Category: Reviews

Iain Speirs Impresses at Piobaireachd Society 2015 Conference (video added)

Posted on      by     

The highlight of this year’s Piobaireachd Society Conference had to be the playing of Iain Speirs, writes PS Vice President Robert Wallace. Iain, the consummate professional, was asked to illustrate a paper given by John  Shone on the life and career of one of the greatest pipers of all time, Donald MacPherson. With a beautifully set pipe, Iain thrilled the large number of attendees with outstanding performances of ceol beag, the urlars…

More Iain Speirs Impresses at Piobaireachd Society 2015 Conference (video added)

P/M Gordon Walker Recital, Northern Ireland

Posted on      by     

The Blackthorn Pipers’ Society Annual Recital Andy Wilson reports: The Blackthorn Pipers’ Society held its third annual piping recital in Dromore Rugby Club, Dromore, Co Down, Northern Ireland, earlier this year. The Blackthorn Pipers’ Society is in its fourth year having been formed along the same lines as The Eagle Pipers’ Society. We hold gatherings so that pipers of all ages and abilities can enjoy the great Highland bagpipe. At the end of…

More P/M Gordon Walker Recital, Northern Ireland

Scottish Pipers ‘Music of First World War’ Part 3

Posted on      by     

Robert Wallace writes: Erudite and interesting I said; erudite and interesting it was. In the third of his lectures about WW1 and its pipe music, author Colin Campbell succeeded yet again in adding life and colour to what to most pipers are mere names at the top of a pipe music score. Who was Captain Lumsden or CM Usher or John S MacMurchie DCM MM? Last weekend Mr Campbell gave us…

More Scottish Pipers ‘Music of First World War’ Part 3

London: B Grade Piobaireachd Review

Posted on      by     

[easyrotator]erc_75_1413484305[/easyrotator] Scottish Piping Society of London Competition, Nov 1, 2014, ‘B’ Piobaireachd Review By Andrew Wright Competition reports and feedback, as a rule, tend always to centre on the very top level, with lower grade events mostly by-passed other than for the recording of the results. It is, however, at the lower level that the apprenticeship for the top is served, where performing skills are learned and honed toward the…

More London: B Grade Piobaireachd Review

London: 12 Hours of Capital Piping

Posted on      by     

Robert Wallace reprises the London Championship held on Saturday at Kensington Conference Centre: This was a long, but ultimately successful, day of piping. I have to applaud the committee of the Scottish Piping Society of London in managing to cram 120 pipers, hundreds of performances and a wheen of events into 12 hours – a credit to their organisation and the hard work of the stewards. However, it doesn’t need to be…

More London: 12 Hours of Capital Piping