Category: Pipe Bands

History: Famous Composer John Balloch

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My great grandfather was John Balloch [above], the composer of such popular tunes at the 25th KOSB’s Farewell to Meerut and Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen. His son Donald, my grandfather, was also a piper. Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen is a well known beauty spot near Greenock where P/M Balloch settled before WW1. There may be other unattributed tunes of his in the Royal Scots Collection by James Robertson. By Stuart Herron His…

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Jimmy Anderson 1946-2024

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Jimmy Anderson, who has died aged 77, was a World Pipe Band Championship winning piper with Muirhead and Sons and the man who half a century ago led the introduction of bagpipes into folk groups. His successes at the Worlds came in the legendary Muirheads band of the 1960s, and he was the proud owner of three plaques commemorating wins in 1967, ’68 and ’69. With brothers Peter and Tommy,…

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Draws Announced for British Pipe Band Championship

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The second Major Championship of 2024, the British, will be held at Forres, Moray, on June 8. This will be the first British for two years. There was no contest last year due to the sponsor’s financial difficulties. The winners in 2022 were Inveraray under P/M Stuart Liddell. They were placed second by both piping judges but won drumming and ensemble. Second placed Field Marshall won first from both piping…

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Editor’s Notebook: 2/4 March Tempos/ Alastair MacQueen/ Bangor BB/ Pipe Band Gradings

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Further to my comment about the slow playing of 2/4 marches, and concerned that I was talking out of turn, I had a listen to a recording I made back in 1982. The tempo is more or less the same as Hugh MacInnes‘s. The tunes are Highland Wedding and Jeannie Carruthers: I then had a listen to a selection of marches from the PP archive and they all confirmed that…

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Readers’ Memories of P/M Hugh MacInnes

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Yesterday’s story and recordings about former light music champion piper Hugh MacInnes brought considerable response from readers. Many had fond memories of the man and his piping. The recordings we featured are now in the PP Audio archive and can be enjoyed again here. The first message was from Tom Johnstone: Hughie and I were both founder members of the Glasgow Skye Assoc. band back in 1967/8 and soon became…

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