My Days Learning from the Greatest Piper in the World – Iain Murdo Morrison

The passing of P/M Iain Murdo Morrison six months ago still resonates among those who knew him. Here reader Alasdair MacIver looks back on his time with the master piper. Alasdair is pictured above right with Iain Morrison junior playing at a house ceilidh in December 1990 as their proud tutor looks on. It has taken me some time to be able to write this. Iain Murdo Morrison was my…

Editor’s Notebook: Northern Ireland Leads the Breakout/ Interview/ SPA Solos/ Queen’s Own Pictures/ Jakez’s Tune for Bob Hardie

Cue Steve McQueen and his motorbike……The Northern Ireland Branch of the RSPBA are leading the great escape with an announcement yesterday of their summer festival. And it will include competitiive solo piping and drumming. It is not clear if these will be held outdoors or in, but anything live and I’ll take it. The date is August 21 in Cookstown. The branch have other summer festival events lined up, though…

Archie Kenneth Quaich Today ‘Live’ Online/ Dan’s New Book/ Eilidh’s Legacy Helps Young Musicians

The competition for the prestigious Archie Kenneth Quaich takes place today (Sat., May 22) online. The contest is being run under the auspices of the Piobaireachd Society’s Music Committee. It features 23 amateur pipers several of whom are previous winners of the coveted Quaich. They are, in playing order:Martin Lee Wey Vern , Leslie Barrett, Dugald MacLeod, Alasdair Beaton, Gill Cairns, James Carnegie , Billy WardropeTom Peterkin , Stuart Letford, Lachlan MacDonald, Andrew…

Northern Meeting 2019: Day 1 Results plus Comment

The Inverness Gold Medallist for 2019 is Connor Sinclair from Crieff. Connor is pictured above on stage at the Eden Court Theatre, the scene of his triumph. Twenty five pipers played in this competition. It began at 8.30am and finished at 5pm. The crowd was steady throughout the day and possibly higher than other years. The stewarding was excellent with breaks for coffee and lunch kept to a minimum. The…

Aboyne Games – Full Results

Scorcher at Aboyne today. Twenty in Open events, strong junior field.  Under 18 Piobaireachd  1. Kyle Cameron, Battle of Auldearn No 12. Christopher Happs, Battle of Auldearn No 23. Liam Brown, The Field of Gold4. Aly Williams, Cabar Feidh gu Bragh Under 18 MSR 1. Kyle Cameron2. Christopher Happs3. Ewan Allen4. Jake Roberts Piob:1 John Dew, Rory McLeod’s Lament2 Jonathon Simpson, Lament for the Viscount of Dundee3 Allan Russell, The…