Choice Tune: Lord Alexander Kennedy by James Honeyman

Our focus today is on the 2/4 pipe march Lord Alexander Kennedy. Now more popular with bands than soloists, it is nevertheless a classic of the genre. ‘Lord Alex’ lends itself to innovation and re-write, and many versions of the tune have appeared and been performed over the years. What I’m presenting today, however, is a copy of the original tune as written by the composer, James Honeyman, and passed…

New Footage Added to PP Video Archive etc.

We complete our feature on the life and times of the late P/M Alasdair Gillies with footage from his funeral held in Ullapool in 2011. Alasdair was laid to rest with many of the world’s top pipers in attendance and one, P/M Niall Matheson, played the Queen’s Own Highlander’s regimental piobaireachd  ‘Cabar Feidh gu Brath’ at the graveside. Read the earlier features on Alasdair’s life and times here. Listen to his…

Review: ‘Live in Ireland 2016’, at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall

By ROBERT WALLACE  Good tunes, well played. There you have it, a four word summary of the ‘Live in Ireland’ concert given last Saturday by ex-members of the 78th Fraser Highlanders pipe band from Ontario – with a select group of Grade 1 pipers and drummers in support. The concert, in a respectably filled main auditorium at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, was, of course, much more than that. We had…

PP Editor’s Blog: Tying Bridles/ Florida Academy Sponsorship/ Brian Niven/ Structured Learning Vids

Pleased to announce that Wm. Sinclair & Co. are to sponsor the South Florida Pipe & Drum Academy. Thank you! I think it is a credit to the Academy that so many leading piping firms are willing to support it. Wm Sinclair join RT Shepherd, D Naill & Co, McCallum Bagpipes, G1 Reeds and Pipe Dreams on our list of benefactors. The Academy runs from February 24 – 28 inclusive…

Judges Announced for ‘Wheel of Fortune’/ ‘Live in Ireland’ Dress Code

Judges for the prestigious ‘Pipe Major’s Wheel of Fortune’ competition will be three of the most respected pipe majors in the pipe band world: P/M Bob Shepherd, P/M Ian McLellan, and P/M Barry Donaldson. A spokesman for the promoters, City of Edinburgh Pipe Band, said: ‘We were delighted when Bob and Ian agreed to join our own pipe major Barry Donaldson on the bench for what is going to be…