‘Beyond Highland Cathedral’ – Inspiring Pipers Gathering in New South Wales

Grafton District Services Club Pipe Band, New South Wales, hosted a piping get together entitled ‘Beyond Highland Cathedral’ on Saturday, June 13th. The meeting was inspired by those held a generation ago 100 miles away in Tenterfield NSW by the MacCabe family, writes Alastair McInnes. Many in Scotland will remember Lachlan McCabe and his brother who went round the games in the 80s. About 50 enthusiasts, pipers and drummers, enjoyed…

Editor’s Notebook: Old Recordings & Jeannie Book/ Mull Games/ Neil Clark/ Worlds Tickets

Reader Michael Dunn has alerted me to his excellent collection of early, re-mastered, piping recordings. Click on the picture of Willie Ross to hear the maestro play Captain Norman Orr Ewing and the link below for many other tunes. There’s music from the likes of JB Robertson, Robert Reid, Henry Starck (bagpipe maker), John Macdonald, Inverness, Glasgow Police under P/M John MacDonald (1945), and many more. Full play list here…

USPF: Review of the Piobaireachd and a Trial of Colin MacLellan’s Judging Proposal

I judged the United States Piping Foundation Professional Piobaireachd with Paula Glendinning on Saturday 20th June. It is one of the major US competitions and continues in memory of its founder, Maclean Macleod.   By Dr Jack Taylor MBE It has moved from Delaware to Maryland, and is superbly organised now by Peter Kent, Michael Rogers and their committee. You may have read Michael’s report and full results on Piping…

Editor’s Notebook: Judging & Teaching/ Plaid Brooch/ Iain Bruce/ World Cup

I cannot see any reason why Colin MacLellan’s judging/teaching proposal should not be given at least a pilot run, a properly monitored assessment over several events. If it doesn’t work, well, fair enough, it’s back to the drawing board. But gather the evidence, examine the pros and cons, and make a fact-based decision. If approved, we then leave it up to the promoters as to whether or not they wish…

Proposal to End Difficulties Over Judges and Pupils – Clarification and Reaction

There has been considerable response to Colin MacLellan’s recently published proposal to end the problems associated with judging and teaching which continue to plague the solo piping world. The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Colin has been the recipient of several messages of support but wishes to clarify one aspect of the proposal which may have been misunderstood and adds further comment: ‘Since the publication of my judging proposal it has…