Schoolboy’s Weekend at Winterstorm; Dougie’s Funeral

Cameron McCall (14) is in Form III at Dollar Academy and plays in their current Scottish, European and World Champion Juvenile pipe band. He was third in his category at the 2014 World Solo drumming championship. He attended the popular contest/ workshop weekend ‘Winter Storm’ in Kansas City earlier this month. As his trip involved taking time away from school, Cameron’s father imposed a condition that he must keep a…

Band Playing Requirements for 2015 Season – Important Amendments

The RSPBA has issued revised details of tune sets competing bands will be expected to play this summer at the various major championships. The Association has apologised for the earlier errors. The first is the British at Bathgate on May 30th where Grade 1 will submit two MSRs, Grade 2 one medley, Grades 3a and 3b one MSR, Juvenile a Medley, Grade 4a one four-part or two two-parted marches and two…

New Books Available for Free Download

Today we make available two books which will be of interest to piobaireachd enthusiasts. The first is a copy of the Gesto Canntaireachd first issued in 1828 and compiled by Captain Niel Macleod of Gesto from tunes taken from ‘John MacCrimmon’. The second is P/M William MacLean’s transliteration of this book into staff notation. Read more about the pipe major and his work here. He is pictured above. Both books…

Solo Judges Announcement

This press release has been received from the Solo Piping Judges’ Association Additions to Judges’ List: Murray Henderson – senior judge, Michael Grey (Canada) – approved judge, Logan Tannock – approved judge. The updated list is attached (see below), and will be posted on the CPA website. Change to Senior Judge Criteria A change has been made that a new senior judge will judge with experienced colleagues for the first year. This recognises that…

Letters: Highland Division in North Africa etc

Four new letters published this morning. They include this very interesting poster from reader Maurie de Hayr in Australia: We’d be interested to know if anyone can identify the pipers on parade, and there may even be someone out there whose father or grandfather or other relative played with the Highland Division in North Africa. Please contact us if you have any information or other photographs. The three other letters concern…