Category: Pipe Bands

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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Changes Which Were Needed in the Post WW2 Scottish Pipe Band Association

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This is from the Piping, Drumming and Highland Dancing Journal of 1949. The author was appointed President of the SPBA in 1947, and during the year until February 1948 carried out the duties of President and Secretary. On the latter date he was appointed Secretary of the Association. He points to a burgeoning number of contests post WW2 and the need for more money and teaching for bands. In the photograph…

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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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The Historic Colinton & Currie Pipe Band Has Gone – How Many More Will Follow?

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It is with great regret and sadness that I have to report that the decision has been taken to wind up forthwith Colinton and Currie Pipe Band.  The decision is all the more unfortunate as the band, based on the outskirts of Edinburgh, was one of the first civilian pipe bands in Scotland, formed as far back as the 19th century.  Its winding up is disappointing for me personally as…

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