bord de Mer’, held on its north coast on 7th/8th September, writes Dr Jack Taylor. While colleagues battled it out at Braemar and Blairgowrie, players from Brittany and beyond enjoyed playing and hearing the great music just for the sake of it with not a judge in sight. Every performance was greeted…

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Review: Braemar Gold Medal 2024

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It is seldom that we assemble for breakfast at Braemar the pavilion filled with chat about sun cream. Yet that was the pleasant concern abroad as we judges met for our morning repast. Blue skies, hot sun, pine tree shade, mountain air… and the prospect of some excellent pipe music put a zest into the bacon and eggs and a spring into the heels as we made our way to…

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Braemar Gathering Results – Updated with Juniors

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One of the last Highland games of the summer was held in fine conditions at Braemar today (September 7). HM King Charles and HM Queen Camilla were in attendance, continuing a royal tradition dating back to the time of Queen Victoria. The king of the piping boards was overall champion Angus MacPhee, with the coveted piobaireachd Gold Medal and light music all going to him. Angus is pictured above with…

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Editor’s Notebook: Piobaireachd Champions/ Joe Noble’s Funeral/ Scots Guards KO Draw/ Kilberry Castle/ Balmoral Classic/ Games Round-Up

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All congratulations to Alasdair Henderson and Nick Hudson, pictured above, on winning the two major piobaireachd awards of the summer, the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban and the Clasp at Inverness. Both are first time champions at this level. Why are these the highest ceòl mòr awards in world piping? The tunes are from a set list of the most difficult in the canon, your chosen piece is given only 20…

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