I arrived early enough at picturesque Grant Park, Forres, to hear the whole of the Juvenile grade. The young bands taking part were asked to play a March, Strathspey and Reel and all did so with considerable aplomb. Even in my day the Juvenile grade was always very demanding. This brought you on and invariably, once you reached 18, you were ready for Grade 1. So it is today, and…
Greenville Highland Games Professional Piping, May 29, 2016 By Robert Wallace The most impressive aspect of the Jimmy McIntosh MBE piobaireachd competition (held as part of the Greenville SC Highland Games) was the level of musicianship of the participants. They demonstrated an understanding of time signatures and phrasing not always heard on the professional stage. Much of that can be credited to Jimmy himself. Now 90 and living in Anderson, South…
BRITISH PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016, St James Playing Fields, Paisley, Saturday, May 21 By Alistair Aitken OBE, former senior adjudicator for the RSPBA This was a new venue for the first major championship of the year and my first impression was the amount of space which was available. The Playing Fields were flat and firm despite the rain earlier in the day. However, they were also rather open to the…
The statement below has been received from P/M Christopher Armstrong of Scottish Power Pipe Band. It follows yesterday’s critique by PP Editor Robert Wallace on the performances in Grade 1 at the British Championships held at Paisley last Saturday, May 21. P/M Armstrong writes: ‘It’s always interesting to read your thoughts on all the bands’ performances after a contest, and as the Pipe Major of ScottishPower Pipe Band I thought I’d share…
A new addition today to the PP Audio Archive in the shape of a fine performance by Donald MacPherson of the piobaireachd Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay, writes the Editor. It is a masterful rendering recorded at a concert promoted by the BBC in Glasgow in 1987 and comes to us via his former pupil Donald McBride of Kansas and Donegal. Donald, part of the world-class teaching faculty at next…
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