THE PIOBAIREACHD SOCIETY RECOMMENDED SET TUNES FOR 2019 (Updated)

The Piobaireachd Society recommends the following lists of tunes for competitions in 2019. Check below for comments on the tunes. Ronald MacShannon, the Music Committee member responsible for co-ordinating the selections, has issued these tunes:  A. SENIOR COMPETITIONS The Finger Lock PS 1, K The Bells of Perth PS 2, K Donald Gruamach’s March PS 2, K Scarce of Fishing PS 3, K The Daughter’s Lament PS 6, K Lament…

British Columbia Pipers’ Association Annual Indoor Meet (Updated)

The British Columbia Pipers’ Association Annual Indoor Meet was held last weekend with much of the day and the awards ceremony livestreamed. This ceremony included a tribute to the late Andrew Bonar and other BC Pipers’ members who had passed on during the year, with members of the pipe corps of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band performing the whole of Andrew’s Silver Medal winning tune, the piobaireachd ‘I Gave…

WO1 Pipe Major Gordon Webster, Sovereign’s Piper (updated)

It is with regret we note the passing of P/M Gordon Webster after a long illness. He was 59. WO1 Pipe Major Webster was Pipe Major of both 1st and 2nd Battalions Scots Guards and had the honour of serving as  9th Sovereign’s Piper to Her Majesty The Queen. Gordon started piping in Torphican and Bathgate Pipe Band as a youth having been encouraged by his father who loved the…

PP Ed’s Blog: Glasgow Highland Club Contest/ Schools Teaching/ Aboyne Games/ Swiss Massed Bands

By all accounts the Glasgow Highland Club’s Schools Championship of a couple of weeks ago, won by George Heriot’s (above), was a great success. Such are the numbers wishing to take part that the event has had to be moved from an evening to a daytime affair. All good news. However perusing the lists it struck me that there were no state schools represented! Why on earth not? Perhaps when the…

Passing of P/M Sandy Hain, Black Watch, 1928 -2018

It is with regret that we report the death of Sandy Hain formerly of the Black Watch. Sandy was aged 89 and had been in ill health for the past few weeks. His funeral will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, and he will be interred beside his second wife in the family mausoleum in that city. Sandy was formerly from Leslie in Fife and was from a family of…