Category: Reviews

New Book Review: ‘Grey’s Notes on a Life Around Bagpipes’

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This is the recently published book penned by an esteemed piper, superb composer, internationally famous teacher, overall music master and consummate Bard. My tongue is firmly in my cheek I hear you say. Certainly not. Who am I talking about? None other than Ontario’s Michael Grey. Mike, I have you up there with the best. By Barry Donaldson This book is an autobiographical account of his life and times as…

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Scotland County Highland Games A Huge Success As Live Competition Returns In the American South

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Held in a region which was densely populated by Highland Scots beginning in the 18th century, the Scotland County Highland Games, in Laurinburg, North Carolina, USA, returned in great fashion after a two year hiatus.  A record crowd of almost 7,000 attendees witnessed a full day of events. It is a small Highland Games but this year quite significant as, if all our research proves to be accurate, which I…

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Argyllshire Gathering Score Major Success with New Intermediate Piping Championship

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The Lochnell Estate lies low on a wooded spit of land jutting out into the Firth of Lorne. Sheltered on its eastern lee sits a castle, home of the Cochrane clan for 100 years and the Campbells for centuries before. For most of last Saturday its ancient walls resounded to the call of the bagpipe. There may have been some unkind things said about the sea-going Cochranes back in Admiral…

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Canada’s First Highland Games for Two Years Voted a Huge Success – Full Results and Video

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The 57th Cobourg Highland Games (Ontario, Canada) – Saturday, September 11, 2021. The games were enjoyed by a large crowd in perfect weather conditions on the shores of Lake Ontario: lots of sun and a balmy temperature of 26 degrees, writes Michael Grey PPBSO President. The games featured solo piping, solo drumming and pipe band competitions, heavy events, clan stalls, vendors, Highland dancing exhibitions – and a beer tent. Ontario…

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Editor’s Notebook: Band Practices are Go/ Dan’s Book Controversy/ Wedding Disaster/ Ivory Pipes

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The way now seems fully open for pipe bands in Scotland to practice and perform. From September 3 the following applies under covid law: ‘These regulations (which come into force on 3 September 2021) amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (‘the principal Regulations’). ‘Regulation 2 amends ….requirement to wear face covering in certain indoor places [and] inserts ‘rehearsing for a performance’ as an activity falling within the…

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