Her Majesty The Queen

As pipers we will add to the tide of grief, mourning, and gratitude that has followed the death of HM The Queen. For every day of her domestic life she rose to the sound of our national instrument. She appointed thirteen different Sovereign’s Pipers during her 70-year reign. They attest to her knowledge of the tunes, and woe betide those guilty of lazy repeats. By The Editor In her support…

Northern Ireland Round-Up: Belfast Tattoo/ Pipe Band College/ World Solo Drumming/ Blackthorn/ All Irelands

After two years absence, the Belfast International Tattoo finally returned on September 2nd and 3rd with three shows at the SSE Arena. The cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 shows placed many challenges at the door of the organisers. I was present on the Saturday night when there was a very good attendance and I understand that was the case across the other two shows. This has obviously encouraged the…

The View from the Bench: A Review of the Northern Meeting Gold Clasp 2022

At just after 08.30 on day two of the Northern Meeting, Greg Wilson stepped on to the stage of the Eden Court Theatre, tuned calmly and played the ‘Big Nameless tune’ – Cherede Darievea smoothly and softly on a sweet pipe with just minor technical imperfections. The judges settled, ears agog. The audience sank into their seats, eyes half-closing already. Business as usual. Then Roderick MacLeod gave us Donald Ban….

Chatsworth Games Results

The Piobaireachd Society contributed significantly to the prizemoney for the piobaireachd event which required four tunes to be submitted – perhaps not a big ‘ask’ of the Premier graded pipers present but certainly stretching for some of the less experienced competitors who rose to the challenge.  Playing conditions were good other than the odd shower, with temperatures averaging 20 degrees Celsius throughout the day – almost perfect for both instruments…

Blairgowrie Games Results – Updated with Juniors and Locals

Rain early; dry later. Open Piob:1 Ben Duncan2 Sandy Cameron3 Innes Smith Open March:1 Ben Duncan2 Fraser Allison3 William Rowe4 Calum Brown Open S&R1 Ben Duncan:2 Calum Brown3 William Rowe4 Sandy Cameron B Piob1 William Rowe2 Calum Brown3 Eireann Ianneta-MacKay4 Callum Wynd5 Eddie GaulJudges: D Fraser, I Duncan C Piob1 Bobby Allan2 Calum Kaye3 Ross Conner4 Christopher McLeish5 James MacPetrie C Grade March1 Bobby Allan2 James MacPetrie3 Calum Kaye4 Jeffrey…