World Solo Drumming: Steven’s the Man Yet Again!

Steven McWhirter of the Inveraray & District Pipe Band is the World Solo Drumming Champion for 2019. He emerged with most points after two hard fought disciplines at the championships held today at Glasgow Caledonian University. It was his ninth consecutive title and his tenth in total.  Steven is pictured above receiving his trophy from Mr Nigel Hodgson of sponsors Andante Drums with Mr George Ussher, RSPBA President, looking on….

Posted in News   

Reviews: ‘A MacCrimmon Collection’ and ‘Tutor Book 3 – Piobaireachd’, German Edition

‘A MacCrimmon Collection of Traditional and Contemporary Bagpipe Music’ A new collection of bagpipe music compiled by Iain and Calum MacCrimmon, the acclaimed father and son pipers, composers and, as I understand, hereditary pipers to Clan MacLeod, has been issued. There are 59 compositions on offer covering the complete spectrum of bagpipe music.  Normally when asked to review a new publication of pipe music, my approach is to sing through…

Posted in News   

History: 50 Years Ago the Scottish Pipers Try Out Revolutionary Judging System

The following is from an issue of the Oban Times newspaper from January 1969. The article is self explanatory but we wonder if there is anyone out there who competed under John MacFadyen’s system? If so please get in touch. Our editor remembers this being discussed on the BBC’s piping programme ‘on the wireless’ but has no further information. A system of judging new to piping will be tried out…

Posted in News   

Archie Kenneth Quaich Competition/ World Solo Drumming

The Piobaireachd Society website is carrying the following notice: The twenty-eighth annual amateur piobaireachd competition for the Archie Kenneth Quaich will take place on Saturday, 29th February 2020, in the rooms of The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society, 127 Rose Street Lane South, Edinburgh, starting at 09.30 a.m.  The competition is promoted by the Piobaireachd Society. Entries and enquiries to: peter.mccalister@doctors.org.uk   Competitors should submit two tunes with their entries, one…

Posted in News   

Editor’s Notebook: WW2 Piper/ RSPBA Reminder/ MacStig Poll/ N Mtg Ceilidh/ Band Filming

Thanks to Yahya Hussein in New York for this unique picture of a piper from WW2. Yahya: ‘Here’s a photo of the intrepid Pipe Major Rob Roy of Tobruk who survived the war and whom Jimmy McIntosh told me was a very good piper. His daughter wrote a book on him.’ The blurb: ‘This book is about Pipe Major Robert Roy MBE DCM of the Black Watch who became known…

Posted in News