Earlier this year our Editor commented on the lack of support given to minor contests by some bands. Ian Graham, Pipe Band Convenor at Pitlochry Highland Games, has responded below. The picture above shows Pitlochry Games massed bands in the 1970s.  I refer to your recent correspondent who wrote lamenting the diminishing amount of major bands attending local Highland Games. Your correspondent specifically cited Pitlochry Highland Games as an example, and…

My point on Monday about the quality of timing and phrasing in P/M Donald MacLeod’s 6/8 march can be illustrated by comparing this recording with Donald’s playing: This is from a leading prizewinning piper who shall remain nameless. Click here to brush up your 6/8s. Here’s an excerpt from the article: ‘The left and right beats are shown clearly. We give a little more to the left than we do to…

A parent has raised questions about access arrangements for the forthcoming Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships. The Championships are growing in popularity attracting dozens of bands and hundreds of followers to the annual event.  Indeed the promoters, the Scottish Schools Pipe & Drum Trust, say next year’s contest, to be held on March 10 will be the biggest yet with an estimated 150 bands taking part. The venue is Inveralmond Community…

One event conspicuously absent from the November piping programme this year has been the ‘Echoes of Oban’ concert, writes the Editor. Started originally by Seumas MacNeill and Tommy Pearston at the College of Piping in the 50s, I revived it circa 2008 using their format – though in the early years they invited winners from Inverness too. Luckily we always had sufficient players to be able to keep it true…