Piping Among the Bretons – A History, Part 1

This article is taken from the March, 1968, edition of the US-based magazine ‘Piping World’. Though more than half a century has passed since its publication it will be particularly instructive to those readers who know little of the piping tradition in that part of the world. The peninsula which juts out some one hundred and eighty miles into the Atlantic from the northwest corner of France comprises the ancient…

Editor’s Notebook: Pandemic Problems for Manufacturers and State School Bands/ N Ireland Show the Way/ Tune for Cameron

All of our bagpipe and Highland supplies companies are needing business right now. First year pandemic they got by; this year is proving much more difficult. The phone’s not ringing the way it used to, the mail is drying up. Furlough money (UK government support) is being reduced and staff lay-offs are a possibility for some. Everyone in the piping community should help if they can by ordering that new…

Top Pipers Announced for Piobaireachd Society ‘Classical Pipe Music’ Annual Concert

The Piobaireachd Society has announced the line up for its annual recital of ceòl mòr entitled ‘Classical Pipe Music – Scotland’s Hidden Treasure’. Those invited to play are Stuart Liddell, Decker Forrest, P/M Ben Duncan and Craig Sutherland. The concert is to be held at the National Piping Centre’s Otago Street building (formerly the College of Piping) on August 29 at 7 for 7.30pm. There will be a ‘live’ audience and tickets…

Editor’s Notebook: Tobermory Games/ Grampian Games/ Piper Carvings at Breuberg Castle/ New App for Learning by Ear

It looks like we will have the semblance of a piping season after all. Online contests are already beginning to sound so last year. Yesterday on a sunny isle of Mull, the local school band led the parade to the games park for a mini-gathering. Local correspondent Calum MacLean reports: ‘The games started with the march to the field led by Tobermory High School Pipe Band. ‘Although this was not…

Modern History of the Pipe Band Movement from 1946 to the Millennium

The Second World War interrupted pipe band contests, which resumed in 1946. In 1947 the Scottish Pipe Band Association decided to take the World Championship away from Cowal as they had had a good offer from Edinburgh City Council which wanted it to be held there to coincide with the new Festival. Cowal refused to give up the Championship or hand over the trophies, and after a lot of meetings…