Reader Tom MacKenzie has written from Canada: ‘What was your source for the typeset version of the Campbell Canntaireachd in the article on the Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg? Having the ‘scientific notation’ with the canntaireachd is, I think, an excellent idea. Now I can sing the tune with the canntaireachd. ‘I have the ‘Pipers Meeting’ book by Patrick Molard and Jack Taylor, but the tune is not in…
Old programmes and publicity pamphlets are an excellent record of piping competitions and Highland Games, writes the Editor. Calum Maclean, Tobermory, has forwarded a couple from the Mull Games of the 1960s. In 1965 the date and venue were more less the same as today. Duty band was the Ceannloch Pipe Band from Campbeltown under ‘P/M MacCallum’ and ‘Drum Major Lang’. Can anyone give us more information on these two…
The Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competitions take place in Oban, Argyll, on Wednesday 26 August and Thursday 27 August 2026. Entries are now open here. The website reads: ‘The Competition features two days of piping excellence, with over 200 pipers from across the globe competing in this, the world’s foremost solo piping competition.’ Pipers are encouraged to enter now but their eligibility and acceptance will only be decided early in the new…
Recently, two first grade pipe bands ceased operations, unable to attract enough competent pipers and drummers to compete confidently at the top level. This reduction highlights a growing issue: the remaining top bands have become so large that they absorb much of the available talent, leaving fewer skilled players to sustain other Grade 1 or 2 bands. By Allan Hamilton Historically, a greater number of strong bands existed precisely because…
A special concert is to be held at Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow to celebrate 30 years of the release since the groundbreaking ‘Live ‘n Well’ album by Vale of Atholl Pipe Band under P/M Ian Duncan. A Gordon Duncan Tribute Band will lead the musical offering at the concert with input from Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton. P/M Duncan, Gordon’s brother, and Ryan King have hand picked a line…
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