Former Muirhead & Sons piper Gordon Ferguson, now domiciled in Australia, concludes his reminiscences… The other memories that I have relate to a trip overseas to Russia in 1967 as World Pipe Band Champions. I was thinking of including some tales of the band trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, that same year but though it was a memorable trip there is not a great deal to comment on, especially since…
Lewis piper James Duncan Mackenzie has released a book featuring 70 of his own tunes for pipes and other instruments. It includes tunes which have already become popular in both the pipe band and folk music scenes, writes Katie Mackenzie. The ‘James Duncan Mackenzie Collection’ features 52 pipe compositions, including tunes such as Smelling Fresh and Willie Bucach Macleod of Stornoway, and 18 tunes that go outside the range of…
All the indications are that the restrictions/ recommendations on social gatherings limited to three households, as announced yesterday, will extend at least until March. What impact this will have on band practices here in Scotland I know not. But I am concerned. The knock on effect for the 2022 season could be significant. Already we have had the cancellation of the Scottish Schools contest scheduled for the end of March….
For those of you who are regular readers of Piping Press this will be something of a departure from the usual informed reporting you might read here. However I would hope that it is an opportunity to consider a refreshing vision of last weekend’s Glenfiddich championship. Over a long period of time I have had a passing acquaintance with piobaireachd. I have always listened to it and in the 80s…
The success of P/M Richard Parkes MBE and his Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band from Lisburn, Northern Ireland, is the stuff of legend. In a remarkable career beginning 40 years ago, Richard has amassed a trophy haul that is unlikely ever to be beaten. He continues his look back at that success and how he achieved it…. My brother Gordon was my first leading drummer. He had taken over from…
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