Pipe Band Ensemble/ Ceol Mor Comments/ New Advertiser

New article published today on pipe band ensemble. Some important points addressed by former RSPBA Adjudicator Alistair Aitken OBE in the article first published in Pipe Band Magazine seven years ago but well worth another reading. Interesting comments on the ‘Some Thoughts on the Study of Ceol Mor’ article. Check them out by clicking on the link. Welcome to our latest advertiser Ayrshire Bagpipes. Wise decision! Proprietor of the company is…

Venue Confirmed for 2016 British Pipe Band Championships

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has confirmed that the first pipe band major championship of 2016 will be held at Paisley on May 21. The deal between the local authority and the Association is for three years. Since 2013 the championship had been held at Bathgate in West Lothian but there had been widespread dissatisfaction with the facilities afforded the bands and the Association by the hosts, with considerable difficulties over…

Response to the ‘Some Thoughts on Piobaireachd Study’ Essay/ Archie Kenneth Reminder

Dr J David Hester (pictured) of the Alt Pibroch website has replied to the article published last week on the study and analysis of piobaireachd…. ‘Mr. Wallace, I very much appreciate your feedback on our project and welcome the ensuing discussion. I hope we can truly engage in an informative and thoughtful dialogue, and avoid the pitfalls of ‘serial monologues’ that are the hallmark of most modern discourse.    Because, while…

PP Editor’s Blog: Woolmet Juveniles/ South Florida Sponsors/ SPA KO/Big Music Concert/ Archie Kenneth Quaich

Anyone who thought the prevalence of girls in today’s pipe bands is a relatively new phenomenon should have a look at the above picture of the Woolmet Colliery Juvenile Pipe Band. It’s from a 1949 edition of the Piping, Dancing and Highland Dancing Journal. The story reads: ‘The Woolmet Colliery Juvenile Pipe Band, one of the young bands of the Lothians and Borders Branch [of the RSPBA] was founded in…

Some Thoughts on Ceol Mor and Its Study

A manuscript sample of the well-known tune Lament for the Viscount of Dundee, aka Cumha Chlaibhers or Lament for Claverhouse, has been forwarded by Dr J David Hester PhD of the Alt Pibroch Club website. (There is new a letter from Mr Hester in our Letters column.) I believe the sample may have come via piobaireachd analyst Barnaby Brown and has the comment ‘We’re playing it wrong’ attached. The music…