Category: Reviews

Major Gordon Rowan Retires as Director, with the Army School Forging Ahead

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Major Gordon Rowan is due to retire as Director of Army Bagpipe Music in May. Yesterday he oversaw his final Pipe Major’s Course passing out. He can be proud of his very well schooled candidates At the bench were myself, Pipe Major Gordon Walker and Callum Moffat, the new Director of the Army’s Cadet Force Pipes and Drums, writes the Editor. Seven pipers played. They had to submit six 6/8…

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Lochaber Juniors/ Donald MacLeod Memorial

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Lochaber Piping Society’s annual youth piping and drumming competition was held on Saturday, March 23, in the Gaelic Primary School, Caol, Fort William. Adjudicators were P/M Alistair Duthie, Jon Don MacKenzie, Moira Robertson, P/M DJ MacIntyre and Brian Graham (drumming), writes Ken Cameron, President. We had 60 entries across fifteen classes and the total number of individual performances was 134. While the number of contestants was encouraging, comment has been…

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Letter on Alistair Campsie Book/ RSPBA Calendar/ Gordonstoun Trip

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I do sometimes wonder about those writings on piping where the ‘shop window’ is so immensely off-putting that we never look further at the goods behind it, writes reader David Livingstone. The writings of Alasdair Campsie on the MacCrimmons and the pibroch settings of Simon Fraser immediately spring to mind. It is clear that the MacCrimmons existed and were eminent and respected pipers, but everything we currently know and take…

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Editor’s Notebook: Johnstone Pipe Band/ 1923 Clasp/ John MacColl/ DJ Contest/ Colin’s Pipes

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We appreciate P/M Keith Bowes senior forwarding this picture of the Johnstone Pipe Band. It features Pipe Major Craigie Calder, author of the recently reported tape featuring information on Bob Reid and a short excerpt of John MacColl’s playing. Keith tells me that the band was formed in 1943 during WW2 its purpose being to march Home Guard units round the town raising morale and money. Those in the picture…

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Very Large Entry for Annual Scottish Pipers’ Association Professional Competition

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Entries for the Scottish Pipers’ Association annual professional competition are oversubscribed in all grades except P/A Piobaireachd, President Logan Tannock has announced. Entries close on Sunday, March 24. Nine have entered the P/A Piob so far. Other grades have 25 plus pipers lined up with a waiting list in lieu of cancellations in place. The competition is sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society, and the Competing Pipers’ Association. Pipers entered are…

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