Category: History

Information on Scottish and European Pipe Band Championships

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The promoters, West Dunbartonshire Council, have issued the following information about the forthcoming Scottish Pipe Band Championships to be held at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton, on July 27. The council say, ‘We are expecting over 115 pipe bands from across the world to attend along with our popular Highland dancing competitions.  ‘Car parking is available along with mobile home parking. The event is free to enter and has a number of…

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History: More on ‘Wee’ Donald MacLean Down Under

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I was delighted to read the article about ‘wee’ Donald MacLean, especially with regard to his time in Tasmania, writes reader Ian Dahl. Towards the end of 1964, or early 1965, Donald was engaged as the tutor for the Queenstown Highland Pipe Band. This was immediately after his time with the Derwent Scottish Pipe Band in Hobart. He remained in Queenstown for about two and a half to three years….

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Northern Ireland News: Brian Boru Bands/ Antrim Results/ Dromara Band/ Ray’s MBE

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A new Facebook page entitled ‘Brian Boru Pipe Bands NI’ has been set up by Barbara Phillips who also runs the very popular ‘We Love Pipe Bands’ Facebook page. There are only six such bands who play this type of bagpipes in the whole world and they are all based in Northern Ireland.I In County Down are the Ballygowan, Ballymartin and Crimson Arrow bands, Cavanaleck are based just outside County…

More Northern Ireland News: Brian Boru Bands/ Antrim Results/ Dromara Band/ Ray’s MBE

Editor’s Notebook: Pipe Dreams/ Thomason’s Sword/ Pipes in Early North America/ MacCrimmon Cairn/ Kilberry Middle Music

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They may not have been the first with the synthetic drone reed, but who would deny Ronnie MacShannon and Tommy Johnston their place as innovators who, through their company Pipe Dreams, changed the quality of bagpipe sound? Their Eezidrone reeds established a bench mark against which others were tested. Their sound was as close to cane as you can get without all the hassle. And every set of reeds met…

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New Website Launches With Original ‘Ensemble Friendly’ Pipe Band Music

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Since retiring in 2021, I have been working full-time on a study, and it has evolved into something that I think the pipe band world will be very interested in. The work, titled: ‘Insights into Pipe Band Ensemble’, was written to investigate how MSR pipe-tunes of the future might be composed so that their rhythms allow for a side-drum accompaniment to integrate more closely with them. By Alan Jones In…

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