Category: Features

History: ‘Scotch Piper and the Dancing Girl’ – Part 1

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We are grateful to reader Francis Chamberlain for his research and for forwarding this article to us. It is a historically interesting account of an interview by a Victorian age journalist Henry Mayhew. Mayhew was a ‘street journalist’ who approached and interviewed street musicians, vendors, costers, thieves, prostitutes etc. of the period. This article appeared in ‘London Labour & The London Poor’, 1851. It features an (unfortunately) unnamed piper of…

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History: ‘Scotch Piper and the Dancing Girl’ – Part 2

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We continue with the second part of Victorian journalist Henry Mayhew’s interview with an unnamed itinerant piper of the 1850s and a veteran of the 93rd regiment. Here our hero tells us of the money he can make in various parts of the kingdom, how it is cheaper to live in Scotland than London (some things never change), how he has kept poor health since leaving the Army, how best…

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Iain MacPherson MM, the Man and His Pipes

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Several readers contacted Piping Press after our article on the pipes belonging to the late Iain MacPherson, brother of the more famous Donald, but an expert piper in his own right. Piping historian Jeannie Campbell, who knew Iain well, was the first to get in touch. In addition to her comments, we are grateful to Jeannie for supplying the pictures of Iain: ‘Iain MacPherson’s pipes were Kintail, mounted with imitation…

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Piobaireachd Society Announce Recommended Set Tunes for Oban and Inverness 2024

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The Music Committee of the Piobaireachd Society has recommended the following set tunes for next year’s Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting: GOLD MEDAL – Six (6) tunes to be submittedBig SpreeBlack Donald’s March*Blue Ribbon*MacDougall’s GatheringNameless, hiharin odin, hiharin droGlen is Mine*Clanranald’s Salute*Farwell to the Laird of Islay*Battle of Sheriffmuir*Gunns’ Salute * Crunluath a mach variation required. SILVER MEDAL – four (4) tunes to be submittedLament for MacSwan of RoaigGathering of…

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Balmoral Schools Announce EUSPBA Scholarship Match Funding Initiative/ Strathallan School Rock On

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This year, the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association is offering eight $250 scholarships to be awarded to either pipers or drummers, and to be used for schools, lessons, or workshops. By Elaine Lee The Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming is happy to announce that we will provide matching funds to any recipient of an EUSPBA scholarship who chooses to use their scholarship to attend our 2023 summer schools….

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