Piping Press

Piper, folklorist, singer and teacher Andy Hunter is originally from Fife but now lives in Lorient in Brittany. He is a follower of Piping Press and was impressed by the recent tune, Spean Bridge to Achnacarry, by the Cameron brothers Sandy and Finlay, written in memory of the Commandos who trained in Lochaber during WW2. Andy writes…. By sheer coincidence, I composed a 9/8 march in tribute to the French…

PP Lockdown Challenge…Friend and composer Eddie McGuire read of the request for paintings and artwork and reminded me of this drawing by artist John Gahagan. It’s not for the competition but might inspire someone. Eddie writes: ‘I see that you are putting up artwork featuring pipers. Here’s the excellent drawing that John Gahagan did for the front cover of the music I wrote for the Glasgow arts festival ‘Mayfest’ in…

Can anything be salvaged from the 2020 piping season? It remains to be seen whether Oban, Braemar (above) and Skye will follow the trail of cancellation evidenced yesterday by the not wholly unexpected call offs from the Northern Meeting and Cowal, writes the Editor. I hope the remaining gatherings can, at least for now, resist the temptation of making too early a decision. All of the competing pipers I have…

In another devastating blow to the piping and pipe band season, the promoters of the Northern Meeting, one of the two top solo events in world piping, have, with reluctance, been forced to cancel their event for 2020. The Meetings, held every summer in Inverness, were due to take place on August 20/20. In a statement today they said: ‘This is to let you know that, with much regret, the…

In a statement issued this afternoon the board of Cowal Highland Gathering, one of the latest in the piping and pipe band calendar, have stated the following: ‘The Board of Cowal Highland Gathering has taken the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus situation. ‘Whilst we understand the decision is disappointing we feel it is the right one to protect the safety of…