Dr J David Hester, the noted ceol mor student and campaigner, has died. Dr Hester was the inspiration behind the AltPiob website which strove to encourage piobaireachd playing in an alternative style. A notice on Dr Hester’s Facebook page reads: ‘It is with profound sadness that [we announce] J. David Hester, husband of Mary C Gardella, father of Cassiel and Anael, son of Jim and Dee, brother of Micah, and…

The rain stayed off for most of the day for the final Highland games of the season. Twelve played in the seniors, 11 in the juniors. Callum Wynd played an outstanding set to win the March, Strathspey and Reel, the judges reported. Pictured above are the junior winners Archie McNab (l) and Cameron May. Overall prize went to Brian Lamond. MSR (three of each asked for)1 Callum Wynd, John MacFadyen…

Pipe band expert Alistair Aitken OBE continues his detailed analysis of the judging of pipe bands. Read his first instalment here. The effective pipe band adjudicator should, sub-consciously, be taking the following aspects into account whilst listening, analysing and ranking different performances. Rhythm: This is defined as ‘the regular recurrence of strong and weak accents arising from the division of music into regular metrical portions‘.  In making a rhythmical assessment,…

Several weeks ago someone, in responding to Piping Press, asked if the magazine had any information about pipe band adjudication. For many years I was involved in adjudicator training for the RSPBA and at the time I recalled a couple of articles I had prepared for Pipe Band magazine. I have since amalgamated them into a single file and added a little too. It may be that what I write…

By Robert Wallace Thanks to the competitor who reminded me that I had not recorded my thoughts on this year’s Senior Piobaireachd event at the Argyllshire Gathering. The contest, with 21 competitors, was held on August 21 in the Corran Halls, Oban. I managed to listen to the whole event apart from the last player Andrew Hayes. Here’s what I noted down in the order recorded… Dr Peter McCalister –…