The following is taken from a special supplement produced to mark the 75th Anniversary of the RSPBA in 2005. It was written by piping historian Jeannie Campbell and edited by Robert Wallace…. Though the bagpipe had been in use in the Army for a long time the pipe band as we know it did not come into existence until the mid 19th century. Marching in step was introduced, at first…
I surmised in my November bulletin that there remained the potential for a UK Championships in Northern Ireland, particularly with the 2026 All-Ireland Fleadh coming to Belfast from the 2nd – 9th August. My thinking was based on the fact that a significant amount of funding would be going toward that event, and that with Ulster Scots events were becoming more prevalent within the Irish folk scene for example at the…
Yesterday’s story on the founding of the SPBA mentioned the current relationship between pipe bands and Cowal Games. Correspondent Ian Forbes sums things up well: ‘The demise of the Cowal Pipe Band Championships is an historic and cultural tragedy in the world of piping. ‘From 1906 and for over 40 years, Dunoon hosted the ‘unofficial’ world pipe band championships, as part of the Cowal Highland Gathering. Hundreds of thousands of…
Twenty years ago the RSPBA celebrated its 75th Anniversary. To mark the occasion the Association produced a special supplement for Pipe Band Magazine. It included this short history by former President Bob Black and Dick McGrory on the founding of the Scottish Pipe Band Association……. Big Oaks from Little Acorns – 75 Years of the RSPBA…. Pipe band contests are on record as early as 1905 and even in those…
Following our report from the Solo Judges Association last week we received this anonymous comment: ‘In your report on the judging of solo piping there is a reference that judges must not judge their pupils and I understand this has been extended to include genres of pipe music the judge may in fact not teach that individual. ‘It would appear that if she/he teaches him solely ceòl beag, she/he may not…
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