Category: Pipe Bands

St Laurence Win Scottish

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Dublin’s St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band are the new Scottish Champions! SLoT pipped their old rivals Field Marshal Montgomery to the title, to the delight of many in the large crowd at Dumbarton. The win was P/M Alen Tully’s first championship title since he took over from his father Terry last year. P/M Tully is pictured with his front rank up top. Since then, SLoT have been threatening a big…

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PP Editor’s Blog: New England Academy/ Scottish PB Champs/ Jack in the US/ RSPS Dates etc

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Following the considerable success of the first New England Piping Academy, dates for 2016 have been announced early – with an enhanced programme. The Academy will run from June 14 -19, 2016, inclusive at the Adelynrood Retreat, Byfield MA, the same venue as this year’s camp. Responding to requests from attendees, the camp has been extended to five days from the afternoon of the 14th till before lunch on the 19th….

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PP Editor’s Blog: Cape Breton Piping/ Chatsworth Entry/ Band Formations/ ‘Freestyle’ Piping/ Audio Archive

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Listened to the BBC’s ‘Travelling Folk’ last night on Radio Scotland and an interview with bellows piper Hamish Moore. It was astonishing. No, not Hamish’s wacky views on how the British Army destroyed piping; how those old guys in tatty tweed jackets sitting playing on kitchen chairs somewhere in Cape Breton were the repositories of the true tradition. No, not that, but the fact that the presenter swallowed lock, stock…

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Band Formations Poll/Nicol-Brown Information/Hawick BB

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There was considerable response to yesterday’s essay on pipe band formations and to further gauge opinion we have a new poll. We hope as many readers as possible will respond:   [polldaddy poll=8982241] Our last poll on 2/4 marches posed the question: ‘Should we be free to alter music for 2/4 marches as we see fit’. 33% said ‘yes’, it was traditional music after all; 31% it depended on the…

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Time to Follow Chicago’s Lead on Band Formations

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IN the US the Midwest Pipe Band Association report that at the recent Chicago Highland Games they trialled a ‘concert formation’ for the Grade 2 and 3 Medley contests (see picture above). The feedback from bands and audience has been very positive, so much so that the organisers plan to use the same arrangement in 2016. All I can say to that is well done to all concerned. Here’s what…

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