Revisionist Piobaireachd and the Tradition as it Has Come Down to Us

David Hester of the Alt Pibroch website has been in touch following my article on judging and subsequent comments on Donald MacDonald. David: Two quick questions, just for the purpose of me gaining a bit of insight and better sensitivity to the idiom: 1) What is particularly poor about the fare of the MacDonald book and manuscript?  Is it missing something, for example?  Are the pibrochs chosen too massive?  Some…

Thoughts on James Campbell’s Letters regarding ‘Masters of Piobaireachd’

The Masters of Piobaireachd series comprising 10 CDs was an initiative of Norman Matheson and Robert Wallace. As each CD was released, Norman sent a copy to the late James Campbell who responded with letters of analytical content, extracts of which appeared in Piping Press from March 2015. For those pipers who have the CD collection, the letters are of interest, and to retain them along with their collection would be…

History: Pipes & Drums of the London Scottish Regiment Part 2

Our concluding excerpt on the history of the famous London Scottish Regiment and their Pipe & Drums taken from the January 1938 edition of ‘Piping & Dancing’ journal and from the Regiment’s website ….. ‘The Highland Armed Association of London and The Loyal North Britons had been raised in 1793 and 1803 as part of the country’s Volunteer Forces ready to repel Napoleon’s threatened invasion of England. These formations were later…

PP Editor’s Blog: Paisley Contest/ Ardrossan/ Antigonish

I see that Scottish Power pipe band have entered next Saturday’s minor contest at Paisley (July 23rd). Well done to the band for that. Their presence will inspire the smaller bands and give them a chance to hear one of the best in the world. It will be a good marketing opportunity for the Power’s sponsors too and help ensure continued funding – very important.  The contest starts at 10.30am…

History: Pipe Band of the London Scottish and Some Special Sets of Pipes

The following is taken from the January 1938 edition of the Piping and Dancing Journal. It evokes much of the spirit of the times, less than 18 months before the outbreak of WW2. We wonder what happened to the pipes mentioned below and which must still be in circulation with the P/M’s set easily identifiable from the silver plate inscription mentioned. If any reader has any further information, or is…