New Recordings Added to Archive/ Letter from Falklands Veteran

Two new ceol mor recordings have been added to the PP Audio Archive. They are Lament for the Children (ground and Var.2) played by John MacDonald, Inverness, and the Earl of Seaforth’s Salute played in full by Jimmy McIntosh (pictured). Check out both here. Listening figures on the archive prove how popular this free facility is on Piping Press. The statistics vary depending on how long a recording has been published….

PP Editor’s Blog: Gwen Macpherson/ Govan Pipers Film/ SPA KO/ EUSPBA Piob. Conf.

Like many, I was sorry to learn of the passing of Gwen MacPherson, Donald’s widow. Gwen (86) died in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, on December 2, after chest infection complications. Her funeral service is today, Dec 14, at Mortonhall Crematorium, Pentland Chapel, Edinburgh, at 10.30 am, to which all family and friends are invited. The death notice in the Edinburgh Evening News read: ‘Gwen, very dearly loved wife of the late Donald, mother…

Rutherglen Pipe Band Letter & Two New Piobaireachd Recordings

We start today with a new letter from piping researcher Hector Russell, Helensburgh. Hector has been delving into the archives of the 214th Glasgow Company of the Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band and discovering many interesting old photographs and information about a band that was a hotbed of top-level piping and drumming tuition during the latter half of the 20th Century. The picture above is of the Rutherglen Pipe Band and features…

PP Editor’s Blog: SPA KO/ Gordon Duncan Book/ Kilberry Bagpipes/ Scottish Schools

Vice President Hugh Anderson reports from Saturday’s SPA Knock Out: ‘We had a really good night despite high winds and heavy rain all day. You could hear the wind gusting in the hall fortunately it was at the back so did not affect the players or the sixty-odd audience. Chris [Armstrong] won the toss and played first and played really well then after the break it was Stuart’s [Liddell] turn…

John MacDonald Recordings – Glasgow Police or Inverness?

Many thanks to John Don MacKenzie, Dornie, for alerting us to this possibility regarding the John MacDonald recordings highlighted last week: ‘Hi Rab, I have been listening to Alan Lomax’s recordings; really good stuff and interesting indeed both in Scotland and abroad. It’ll keep me going for some time along with http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/ which has loads of John D. Burgess ceol mor on it. Willie Ross and John D are sparkling indeed…