Donald Morrison Archive: Seton Gordon on John MacDonald, Inverness, and Black Mark for the Piobaireachd Society

The featured letter, a copy of which Donald held in his papers, is from Seton Gordon and is dated January 5, 1973. It was to Col. John McEwing, a piping enthusiast in the US and the man responsivble for so much good work in the Pacific North West. He was the original director of the Coeur d’Alene Piping School in Idaho where taught such luminaries as James Campbell, Kilberry, RG…

Donald Morrison Archive: Downpour at the Northern Meeting 1930

The following is from a clipping from the Inverness Courier found in Donald’s papers. The headlines read ‘Great Washout at Northern Meeting’, ‘Disastrous Effect of Ceaseless Deluge’, ‘Handful of Spectators Watch the Games’ and ‘Balmoral Ghillie’s Piping Triumph’. In these days the Meetings were held out of doors in the Northern Meeting Park. The report goes on: Rain ruined the Northern Meeting Gathering which opened at Inverness today, even more…

Northern Ireland Pipe Band Round-Up: Parades, Contests and Exhibitions Keep Tradition Alive

Over here in Northern Ireland the traditional parading season will wind down over the next month. On Saturday the 28th August the parades of the Royal Black Institution took place on a local basis. These parades have traditionally featured a significant proportion of our pipe bands, many of which will take their autumn break before resuming winter practices, and in most cases the tuition of learner classes supported by grants…

Argyllshire and Lochaber Gatherings Prove There is No Substitute for Live Piping

Three days of ‘live’ piping. Yes, you read that correctly. You don’t know what you have until it is gone and this week’s gatherings reminded us all of what we have been missing. There was a genuine sense of relief, freedom, exuberance among the pipers at Oban and Fort William. And we listeners were able to enjoy our favourite music without transmission technology and its homogenising barrier. By Robert Wallace…

Lochaber Gathering Results

This prestigious competition was held today, August 27, in the Highland Cinema, Fort William. Sponsors were the Moidart Trust and PF Charitable Trust. The P/A MSR, Hornpipe & Jig and 6/8 March were held outside the cinema under a canopy. There was a strong entry in B/C events. P/A Piobaireachd1 Ben Duncan, MacDougall’s Gathering 2 Sandy Cameron, End of the High Bridge 3 Cameron Macdougall, Old Men of the Shells…