Category: News

New Book, New History

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Two items added  today. Firstly this press release about a new book from the Canadian Prairies. A very worthwhile project to support you will agree (see Letters) with a formidable list of contributors. Press Release: ‘The Winnipeg Collection is a full colour, 72-page book of pipe music compiled by Nathan Mitchell.  The book includes 68 tunes submitted by 29 composers from seven different countries (Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South…

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P/M Donald Maclean and Major Manson

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It is history all the way this morning with a nice letter and photographs from Ontario about Donald Maclean’s 2/4 march Major Manson at Clachantrushal. The letter begs more information on P/M Maclean and this we have included in our new ‘Famous Pipers’ section of the web magazine. Easy access to piping history is very important, especially for the younger, internet generation. Here, then, is an opportunity for our army of young…

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Denver Cardwell

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It is with regret that we report the passing of respected pipe band adjudicator Denver Cardwell (74) of Portadown, Northern Ireland. He was a member of the RUC band in the 1970s and 80s and later joined the RSPBA’s Adjudicator Panel. Denver had been unwell after suffering a stroke last weekend. The Northern Ireland Branch of the RSPBA said: ‘We express our deepest sympathy to the family of Piping Adjudicator…

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Breadalbane’s Pipers

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Two interesting items today for our readers. They will be of particular interest to those with an eye and an ear for piping history concerning as they do pipers in Perthshire in the late 19th century. Firstly we have a letter about a piper, James Robertson (left), who, his descendents tell us, was piper to the Earl of Breadalbane. Then in an article we take a longer look at a few…

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James Campbell, Piobaireachd Expert and Gentleman

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The final excerpt of Jonathan Gillespie’s lecture on his tutor James Campbell of Kilberry is published today. In it Jonathan discusses some of James’s favourite tunes and names the performers. He also records James’s uneasiness with placing too much reliance on old manuscripts and allowing them to dictate the way tunes should be played in the modern era. He highlights the importance of James’s writings, in particular his ‘Elusive Appoggiatura’…

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