Category: Pipe Bands

Editor’s Notebook: Talk Piobaireachd/ SPA Entries/ Aberdeen Art/ Games in 1937 and P/M John Slattery

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A treat tonight for members of the Piobaireachd Society with the celebrated Bill Livingstone delivering the final ‘Talk Piobaireachd’ of the 2021-22 season. Time is 8pm BST (GMT+1) and Bill will be talking about and demonstrating two of his favourite tunes, Lament for the Earl of Antrim and In Praise of Morag. Bill, who recently enjoyed his 80th birthday, was one of the great pioneers of Canadian piping, proving that…

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Be a Better Piper: Where the Beat Falls

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By the Editor One of the issues that seemed to exercise the minds of several students at the Florida school a couple of months back was where the beat falls when playing our ceòl beag. It seems there is stuff out there that is misunderstood. To try to put their minds at ease I ran through my simple explanation: 1 Play a succession of low As on the chanter whilst…

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Editor’s Notebook: Band Numbers/ Tune for Norman/ Film Request/ Henderson Pipes/ Inverness 1990

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I noticed this story in one of the national papers the other day, bandmasters lamenting the lack of trumpets and tubas in our nation’s brass bands. I wonder if pipe bands will be similarly afflicted? I think so. This is why the wise men at the RSPBA have instructed stewards to turn a blind eye to the odd numerical indiscretion they may spot at the flags or in final tuning….

More Editor’s Notebook: Band Numbers/ Tune for Norman/ Film Request/ Henderson Pipes/ Inverness 1990

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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