Further Analysis of Pipe Band Ensemble Judging

The recent article by Alan Jones regarding pipe band adjudication and the judging of ensemble, sparked my interest in view of my former role as a drumming and ensemble adjudicator and my involvement for almost 20 years in RSPBA adjudicator training.   By Alistair Aitken OBE The whole subject of ensemble in particular has been a somewhat contentious one since the concept was first raised well over 60 years ago. …

News from the Piobaireachd Society

The revision of Piobaireachd Society books 1-16 has now been completed with many new settings added, corrections made and important anomalies highlighted, writes President Robert Wallace. The Society’s General Committee appreciates that many pipers already have the old books. These are, of course, still perfectly reliable, especially if the changes as noted by Music Editor Jack Taylor are added to the relevant pages in hard copies. (Details are on the…

Editor’s Notebook: Solo Judging/ NM and AG Entries/ Stuart CD/ Clan Donald Lands/ Drumming Masters

Judge Neil Mulvie has responded to our recent debate on solo benches, one of the few brave enough to put his head above the parapet on this issue. Neil writes: ‘Not all those who have competed at the highest level make good judges. Some are biased/unethical, some are limited in their wider knowledge, some lack basic analytical skills, some can’t separate the good from the bad and the ugly, some…

MacGillivray of Calrossie, a New Piobaireachd

I have known Duncan MacGillivray [pictured] now for over 35 years, but because of his career with the Battlefield Band and other traditional groups, had heard of him a long time before actually meeting him. Duncan has been a huge inspiration to many young pipers in the Highlands and is always willing to give them his time freely to teach piping and instruct them in other instruments such as whistles….

Editor’s Notebook: Worlds Grade 2/ NM and AG Entries/ Book Promo/ Florida Academy/ Fintan Lalor

We received this anonymous comment regarding the qualifying set up for Grade 2 bands at the Worlds. ‘One bad/ unlucky performance (on an extra day that you have had to take time off work/ fork out extra for accommodation) and you could be in the only group of adult bands that don’t get to play on the Saturday. Very unfair and very shortsighted from the RSPBA. ‘The requirements of Grade…