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…

By Gilbert Cromie Congratulation to Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band who has been named one of the eighteen leading figures from the world of business, science, sport, academia and the arts to become Honorary Graduates of Queens University Belfast for 2019. This is outstanding recognition for Richard who for over three decades has steered the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band to an amazing…

Piping Press editor Robert Wallace has been elected President of the Piobaireachd Society. Mr Wallace takes over from Dr Jack Taylor who has retired after 12 years in post. The appointment was confirmed at the Society’s AGM held yesterday (March 23) at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. In proposing Mr Wallace Dr Taylor said the Society was following precedent in offering the vacant post to the Vice President and…

Pipe band drumming expert Allan Chatto OAM concludes his article (abridged) on how bands can improve drum corps work and ensemble… Snare drum scores should be arranged using motifs and phrases that are all within the capability of the members of the drum corps. There is not much point in including some tricky or catchy phrases that the leading drummer may like only to find some of the snare drummers…