Analysis: A More Authoritative and Pleasing Way of Playing a Particular Crunluath Motif

By Robert Wallace This article concerns the crunluath motif written in the Piobaireachd Society’s collection, before the 2019-2025 revision, as: What follows I first wrote about 22 years ago. I raised it again at the at the recent Piobaireachd Society Judges Seminar when discussing the tune, the Pride of Barra. The timing of this motif is important given that it features not only in the Pride of Barra – set…

NZ Youth Band Album/ Wheel of Fortune Results

A debut album released by the National Youth Pipe Band of New Zealand, ‘Bound by Sound’ comprises a ten‑track showcase of the country’s emerging talent, writes Liam Kernaghan. Recorded over three days in December 2025, the album blends the Scottish tradition with the modern Kiwi revival. Piping and drumming are booming again among young New Zealanders, and everyone on the album carries their own personal thread in that story.  ”Bound…

Editor’s Notebook: Grade 1 Bands/ Scots Guards KO/ Scholarship/ Highland Pipers

Knowledgeable attendees are reporting a very high standard of performance at last week’s band contest at Huntly, Aberdeenshire. I’m told four Grade 2 bands, Buchan Peterson, Grampian Police, Texo Deeside and Bucksburn, would not disgrace themselves in Grade 1. Given the dwindling numbers in that grade, this has to be good news. This week’s G1 draw for the British Championships at Ingliston on May 30 sports a grand total of…

Guide to the Games 2026 – August & September

We conclude our guide with thanks to the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association. Promoters please forward details on any information we have missed. August is an extremely busy month with 26 gatherings going on at various venues around the country. We have excluded competitions which are not essentially games events: CPA Bronze Medal, Skye Gathering, Northern Meeting, Silver Chanter, Lochaber Gathering. To promoters, please remember to send Piping Press your…

Guide to the Games 2026 – May to July

We are grateful to the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association for the bulk of this list of events this summer. It may not be comprehensive and if any reader knows of an event that has been missed, or any updates, please forward details. To pipers we say get out and support these contests, especially the non-graded ones. Graded events are well subscribed and often have to cap their list. Yes,…