PP Editor’s Blog 12/12/14

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I was down at the RSPBA HQ last weekend to see the presentation of a painting by Duncan Brown to P/M Bob Shepherd MBE. The presentation was made during a meeting of the Association’s Board of Directors, the honours carried out in articulate fashion by Bob’s fellow judge Joe Noble on behalf of the Adjudicators Panel. Joe pointed out how well-deserved the honour was. The painting represented all Bob’s major achievements: his…

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James Campbell, Kilberry: Letters – Part 1

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Today, in an important series exclusive to pipingpress.com, we have the first excerpt from articles by piobaireachd scholar and senior adjudicator, Norman Matheson, Aberdeen. They are based on correspondence he had with ceol mor authority James Campbell, Kilberry, between 1997 and 2003. They concern piobaireachd playing in general, and in particular the production of the ‘Masters of Piobaireachd’ CD recordings of the playing of RU Brown and RB Nicol, Balmoral, and contain…

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New Name for European PB Championships

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A legal challenge has meant that the successful ‘Piping Hot Forres’ tag can no longer be used as the umbrella title for the European Pipe Band Championships held so successfully over the past two years in the Highland town. The following press release regarding the change was received today: ‘Piping Hot Forres’ is changing its name. Ahead of the next event to be held in Grant Park, Forres, on Saturday 27 June,…

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Scottish Pipers ‘Music of First World War’ Part 3

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Robert Wallace writes: Erudite and interesting I said; erudite and interesting it was. In the third of his lectures about WW1 and its pipe music, author Colin Campbell succeeded yet again in adding life and colour to what to most pipers are mere names at the top of a pipe music score. Who was Captain Lumsden or CM Usher or John S MacMurchie DCM MM? Last weekend Mr Campbell gave us…

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Big Donald Retires

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One of the big characters in the pipe band world, Donald MacPhee, has retired from his position as a senior member of World Champions Field Marshal Montgomery. On his Facebook page Donald has written: ‘In mid September I phoned Richard [P/M Richard Parkes] and retired from FMM and decided to go on to the full RSPBA adjudicator panel. ‘My nine seasons with FMM were very special. It’s time to start…

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