Draw For British Pipe Band Championships Announced

The first major championship of the pipe band season takes place at Greenock, Inverclyde on May 21. The RSPBA today announced the full list of entrants and judges. Here is the playing order for grade 1 and 2: Grade Two 1  13:30 City of Edinburgh 2  13:39 Portlethen and District 3  13:48 St Joseph’s – Eire 4  13:57 Oban 5  14:06 Bucksburn and District 6  14:15 Uddingston 7  14:24 Royal…

Editor’s Notebook: Band Numbers/ Tune for Norman/ Film Request/ Henderson Pipes/ Inverness 1990

I noticed this story in one of the national papers the other day, bandmasters lamenting the lack of trumpets and tubas in our nation’s brass bands. I wonder if pipe bands will be similarly afflicted? I think so. This is why the wise men at the RSPBA have instructed stewards to turn a blind eye to the odd numerical indiscretion they may spot at the flags or in final tuning….

Skye Gathering Entries Open/ Piping Live Searching for New Talent for 2022 festival

Skye Gathering Convenor Piping Cameron MacFadyen reports that they are ‘quietly optimistic’ about returning to normal this summer and running the full programme of piping events at this year’s Skye Games. They will be held on August 2 & 3. Mr MacFadyen has forwarded the information sheet and entry form (see below) for those intending to compete at Portree. The information is also available by clicking the picture above. Skye…

Piobaireachd Society Announce Recommended Set Tunes for 2023

The Piobaireachd Society has instituted a new approach to the tunes it recommends for the senior competitions at the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting. Ronald McShannon of the Society’s Music Committee: A. SENIOR COMPETITIONS A new approach to setting tunes for the senior competitions is recommended for a trial period of five years.   The aim is to give competitors a wider choice of tunes while still ensuring exposure…

History: Bagpipe Maker RG Lawrie Part 2

We conclude this short history of the renowned bagpipe maker RG Lawrie. It is from the hand of its last proprietor, Arthur Lawrie. This history was given by Mr Lawrie to the late Jimmy McIntosh who kindly forwarded it to Piping Press. This article ends with a contemporary obituary for Mr Lawrie (2005). It sheds light on his personal life and his work with the company… The independence of Tanganyika,…