PP Ed’s Blog: Modern Piobaireachd/ AKQ/ Uist & Barra/ Fergie Tune

Writing of Dr John MacAskill’s self-penned piobaireachd on Friday served as a reminder of the current impetus there is behind ‘modern’ ceol mor. At the end of the month we will have the Donald MacLeod Memorial contest in Stornoway (see banner ad.) where his music will be enjoyed once more by the large crowd. Donald’s tunes feature in this year’s Silver Medal lists too, and other modern tunes such as…

Dr John MacAskill and a New Piobaireachd Recently Rediscovered

Gaelic broadcaster, writer and photographer, Cailean Maclean has unearthed a new piobaireachd composed by the late Dr John MacAskill. What’s more he has provided a copy of the tune and a recording of the writer playing it. Dr John, who died in 2003, was a renowned composer of such ceol beag masterpieces as the reel Lexie MacAskill and an article on him featured earlier in Piping Press. Cailean writes: ‘Dr John…

Report on the Army Contest/ Date for Capt. John MacLellan Mem./Pipes for Sale/ Young Piper

After a hiatus of seven years, last weekend (March 4/5) saw the Army Piping and Drumming Championships take place at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, writes Major Gordon Rowan, Director of Army Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming. The school, at Inchdrewer House in Edinburgh, resounded to the sound of bagpipes, drums and bugles, as pipers and drummers from across the British Army competed with each other…

Review: The Uist & Barra March, Strathspey & Reel and Hornpipe & Jig

The editor continues with his look back at last Saturday’s Uist & Bara competition this time concentrating on the ceol beag events, the March, Strathspey and Reel and the Hornpipe and Jig, competitions he judged with P/M James Banks MBE and John Wilson…… It is surprising how some pipers give every attention to detail in their piobaireachd but not so when an MSR or Hornpipe & Jig hoves into view. Here…

Preview of Scottish Schools’ Pipe Band Championship/ USPF Entry Alert & Judges for 2017 Contest

The 5th Annual competition moves to James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh this Sunday (12th March) for the annual competition. There will be over 80 performances with a record 81 bands, 11 quartets and freestyle ensembles in a variety of categories ranging from piping quartets for smaller groups to the top Juvenile bands going head to head for the Grand Prix. Bands from all over Scotland and the north of…