Piping Press

The people have spoken. MacStig stays in Grade 2. Our poll of a week or so ago asked the question: ‘What Should MacStig Cover in the 2020 Pipe Band Season?’ Answers on offer were: ‘Stick with Grade 2; we love him’; ‘Yes, send him to Grade 3A’; Put him on Grade 1, anything’s better than the current drivel’; ‘Sack him he’s rubbish’; ‘Who is he anyway?’ The outcome: In response…

The Piobaireachd Society has announced that individual hard copies of its celebrated collection of Books 1-16 are now available to its 700 members at a reduced rate. The books currently retail at £15 ($20US approx.). Members can buy them on the PS site for £12.50 ($16 approx.). The books are now in a new, more convenient A4 size (close to US letter) and include the currently out of print editions…

Senior adjudicator Dr Jack Taylor has been in the southern hemisphere playing and judging in Australia and New Zealand. Here is his report….. The 43rd New Zealand Silver Chanter and Clasp Competitions were held Christchurch last weekend. They are run by the Highland Piping Society of Canterbury and are one of New Zealand’s three major annual events. In contrast to Scotland’s Clasp and Silver Chanter they are light music competitions….

What a grievous week this last. The passing of Bob Shepherd, Sandy MacPhee and Robert Turner represents a huge loss to piping and pipe bands. Sandy’s son Donald’s tribute to his father was touching and sincere. Sandy made a highly significant contribution to piping in the US and was respected on both sides of the Atlantic. Donald wrote: ‘Dad was not only my dad but also my primary bagpipe teacher….

With the passing of Bob Shepherd MBE piping and the pipe band community have lost one of its legendary personalities.  Bob will be remembered as a successful pipe band teacher and leader, an innovative manufacturer of piping products as well as someone who played an immense role in the progressive development of pipe band music.  Among his greatest attributes were his depth of understanding of bagpipes and pipe bands, his…