Lochore Pipe Band and Legendary Drumming Tutor Robert McLaren

I previously prepared an article about the history of pipe bands in the East of Scotland, which was published on Piping Press in October 2023.  Included in the article were the names of many pipe band leaders and individuals no longer with us who were from the East, or were based there, and who greatly contributed to the development of the SPBA/RSPBA and pipe band music in general.  The article…

George Watson’s College ‘Caritas Banner’ Results/ George Sherriff, Ontario, Results

The George Watson’s College competition for the Caritas Banner was held at the Edinburgh school yesterday, November 24. Organiser P/M Ben Duncan reported: ‘It was a great day of tunes with 55 pipers entered and some of the very best in the business on the pen. The event was kindly sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society and Kintail Bagpipes. ‘The winner Fraser Hamilton received the coveted Caritas Banner and a beautiful…

Readers Respond to Peter MacLeod Reel Query/ Scots Guards KO Date Change/ Talk Piobaireachd

Dougie Pincock: ‘That Peter MacLeod reel [above] is known nowadays as The Highlanders’ Institute. It appears under that name in the ‘Bicentennial Collection’ of the music of both Peter MacLeods Snr. and Jnr. published in the USA by Donald Varella. ‘I learned the tune from Pipe Major Iain MacDonald of Neilston, and played it in the Glasgow folk group Kentigern in the late ’70s/early ’80s. Iain might well have had…

Entries Closing for George Watson’s Caritas Banner/ RSPBA Junior Contests This Weekend

Entries for the ‘Caritas Banner’ (pictured above) close tomorrow, Friday, November 8. The competition is run by George Watson’s College Pipe Band. It has so far attracted some of the best young players in the country but there are still spaces available in all events. The competition takes place on Sunday 24 November 2024 at the Edinburgh-based College. Sponsors are David Glen, Bagpipe-makers and the Piobaireachd Society. All competitors must…

New Free Bagpipe Tuner App/ New Appointments at Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association

I have recently developed an app for tuning the bagpipes with ease, writes Ethan Wang. Because the price of many tuners are pretty expensive I have decided to make it free. It is available to everyone on iOS. Designed by myself, SparrowTone is a free tuner solely for the bagpipes. It has three displays (see picture above), each for letting you tune a certain part of the bagpipe: Pitch history…