Category: Letters

Mrs Donald MacLennan or Malcolm Ferguson? Riddle Over Donald MacLeod Slow Air

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Who gets to lay prior claim to this brilliant Donald Macleod composition; Malcolm Ferguson, or my granny? My name is Ben Maclennan, I live in South Africa, and my grandfather Don was a stalwart of the Scottish and piping community in Johannesburg in the 1960s. He played host to a number of visiting pipers, among them Donald Macleod, who expressed his gratitude with this hand-written tune: As you see, it’s…

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Legal Action in Ontario: PPBSO Publish Update

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Andrew Giles, President of the Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO), has posted this new notice on the Society’s website: ‘As the leadership of the PPBSO, we want to address the ongoing situation that many of you are aware of. We understand that without access to the full scope of information, it’s natural to have questions or concerns. However, we ask for your patience as we navigate this complex…

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Next Year Marks Significant Anniversary of Composer, John McLellan DCM, Dunoon

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I am helping to promote a very famous relative of mine, John McLellan, Dunoon, who made quite an impact with his music and continues to do so today, writes Duncan MacGregor. My role has been to promote his works and his life by setting up a tribute website. I’ve spoken to my cousins, Jim and Alasdair Henderson at various times and have their support with this project. It’s the 150th…

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Dr Hugh Parker Dinwoodie, General Practitioner, Piper and Climber

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Born on this day in 1930, Dr Dinwoodie, who died last year, was a member of the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society and a lifelong supporter of the Piobaireachd Society. This touching tribute was written by his son Colin….. There is never a good time to begin writing of a parents’ passing, and until now I have felt unable to keep pace with life and prepare this for my father, a…

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Unifying Set Tunes Worldwide, James McGrady, Norman Meldrum and Neville McKay

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I would like to comment on a few articles on Piping Press over the past several weeks. Firstly, Scott Nicholson’s plan for a unified system of Piobaireachd Society set tunes for Australia (PP, July 2). This has great value. It motivates aspiring competitors to commit to learning these tunes and if they are successful with them and accepted for Oban and Inverness, they are likely to be well prepared.  My…

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