PP Ed’s Blog: Capt. John Contest/ Florida Hurricane/ Three Wise Men/ Austria School

The Captain John MacLellan Memorial Competition is being held at the Army School, Inchdrewer House, Edinburgh, tomorrow. All grades are covered and I hope the Edinburgh piping fraternity turn out to support this worthwhile contest in the Captain’s good name. Here are the draws:                     I hope my friends and students in South Florida have battened down the hatches in preparation…

Glasgow Police Pipe Band Change Their Name

The Greater Glasgow Police Scotland Pipe Band have announced a revision of  their name. Niall West, Band Manager: ‘The new name is simply, Glasgow Police Pipe Band. The band will continue to operate under the Police Scotland logo and entertain and support the community as an integral part of Police Scotland. ‘The rationale behind  the change is that the new name better reflects the band’s heritage and, simply,  is less cumbersome. The previous name Greater…

PP Ed’s Blog: Angus’s Funeral/ Shotts Contest/ Fergie Book/ Trad Awards

The dates for Angus Nicol’s funeral in Oban and mass in London have now been set: Tuesday 18th October – Oban RC Cathedral: Funeral Mass: 11.30am followed by Kilninver interment and Knipoch Hotel wake . Friday 21st October – Brompton Oratory: Requiem Mass: 11am with wake afterwards at St Wilfrid’s Hall. Angus, a great lover of piping and self-taught Gaelic speaker, died last week after a long bout of ill health. Throughout his life he did a great deal…

Pipe Bands: Police have First Practice/ Medley Harmonies/ World Solo Drumming

Greater Glasgow Police Scotland Pipe Band have held their first band practice with new leading drummer David Henderson at the head of the corps with a ‘very positive’ outcome. The GGPS corps is still largely intact despite the recent upheaval following the departure of long-serving Eric Ward. Of the nine side drummers that played with the band at the World Pipe Band Championships in August, six have stayed with the…

PP Ed’s Blog: Former Winners’ Tunes/ Logan’s Publishers/ Uist & Barra History

Listening to part of the Former Winners’ MSR at the Northern Meeting this year I was struck by the number of comparatively easy tunes some pipers are submitting. All great tunes of course, but is Mrs MacDonald of Dunacht suitable for this level? And whilst I love Donald MacLeod’s music I’m not sure that some of the reels such as Drumlithie are as much of a test as, say, eight parts…