Category: Piobaireachd

RSPBA History: The Hallmark of a Solo Piper is Piobaireachd, But What Use Does it Serve Pipe Bands?

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We continue with our look back at the history of the RSPBA as described in an edition of the Piping, Drumming and Highland Dancing Journal of 1949. The author, Mr RC Whitelaw, Secretary of the then Scottish Pipe Band Association, demonstrates the misguided thinking which set the Association’s attitude to classical pipe music for 40 years, an attitude only overcome relatively recently. As ever, Mr Whitelaw is refreshingly outspoken, and…

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Editor’s Notebook: Piping’s Poor Show/ Willie Ross/ Piping Live/ Controversy of Pipers

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Chatsworth Games in the south have now been officially called off, organisers citing Boris Johnson’s four-week delay to ‘Freedom Day’ as the reason. There will be no band or solo contests in England this year. Here, the authorities in Inverness have confirmed that ‘Under Canvas’, an outdoor summer music festival co-curated with Fèis Rois, will run from 1 July – 30 September, providing ‘a three-month programme of music on the…

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Official Aboyne Games Announcement/ Early Bird Schools Offer from Piping Live!

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The promoters of Aboyne Highland Games have sent this… Traditional musicians are being given the opportunity to perform this summer in virtual competitions organised by Aboyne Highland Games. The Aberdeenshire event, like most Highland Games across Scotland, has been cancelled again in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.  However, the event’s organising committee, determined to give solo pipers and fiddle players a stage on which to play competitively this year,…

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Editor’s Notebook: Alasdair Takes a Break/ School’s Piping Lessons/ Donald Main/ 1976 Results

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The late, great Alasdair Gillies takes a seat on the competition platform while warming up at a games in the US. I was always impressed with his finger positioning. Perfect. Look at the bottom hand. Thumb exactly where it should be, between fore and middle fingers. Top hand digits beautifully aligned. And no, the pinkie is not touching the chanter, though the camera angle makes it seem so. Posture relaxed,…

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History: The Glenfiddich Championship of 1981 and a Victory for Iain MacFadyen

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The annual Glenfiddich Championship will take place again this October, hopefully before a live audience. This failing, it will be run as last year, livestreamed before live judges but crowd less. The following is taken from a report by well-known journalist Rennie McOwan who attended the famous event, then known as the Grant’s Championship, 40 years ago…….. The journalist from the French travel magazine was puzzled. All these individual tartan-clad…

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