We are grateful to Allan Chatto OAM of Australia for forwarding these very interesting drawings of old sets of pipes. Allan writes: Many years ago when I was doing research in the Mitchell Library in Sydney, I came across a large book titled ‘The Book of the Club of the True Highlander’ by a Charles MacIntyre – North published in 1876. This volume, as well as recording details of Scottish…
The first weekend of the Highland games season was blessed with incredible weather and another bright sign was the number of P/A grade players out having a tune and supporting these events. Let’s hope this continues. Looking ahead, we have Markinch next weekend, June 3, and thereafter for the rest of June we have Strathmore (June 10), Ardrossan (June 11), Aberdeen (June 17), Cupar (June 17), Drumtochty (June 23) and…
By Alistair Aitken OBE, former RSPBA Adjudicator and not MacStig! Now that the RSPBA’s 2018 outdoor pipe band competition programme is in full swing I have been asked to give general views about some of the contest venues and observations about results etc., with a historical slant where possible. The outdoor season started with a bang with five outdoor competitions over the same weekend – Dunbar and Bangor (Northern Ireland)…
My comments on the Lament for Mary MacLeod (see British Championships 2018 – Grade 1 Review) may have baffled some non-piobaireachd players in the pipe band world but you can listen to the whole 12 minute or so tune here (scroll down the page a bit) played by maestro Donald MacPherson and you might get an idea of what I was talking about. To pick and mix ‘tuney’ sections of ceol…
The organisers of the Donald MacDonald Cuach competition have sent this: Finalists have been announced for two prestigious traditional music competitions to be held at Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum of the Isles this June. The Donald MacDonald Cuach piobaireachd competition, now in its 32nd year, will bring together five renowned pipers from across Scotland on 15 June. The following day introduces a major new competition for Senior Clàrsach, where…
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