Fiona MacKay: ‘The Vale of Atholl Grade 1 Pipe Band has announced the departure of Leading Drummer Lee Lawson. Lee took a sabbatical from the band mid-season for personal reasons and unfortunately will not be able to continue with the Grade 1 band as we set our sights on preparing for the 2017 season. We would like to thank Lee for her contribution and the band will shortly provide a…
The Masters of Piobaireachd series comprising 10 CDs was an initiative of Norman Matheson and Robert Wallace. As each CD was released, Norman sent a copy to the late James Campbell who responded with letters of analytical content, extracts of which appeared in Piping Press from March 2015. For those pipers who have the CD collection, the letters are of interest, and to retain them along with their collection would be…
I have to say I agree with drummer Andy Donaldson who messaged last week: ‘Just a wee note regarding Thornton. Our wee band (Cardenden) and Barney’s band (Methil, P/M Robert Barnes) were the only two bands that bothered to turn up. Every other band that was entered pulled out for no discernible reason. I think they should be ashamed!!! ‘We had members on holidays etc. but still managed to field…
Two new piobaireachd recordings have been made available on the PP Audio Archive. The first is the ground and first variation of Lament for John MacDonald of Inverness by P/M Donald MacLeod. The performance is introduced by P/M MacLeod himself and he states that it was composed at Fort George so probably dates from the very early 1960s. John MacDonald, Inverness, was P/M MacLeod’s tutor for 25 years and died…
Re-reading Dr J David Hester’s letter of a few weeks ago has caused me to reflect…. Judging, any sort of judging – bands, solos, cattle shows – is not easy. I remind readers once more of the late Donald MacGillivray’s immortal words at Strathpeffer Games in the 1970s, ‘I hate judging – cattle shows or piping – one is always surrounded by a sea of disappointed faces at the end….’ But, Donald…
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