As is customary at this time of year, the Piobaireachd Society Music Committee has announced the set tunes list recommended for the major competitions at next year’s Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting. The Committee recommends own choice selections for Silver and Gold Medal competitions and the following for senior events: The Unjust Incarceration (to include the optional third line in PS Bk2)Lament for the Harp TreeLament for Donald Ban MacCrimmonNameless,…

The dust has now settled on the decision by the RSPBA to continue with the Worlds as a two-day event. Personally I feel it is inevitable that it will return to one-day and if the Directors of the RSPBA are so minded I think they should begin planning now. Irrespective of how many bands enter, I am sure that with some serious thought all Grade 1 entrants can be accommodated…

We are grateful to reader Robin McPhee from, Wellington, New Zealand, for forwarding this cutting concerning the demise of the great George S. McLennan. Robin writes: ‘I enjoy Piping Press and thought this article, that I discovered while doing some family history research, might be of passing interest. ‘The original newspaper can be found online at the Glengarry County Archives Website.’ The article is from the Glengarry News, Ontario, Canada, and is dated…

Lt. Col. David Murray was a renowned piping historian, writer, piobaireachd authority and judge. Before he died in 2017 he sent the following article to the editor. It records Lt. Col. Murray’s time on the sub-continent judging the bands of the Pakistani Army. We are fortunate that Lt. Col. Murray included some never before published photographs of himself peforming his judging duties. At a time when music in any form…

A report on the Piobaireachd Society conference will follow on the Society website soon. For now I want to thank everyone for their kind wishes not just on social media but privately. Turning to the conference itself, held for the first time in Glasgow at the National Piping Centre, I don’t think it could be classed as anything other than a success. The numbers for the conference proper were up…