South Hall by John McLellan, Dunoon

We are grateful to John Don MacKenzie, Dornie, for supplying this original hand-written copy of the classic 2/4 march South Hall. The tune is of course by one of our greatest composers, John McLellan DCM, Dunoon, but the hand written music you can see is by P/M Willie Ross, written when he was directing the Army School of Piping at Edinburgh Castle. Here is the tune in full, beautifully laid out:…

PP Editor’s Blog: All Happening in the South West etc…..

To Dumfries the other night for a recital by Gordon McCready at the Hole in the Wa’ pub. The crowd enjoy a full evening of quality piping on a very good instrument.  Gordon was supported by 86-year-old Hamish Thow – clearly a player of note in his day, Alan Clement, and a very promising, clean fingered 11-year-girl, May Cranmer. Alan is, I think, Stuart Liddell’s cousin, and like the maestro, taught by his…

Support Needed for Juvenile Pipe Band Concerts and New Fund

The very active and popular  Ross and Cromarty Pipes and Drums School are holding three concerts later this month. The school is led by one of Scotland’s top pipers, double Gold Medallist Niall Matheson, and as you would expect play to a high standard. The concerts are on November 23/24/25 in Tain, Invergordon and Dingwall. Tickets are available locally or at the door and are priced at £8, Concessions £5 and Family…

New Drumming Appointment at Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon University launched a worldwide search for a leading drumming/percussionist last summer and have now completed the appointment. Professor of Music at the university, Andrew Carlisle has sent this: ‘Carnegie Mellon University is pleased to announce that the new Drumming Instructor for its Pipes and Drums is Dr. Richard Baughman. Richard, who has been based in Los Angeles, CA, for several years, makes the two and a half thousand mile…

Famous Pipers; Archibald Campbell/ KO Correction/ Comedy Caption

Our History column has been added to this morning with the first part of a look back at the life and times of piobaireachd scholar and writer Archibald Campbell, Kilberry (left). The column examines some of his letters and there is a piece on his father by the late James Campbell, Cambridge. The article first appeared in Piper Press magazine the print forerunner to this web magazine. Jimmy Banks of…