World Solo Drumming Cancelled for 2020

The RSPBA Board of Directors today issued the following statement regarding the World Solo Drumming & International Juvenile Tenor Drumming Championships ‘As a result of the continued restrictions due to Covid19, including travel, both within the UK and overseas, limits on indoor gatherings, the compulsory use of face coverings, and the continuation of 2 metre social distancing measures indoors, have led to the decision to postpone the World Solo Drumming…

Editor’s Notebook: Braemar Mock-Up/ Eilidh’s Trust/ Brian Bows Out/ Midge Spray/ Worlds 1970 Tunes

Braemar Gathering staged a sort of kid on games on Saturday, crowdless but with participants filmed in each discipline, the whole to be broadcast online later this month. Aberdeen piper John MacDonald did the needful at the piping bench with an MSR and a rendition of the Glen is Mine. I am not sure what the purpose was, probably just to keep everyone’s interest in the old gathering alive. Those…

Ian Embelton Retires After 20 Years at Helm of RSPBA

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association have today issued the following statement: ‘The Board of Directors were today advised the Chief Executive, Ian Embelton, plans to retire from the role at the end of November 2020. ‘Ian had originally intended to retire after the World Pipe Band Championships in 2020, but with the current situation he agreed to delay his retirement until later in the year. ‘Ian has been pivotal…

Season 2021: Crucial that the RSPBA is Leading the Way

Former pipe band adjudicator Alistair Aitken OBE continues his article on the difficulties facing the 2021 season….. The World Pipe Band Championships is the pinnacle of the year for the RSPBA and its member pipe bands.  Timing is possibly on the side of the Worlds in 2021 as they are not held until mid-August, being the last of the five Major Championships.  It is difficult to envisage why the event…

Book Review: ‘Eat, Sleep, Pipe, Repeat’ by Kyle Warren/ Plus Two Other New Books

The title of Kyle Warren’s new publication of pipe music is certainly original – as is a lot of the music. Kyle (pictured) is well known, having played with Field Marshal Montgomery PB and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. He is also a talented composer of pipe music. This compilation contains an interesting blend of original pieces alongside standards such as Lochanside and Farewell to Nigg, both re-arranged and reproduced…