PP Editor’s Blog: City of Edinburgh Police PB/Donald MacDonald Quaich/World Solo Drumming etc.

Yesterday I mentioned the City of Edinburgh Police Pipe Band under P/M Ian MacLeod and I wonder if anyone can give us the names of the individuals in this shot taken of the band with multiple trophies in the early 1970s. Email them please, to pipingpress@gmail.com. The history of the band and its sorry demise was given in great detail in a series of three features in the Pipe Band magazine…

PP Academy: Meddling With Competition Pipe Marches

Readers could be forgiven for thinking I had a downer on Roderick Campbell’s fine tune ‘The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society’. I don’t. I think it a wonderful composition and I am sure the eponymous Society is delighted with a tune that has guaranteed their immortality. However, as I said in my crit on the British Pipe Band Championships, I do not think it is of sufficient difficulty for Grade 1…

PP Audio Archive/ National Mod/ Composing Competition/ Letters

Launched today is the new PP Audio Archive page which will carry  recordings of this and previous generations of pipers and pipe bands.  Our first recording is of the great Donald MacPherson recorded from the BBC in 1972. It has been supplied by his former pupil Donald McBride and we would ask other readers who have other suitable recordings to forward them to us at the usual address. This recording ties in…

PP Editor’s Blog: Kilberry Bagpipes/ British Championships/Piping Live

Double Gold Medallist Douglas Murray has taken over Kilberry Bagpipes in Edinburgh and reports brisk business at his premises in St Mary’s Street just off the Royal Mile. The above pic shows Dougie outside his new shop. Visitors are welcome to call in for a chat or to have their pipes looked over by an expert. Douglas will be leading his much-improved Fife Constabulary band onto the field at the…

Iain Dall MacKay Contest/ New Letters/ Govan Piping

Details have been announced for the 2015 Iain Dall MacKay contest to be held in Gairloch, Wester Ross, in September. The Iain Dall ‘Young Pipers’ Festival’ will be held in Gairloch Primary School on September 26th. The purpose of the festival is to encourage pipers aged under 18 to compete and enjoy their piping in a friendly and relaxing competition. There are eight classes: 1: March on practice chanter – primary…