I know this is a fallow period for piping and pipe bands but I’d like to remind followers of Piping Press that there is plenty of enjoyable reading – not time sensitive – throughout our pages. Yesterday, for example, we had hundreds of readers dipping into the Famous Pipers column about P/M Ian McLellan of Strathclyde Police (pictured above). This followed a mention of the article on Facebook. So my…
Bagpipe Tutor 3 – Piobaireachd by Robert Wallace has been a welcome addition to the teaching manuals for ceol mor, classical pipe music. In 20 lessons the author takes the student through all the required technique for this music and on completion of the course the beginner has four tunes, the Wee Spree, Clan Campbell’s Gathering, the Boat Tune and Duncan MacRae of Kintail’s Lament in his/her repertoire. Each of…
Piper Robin Andrews contacted Piping Press with the following message: I wonder if you are aware of the Manifesto for the Correct Placement of Beatings in Highland Bagpipe Music? Please do not ignore this issue. As things are, pipe bands have the dubious honour among musical traditions of consistently playing part of their repertoire incorrectly, even at the highest levels of competition. In addition to this, the error is being passed on daily by teachers,…
It would seem that most readers think we should be allowing judges to keep going irrespective of age provided they are healthy. That’s the main finding of our poll launched last week following my article Judging Dilemma – When is it Time to Call it a Day? Forty-three per cent of respondents thought this the best way forward, even though it puts them out of step with the RSPBA who…
A couple of weeks ago the editor mentioned on his blog a new piobaireachd that had been composed by piper, adjudicator and professional reedmaker Donald MacPhee. The tune commemorates the remarkable achievements of P/M Richard Parkes of Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band and here Donald gives us the background to his composition….. Many thanks for your kind thoughts on the tune. The story behind it: I was a piper in Field…
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