Category: Piobaireachd

Piobaireachd Society Announce Recommended Set Tunes for 2023

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The Piobaireachd Society has instituted a new approach to the tunes it recommends for the senior competitions at the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting. Ronald McShannon of the Society’s Music Committee: A. SENIOR COMPETITIONS A new approach to setting tunes for the senior competitions is recommended for a trial period of five years.   The aim is to give competitors a wider choice of tunes while still ensuring exposure…

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Half a Century on, this Seminal Work on Piobaireachd Continues to Educate and Entertain

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By The Editor Fifty-five years ago Seumas MacNeill, then Joint Principal of the College of Piping, began work on a book which was to open a thousand eyes and ears to ceòl mòr. ‘Piobaireachd – Classical Pipe Music of the Great Highland Bagpipe’ was a BBC-commissioned publication. Below is an advert it ran in an October 1968 edition of Radio Times, it listings magazine. It reads: ‘Piobaireachd , the classical…

More Half a Century on, this Seminal Work on Piobaireachd Continues to Educate and Entertain

News from Over the Water – Closkelt Concert/ Ulster Entries Down/ Blackthorn Pipers/ Cleland Celebrate Bunting/ Matt Boyd and Prince Charles

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March 26th saw Closkelt Pipe Band take to the stage of the Market Place Theatre in Armagh for a concert promoted by the band. Compère on the night was radio presenter Rab Lennox of ‘Big Rab Show’ and BBC ‘Kintra’ fame. Headlining the show was the host band itself led by Pipe Major David Chesney and new Leading Drummer Brendan McGoran and they gave a glimpse of some of their…

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Editor’s Notebook: AG Lochnell Championship/ Capt. John Contest/ Clan Maciver Tune/ Lorient Festival

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The Argyllshire Gathering’s Intermediate Championship 2022 will be held at Lochnell Castle near Oban on October 22. Eight leading young professional pipers will be invited to compete for what has already become a sought after title. Last year’s winner, Andrew Ferguson, Dollar Academy, is pictured second left above. Styled after the Glenfiddich Championship for senior pipers, the Lochnell requires a submission of four Piobaireachd and four MSRs the winner in…

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History: Bagpipe Maker RG Lawrie Part 2

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We conclude this short history of the renowned bagpipe maker RG Lawrie. It is from the hand of its last proprietor, Arthur Lawrie. This history was given by Mr Lawrie to the late Jimmy McIntosh who kindly forwarded it to Piping Press. This article ends with a contemporary obituary for Mr Lawrie (2005). It sheds light on his personal life and his work with the company… The independence of Tanganyika,…

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